In early March, he called. My family had arranged to go on vacation in mid-March, and he wanted to know if he could do all his on-site work while we were out of town. Although we were hesitant, we agreed. We gave him a key and the second payment on March 13th. When we returned a week later, nothing had been done. We had stripped all the necessary areas down to the studs, but nothing had been done at all. We began to call. Eventually, he contacted us. Excuse number one - his Dad in Wisconsin was ill and needed help, he couldn't come to work. He would get there next week. We began to worry. The next week, he still didn't come. Oh, except to take more measurements. It was at this stage that he decided he would remake all the cabinets rather than reface them. He claimed it would be more material but the same amount of work and he wouldn't charge us additional fees. We agreed. I asked him, can you be finished by Easter? "Oh, yeah. No problem." In mid-April, he showed up again. He tore out all the cabinets and stacked them in a pile in front of the garage. Then, he left. He would return tomorrow. He didn't. We lived three days with no counters, no cabinets, and our kitchen in the living room. He did eventually come in with the base cabinets and the uppers that fit above them. He set them, and left again. My husband and a friend set the counters that day, but we had found all the lawsuits against Capouch by then, and were really starting to worry. The rest of the time we had to deal with Brian were of a piece: he would promise he'd arrive with one piece or another on Monday, be definitely done by Wednesday. On Monday he'd never show; on Wednesday, he might come in with one piece or another he had promised, but more often than not, he would give us an excuse. He's sick, his car broke down, flat tire, he had sprayed the cabinets but the paint or stain had to dry, you get the idea. We started communicating with him in texts in case we would have to file a lawsuit as well. We found more and more cases against him, largely from sub-contractors who never got paid, but also from home owners who hired him and were stiffed. Easter came and went and, though I had base counters and tops, no doors were up and the china hutch we had ordered was still missing. In May, slowly, the big pieces started to show up. The custom china hutch appeared, as did the doors. The pantry cabinet we had added to the order came in with the wine rack. But nothing was ever finished in one day - the hutch arrived, but without shelves or drawers. The doors came in, but some were cut wrong and had to be re-made. He also started to make noises about needing more money. He begged my husband for an advance on the remaining total - he needed $2000. Reluctantly, Dave gave him $1600. Always, more promises, more excuses. Sometimes we wouldn't hear from him for a week. Always, he would swear - I HAVE to be done by Wednesday, as if we were stopping him from finishing the job. A week before he finished the job, he contacted Dave again for an advance - he hadn't paid the electric bill for his shop and he had no power. Another $1000 advance. In late May, my husband gave him an ultimatum - you're done on Sunday of this week. Whatever you have finished is what gets finished. If you're not done, we don't pay you the remainder of the money. (By that time, we had also negotiated additional trim around two windows, the pantry cabinet was extra, and the wine rack as well.) He came back - if you're not going to pay me more, I'm going to take back the wine rack. He came back that Sunday, didn't finish everything (we still needed trim around the doors, windows, inset cabinet, drawers for the hutch, etc.) But he was close. He didn't finish that week, oh no, it was still another week and a half before the last piece came in, was applied, and all the junk wood from in front of our garage removed. We settled up with him on the remainder and were so grateful to see the last of him. Overall, the workmanship on the cabinets is stunning. He used birch wood, the finish is lovely, the craftsmanship excellent. We are very happy with the finished product, but be very careful with this contractor. If you do hire him, put completion dates into the contract. Attach penalties for non-compliance. But even then - look him up in court cases on line in Iowa. I counted more than 50 suits against him, and at least 2 bankruptcies. Even if you do put him under contract, he may not honor it and let you sue him. I think we were lucky, though I don't know why. He finished the job, with a lot of twisting and begging from us, and the work is wonderful. We would have fired him several times along the way, but had sunk too much money into this contractor and hadn't the heart to start over with a new one. We had interviewed several others, and none came back with plans or bids that were reasonable in price or scope. I just wish we had known to run from this guy. "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ia/solon/capouch-woodworking-reviews-6321133.htm"},"position":5},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@type":"LocalBusiness","name":"C Thru Windows","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressRegion":"IA","addressCountry":"US"},"review":{"@type":"Review","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Kathy L."},"reviewBody":"We have a home with a lot of windows and Ben scheduled the entire day to clean them. He arrived promptly at 8:00 a.m and finished about 4:00. I was very impressed that he brought a pair of house shoes to wear while working inside. Ben did a fabulous job and was very quiet and tidy as he worked. All windows were cleaned meticulously and look fabulous. "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ia/vinton/c-thru-windows-reviews-8034453.htm"},"position":6},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@type":"LocalBusiness","name":"EJS Roofing LLC","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressRegion":"IA","addressCountry":"US"},"review":{"@type":"Review","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Dawn L."