Caruthers Concrete Service

EXCELLENT JOB. CREW ARRIVED AT 8:30AM REMOVED OLD CONCRETE, FORMED AND POURED NEW CONCRETE, SMOOTH AND CUT NEW JOINTS AND JOB COMPLETED BY 3:30PM. MATT, CREW CHEIF ON JOB, KEPT ME INFORMED ON ENTIRE PROJECT AND ANSWERED ANY QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.

Caruthers Concrete came out immediately (unlike others) to give me a proposal for the work to be done. Mr. Caruthers was prompt and very polite. His proposal was very fair as well. About 3 weeks after the slab was poured, my wife and I noticed that the concrete was developing a small web of cracks that extended from end to end. We called Mr. Caruthers and he came out promptly to assess the situation. To our surprise, he offered to repair or replace the slab. For fear that the cracks would worsen even if repaired, we opted to have the slab replaced. I am certain that no other concrete contractor would have stood behind his work as Mr. Caruthers did. We were prepared to hear the standard answer of "concrete cracks. Thankfully, we didn't have to stress because he's not your usual contractor. I know that replacing our slab had to cost him a pretty penny but he didn't even bat an eye to satisfy a customer. He is a stand-up individual and deserves your trust for your next project that requires concrete work. I will always speak his praises. What a great job!

unknown

Caruthers Concrete Curbing was the only one with the Better Business Bureau. I looked no further. Big mistake!! Their website and estimate were professional; however, little did I know that his workers were not experienced or fully trained. Not only that, he never came out to survey our yard! First, the workers had trouble adjusting the color of the concrete. Secondly, the mixing was a shovel of sand, a handful of fiber, and a few sprays of water. Determining the consistency of the concrete was guess by golly, squeeze and spray. Questionable! When they dug the concrete trench, they did not level it so that the concrete would be grass level. Then, they didn’t have the proper tools to stamp the pattern. Once I instructed the worker how to improvise, they did a good job. Then they left before they had completely cleaned up extra dirt, grass roots or extra concrete. Caruthers Concrete Curbing sent two workers the next day to spray on sealer and finish cleanup. Again they left the extra dirt and concrete for me to cleanup. My mistake; I didn’t talk to any of his clients who had curbing done! When you do don’t just talk to one, talk to many! Also, have the contractor review your site and answer any questions you may have. Get everything in writing! Good luck!!

Had to report to BBB and was awarded refund and they vanished and never responded. Crooks

Unprofessional attitudes of owners, mediocre job, concrete started cracking almost immediately. Will never use them again.

unknown

Carruthers is very professional and easy to work with. The details were all handled and the end result was just as I had wanted. I am a very creative person...Sid works well with me and helps me achieve the results I want.

Caruthers Concrete Service was referred to us by a county inspector called out to survey and consult us regarding our drainage problem. Our investigation of the company reputation including a BBB search showed no sign of the very poor practices and service we received. The principle in this fiasco Sydney Caruthers represented himself as a man of excellent repute, confident he could deliver a quality outcome which would be completely satisfactory to us. He told of taking customer satisfaction so seriously that he had re-done entire jobs just to meet his customer’s expectations despite personal cost to him and/or his company. “This man’s word was his bond,” to hear him tell it. His sales pitch combined with his A+ BBB rating convinced us to contract his services. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

On Friday, June 5, 2009 at 0900 televised and radio broadcasts widely available forecast a 70% chance of rain with overcast skies. Mr. Caruthers made the decision to pour $4,260.00 worth of concrete onto our property abutting our home on two sides, and promptly left the site. He did this leaving his foreman and two workers to conduct the pour in an area which was already identified and known to him (Caruthers) as having a serious drainage problem. As the concrete was being poured the rain began to pour as well. As a native Floridian I would characterize this day’s storm as “torrential” thunder, lightning and torrents of water. This was no “shower.” I was shocked when my wife phoned me at my place of work at 1000 to tell me they were pouring the concrete and trying to brush all the water off, but it was still pooling on the concrete. All the while it was lightning and torrential outside our home. She was very concerned about worker’s safety in this storm.