},"reviewBody":"Excellent...from start to finish! Everyone was very professional, everything was done in one day and clean up was awesome! Thanks Ed for having such a great crew! "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ia/cedar-rapids/ejs-roofing-llc-reviews-4510879.htm"},"position":7},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@type":"LocalBusiness","name":"BRIAN HEFEL CONSTRUCTION","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressRegion":"IA","addressCountry":"US"},"review":{"@type":"Review","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Larry H."},"reviewBody":"Very well. Easy to work with. Finished in less than one week. Cleaned up very well every day after themselves. Very professional job."},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ia/sherrill/brian-hefel-construction-reviews-5019233.htm"},"position":8},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@type":"LocalBusiness","name":"D & N Fence","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressRegion":"IA","addressCountry":"US"},"review":{"@type":"Review","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Susan K."},"reviewBody":"The folks from D and N Fence Co came out promptly to give us an estimate. (As opposed to 2 other companies - one didn't showed up, another came but never sent an estimate). After we scheduled the work they showed up on the day they said they would - even a little earlier then they promised. They finished the work in about 4 days. The fence looks very nice and is very sturdy because they set every post in concrete. They left us with extra planks in case we need to repair the fence. They also put a fence in at my Mom's new house in the fall of 2012 and she is very happy with it. She consulted with them a little more than we did because she wasn't sure which fence to install. She felt they gave very good advice. She had a chain link fence installed around her large backyard. They completed it in about a day and a half. "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ia/cedar-rapids/d-and-n-fence-reviews-6479321.htm"},"position":9},{"@type":"ListItem","item":{"@type":"LocalBusiness","name":"AR Peters Home Improvement & Painting LLC","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressRegion":"IA","addressCountry":"US"},"review":{"@type":"Review","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Regina H."},"reviewBody":"Wow! By far one of the most professional painters we have EVER dealt with. We live out of state and everything was done long distance and Andy and his team did wonderful. The drywall patching looks amazing and the painting is perfect. They finished ahead of schedule and left everything cleaner than they found it. What a relief to have everything done and he even did extra painting for my sister-in-law to save her time and did not charge us:). Left the place spotless with a lot of extra paint! "},"url":"https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/mi/hemlock/ar-peters-home-improvement-and-painting-llc-reviews-433022.htm"},"position":10}]}
Concrete Finishing reviews from real Angi homeowners in University Heights, IA
Don worked from start to finish and completed work in good time. He removed old tile, replaced some sub-flooring, installed cement board, tile, and grout. Finish product turned out well.
Teresa L.
5.0
03/2017
We hired Steve's Roofing and we are very pleased with the whole experience. The owner took time to explain the different options. The work was done quickly and professionally, and the people were courteous. After finishing the roof, the work crew carefully cleaned up the site. We would...
We have a home with a lot of windows and Ben scheduled the entire day to clean them. He arrived promptly at 8:00 a.m and finished about 4:00. I was very impressed that he brought a pair of house shoes to wear while working inside. Ben did a fabulous job and was very quiet and tidy as he...
Dawn L.
5.0
10/2013
Excellent...from start to finish! Everyone was very professional, everything was done in one day and clean up was awesome! Thanks Ed for having such a great crew!
Larry H.
5.0
07/2013
Very well. Easy to work with. Finished in less than one week. Cleaned up very well every day after themselves. Very professional job.
Susan K.
5.0
12/2012
The folks from D and N Fence Co came out promptly to give us an estimate. (As opposed to 2 other companies - one didn't showed up, another came but never sent an estimate). After we scheduled the work they showed up on the day they said they would - even a little earlier then they...
Regina H.
5.0
11/2012
Wow! By far one of the most professional painters we have EVER dealt with. We live out of state and everything was done long distance and Andy and his team did wonderful. The drywall patching looks amazing and the painting is perfect. They finished ahead of schedule and left everything...
Find Concrete finishing pros in University Heights
At STC Construction LLC, we specialize in transforming spaces with our expert concrete services, focusing on pouring and repair, stamped and decorative concrete, and high-quality concrete driveways. With years of experience in the industry, we take pride in delivering exceptional craftsmanship and durable solutions that enhance the beauty and functionality of your property. Contact us today!
"Ive used STC on a couple projects now and they get the job done. They are able to tackle the unknown obstacles that seem to happen on most jobs and come out on top."
Rory L on November 2024
At STC Construction LLC, we specialize in transforming spaces with our expert concrete services, focusing on pouring and repair, stamped and decorative concrete, and high-quality concrete driveways. With years of experience in the industry, we take pride in delivering exceptional craftsmanship and durable solutions that enhance the beauty and functionality of your property. Contact us today!
"Ive used STC on a couple projects now and they get the job done. They are able to tackle the unknown obstacles that seem to happen on most jobs and come out on top."
Welcome to Q&M LLC, your trusted source for top-quality home services in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the surrounding areas. With over 4 years of experience, we are a proud family-owned business dedicated to exceptional customer service and superior results. We specialize in all types of concrete work, including driveways, patios, and sidewalks. Our team takes the time to understand your needs, ensuring your vision becomes a reality. What sets us apart is our competitive pricing and commitment to clear communication. We also have fluent Spanish speakers on our team to better serve our Spanish-speaking customers.
"Reliable and on time with quality work I would highly recommend them"
Michael Z on July 2025
Welcome to Q&M LLC, your trusted source for top-quality home services in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the surrounding areas. With over 4 years of experience, we are a proud family-owned business dedicated to exceptional customer service and superior results. We specialize in all types of concrete work, including driveways, patios, and sidewalks. Our team takes the time to understand your needs, ensuring your vision becomes a reality. What sets us apart is our competitive pricing and commitment to clear communication. We also have fluent Spanish speakers on our team to better serve our Spanish-speaking customers.
"Reliable and on time with quality work I would highly recommend them"
Here at Geode Contracting, our professionalism and quality workmanship will accurately reflect your taste and lifestyle. From conception to completion we work with you until the job is done. With over 20 years of experience, we are known for our prompt service and superior attention to detail. Our commitment to quality is evident from the beginning to the completion of your home improvement project. We are here to serve you with the knowledge and quality you deserve and expect. Call our reputable business today - you'll be pleased you did. Thank you!
"This company was great to do business with. Al is the owner of the company. His people knew exactly what to do and when to do it and a huge driveway and parking pad came out perfect. Their bid was Fair to both me and the company. They did an excellent job on preparing the site and pouring the concrete. What everybody fears the most when they hire someone to work at their home is the people that are working there trustworthy? Are they going to be trips in and out of the house to use the bathroom? Al's people were wonderful. They did not make a mess outside leaving cans and bottles laying around all trash was picked up each day. They left everything all nice and clean and smoothed out some rough spots where the skid loader was at and where there was extra concrete dumped. I was really impressed with these people. I highly recommend them."
James P on October 2023
Here at Geode Contracting, our professionalism and quality workmanship will accurately reflect your taste and lifestyle. From conception to completion we work with you until the job is done. With over 20 years of experience, we are known for our prompt service and superior attention to detail. Our commitment to quality is evident from the beginning to the completion of your home improvement project. We are here to serve you with the knowledge and quality you deserve and expect. Call our reputable business today - you'll be pleased you did. Thank you!
"This company was great to do business with. Al is the owner of the company. His people knew exactly what to do and when to do it and a huge driveway and parking pad came out perfect. Their bid was Fair to both me and the company. They did an excellent job on preparing the site and pouring the concrete. What everybody fears the most when they hire someone to work at their home is the people that are working there trustworthy? Are they going to be trips in and out of the house to use the bathroom? Al's people were wonderful. They did not make a mess outside leaving cans and bottles laying around all trash was picked up each day. They left everything all nice and clean and smoothed out some rough spots where the skid loader was at and where there was extra concrete dumped. I was really impressed with these people. I highly recommend them."
We contract out all types of services such as anything concrete related, hauling or removing of material, basement waterproofing and more. Please inquire
We contract out all types of services such as anything concrete related, hauling or removing of material, basement waterproofing and more. Please inquire
We pride ourselves on the quality work we provide, while delivering great customer service. Check out our services offered and call or click to schedule an estimate today!
"He is a newer contractor. He never came when promised so we waited. He skipped a day after promising to be there. He asked for more money after giving us a written quote, the fence was crooked but it passed inspection, and made lots of miscuts. I think he will get better after he is in business for a few years."
Dwayne W on June 2024
We pride ourselves on the quality work we provide, while delivering great customer service. Check out our services offered and call or click to schedule an estimate today!
"He is a newer contractor. He never came when promised so we waited. He skipped a day after promising to be there. He asked for more money after giving us a written quote, the fence was crooked but it passed inspection, and made lots of miscuts. I think he will get better after he is in business for a few years."
We pride ourselves in providing construction services with honesty, integrity, fairness and respect. We are a family veteran owned company. Give us a call to get that long wanted project well on its way. No job too small and no job too big.