BUCKETS were coming down outside my job just 10 miles away. Caruthers’ workers scrambled to assemble a make-shift plastic cover for the deluged/submerged concrete, and all the while the water splashed concrete residue up against the house. The workers left footprints in the concrete that can still be seen today.

But being a Friday and payroll due, before the foreman left he made sure to ask for full payment. In spite of the obvious unfavorable conditions and her concern about the outcome of the project, my wife felt intimidated and compelled in the pouring rain to write a check for the full amount of $4,260.00 to the sopping wet employee of Caruthers Concrete Service. Our bank records show that that check was credited to the account of Caruthers Concrete at approximately 1300 June 5, 2009 (the very same day.) We find the timing of the check being deposited and the exit of the workers on a Friday “pay day” at 1300 beyond coincidental.

Shortly before the foreman’s demand for payment Mr. Caruthers made a brief appearance back by the work site that day and according to my wife commented “this looks like Lake Michigan,” and then he left.

To date water persistently pools in the very areas we addressed in detail with Mr. Caruthers. The unfinished look of the job is an eye sore. , but we will not waive any right to litigation by agreeing to Caruthers’ many proposed cosmetic fictions. Our problem as outlined from the start was functional not cosmetic

The bottom line is that in the two plus years since his sole and very poor decision to pour our patio during a torrential thunderstorm, and despite multiple face to face meetings with him. Mr. Caruthers has not made any reasonable good faith effort to correct this costly error.

We are confident he could have done this right, and or could have fixed it by replacing it with a true representation of his work. Instead his only response has been to send multiple “flunky” workers to coat, paste, sand, and grate and otherwise disfigure our patio. He has consistently deflected responsibility for his weak decision by offering “toppings” or “coatings” or “cosmetics.” For the past 2 months he has not returned any of our phone calls.

I am absolutely incredulous that as a licensed contractor, Mr. Caruthers poured concrete on a site with the intention and plan to solve a drainage problem on a day with a forecasted 70% chance of rain. From the very beginning Mr. Caruthers was aware that our problem was not “cosmetic” and could not be solved with a “coating.” We contracted him to solve a drainage problem. He accepted our money to solve a drainage problem. He cashed our check and paid his employees for that dreadful days work with our monies before the cement ever had any chance to dry. And we still have the drainage problem.

Every word represented here is true and has even been toned down to dilute the outrage we feel. Syd Caruthers made fools of us and has scared our home. Real men stand up and take credit for their mistakes. I know I do, he should have to as well.

They showed up when they said they would and completed the projected in 2 and one half days.

See above

The work performed was excellent. The crew showed up precisely on time and completed the work in a professional manner with excellent results. This overcame the shortcomings that did occur. First, when we called back to give the okay for the job, the owner could not find our paperwork. This necessitated our bringing the estimate to him. At the conclusion of day 1 of the job, we were told that the sealing of the concrete would be done the following morning. They did not show up and we had to reschedule for the following morning, at which time the job was completed. With the exception of these two points, the experience was very positive.

They poured the concrete, but they we found our that the worked ended up crooked. Their work was a little sloppy, the crooked finish took them 4 or more days extra to fix, and extra money also. I would use them again, but I would recheck the measurements.

They arrived the week before Thanksgiving and began sanding the concrete floor to remove all traces of glue, impurities and dirt. Mr. Carruthers had explained that acid concrete works best on new concrete and because our concrete was 25 years old, it was important to sand it correctly!! The total process of sanding and acid washing took 5 working days (some of which were half days). I must say that it was so dusty that it looked like it was snowing in the room! But the workmen were diligent about getting the floor prepared correctly so that the acid staining would look the best that it could. I learned that it is impossible to tell what the finished product will be until the actual sealer is applied. We were not disappointed. The color was beautiful with many high and low contrasts which made the floor color very rich looking. However, the sealing over the concrete was very disappointing. The sealer was streaked and it wasn't glossy and lustrous as we had been told it would be. We called Mr. Carruthers and he came over the same day and agreed that a second coat of sealer was necessary. The workmen were there the next morning and resealed it, and I must tell you that it is absolutely beautiful! Very rich and lustrous looking and I have had many compliments on the floor. I highly recommend this company. They are honest, fair and very professional.