We pride ourselves in providing construction services with honesty, integrity, fairness and respect. We are a family veteran owned company. Give us a call to get that long wanted project well on its way. No job too small and no job too big.
The company provides various exterior contracting solutions to meet the needs of every customer. We specialize in decks, porches, fences, outside fireplaces, brick lain walkways, septic tanks, residential utility service repair, environmental remediation, hazmat clean up and much more!
The company provides various exterior contracting solutions to meet the needs of every customer. We specialize in decks, porches, fences, outside fireplaces, brick lain walkways, septic tanks, residential utility service repair, environmental remediation, hazmat clean up and much more!
Exceptional Edge is the premier landscaping and snow removal service provider based in Sigourney, IA. We have been serving the Keokuk County area since 2017, offering a wide range of services including landscaping, land clearing, tree removal, carpentry, power washing, and more. What sets Exceptional Edge apart from other service providers is our high-reach services for gutters, trees, and roofs. We are ready to handle even the most challenging tasks with ease and efficiency. If you're looking for a reliable and professional landscaping and snow removal service, look no further than Exceptional Edge. Contact us today to learn more about our services!
"The Exceptional Edge technicians were very professional and meticulous how maneuvered around to trim my shade tree. I was very impressed how they removed the stump and all the tree limbs without tearing up my yard. Their service was excellent and they have the latest equipment technology."
Ray H on November 2023
Exceptional Edge is the premier landscaping and snow removal service provider based in Sigourney, IA. We have been serving the Keokuk County area since 2017, offering a wide range of services including landscaping, land clearing, tree removal, carpentry, power washing, and more. What sets Exceptional Edge apart from other service providers is our high-reach services for gutters, trees, and roofs. We are ready to handle even the most challenging tasks with ease and efficiency. If you're looking for a reliable and professional landscaping and snow removal service, look no further than Exceptional Edge. Contact us today to learn more about our services!
"The Exceptional Edge technicians were very professional and meticulous how maneuvered around to trim my shade tree. I was very impressed how they removed the stump and all the tree limbs without tearing up my yard. Their service was excellent and they have the latest equipment technology."
FAQs for concrete finishing projects in University Heights, IA
Concrete repair costs range anywhere from about $0.10 to $0.15 per linear foot to fill minor cracks, to about $6 to $14 per square foot to replace damaged concrete slabs. Repair costs vary widely depending on the size and type of work needed. For example, replacing 100 square feet of driveway will cost between $600 to $1,400, on average.
The average cost of stamped concrete is around $12 per square foot, but you might pay anywhere from $8 to $28 per square foot. The average 12-foot by 12-foot patio costs $1,730 on average. Your exact pricing will depend on the patio’s square footage, the condition of the area where you want to pour the concrete, the desired stamp pattern, concrete coloring, concrete grade, and local labor prices. Don’t forget to budget for extra costs like land preparation and additional concrete fortifications if necessary.
Depending on the cost to repair your driveway, it may be more cost effective to tear out and replace it with a new concrete driveway. The cost to repave a driveway ranges between $1,400 and $12,100, including removal of the old concrete. Contact a reputable concrete contractor for advice and an estimate. They may have a good reason for going with repairs or replacement after assessing your driveway. You may also have the option to resurface your driveway or pave over it without taking out the existing one.
It’s possible to create stamped concrete yourself, but we don’t recommend it and it’s often not cost-effective. It’s easy to mess up the pattern of a stamped concrete patio or walkway, leaving you with an unsightly home exterior rather than the elegant solution you wanted. Any mistakes made during the ground leveling and concrete pouring process will also increase the risk of cracks forming on your concrete. Additionally, buying enough stamps to get the pattern in before your concrete cures can cost as much as hiring a professional to do the work for you.
Concrete contractors typically charge anywhere from $6 to $14 per square foot. Cost factors include job size, site prep, base material, accessibility, your location, concrete finish, and concrete thickness. Removal of existing concrete, asphalt, deck, pavers, and grass will cost anywhere from $1 to $6 per square foot. Homeowners can often save money by removing and disposing of existing pavers, decks, and grass. Breaking up and hauling away concrete and asphalt is difficult and time-consuming without the proper equipment and may be worth having the pros do that work.
The University Heights, IA homeowners’ guide to concrete finishing services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Looking to spruce up your home’s exterior and add some value? Use this concrete walkway cost guide to see what it will cost to install new concrete paths.
Dealing with cracked or crumbling concrete on your property? Learn who to call to repair concrete in this guide and the benefits of using a professional.
Outdoor walkways can elevate your yard and make it more functional. Learn about standard walkway sizes and dimensions so you can plan your walkway project.