Gary Dean Concrete

A few weather setbacks and an equipment issue (skid steer broke) but over all very , very happy with the work done.

It went very well. He made it very affordable. He has been out of the business for a while and he was getting back into it. I liked him. He was personable. I would call him back for a small project because I don't know how he would do a big driveway or deck or something like that, but he did fine with the work we had. He has another friend that recommended him. In turns out that he has done a lot of small projects in my neighborhood at that time and he was able to point out references. Some of them we just drove by and saw it. He rebuilt our block wall that was on my way to work everyday. Another friend had him for an entry kind of little porch, and she was very pleased with him. We felt pretty confident about hiring him. He was good about returning calls. He collaborated with our design. At the time, he didn't have a reliable means of transportation but I think my general impression of his punctuality was fine. I think it took longer than it would have if one of his helpers should pick him up everyday, but that was 3 years ago. He was very professional. We worked out everything that was kind of unusual. We worked out ahead of time like he kept his tools in my garage. He didn't have a lot of his tools at that time. We had a circular saw that he claimed as his. I had to insist that it was mine. I don't think that he was trying to steal from me, I just think there was confusion because he didn't have his own way of organizing things. I really felt that he was good on what he was doing.

See above Pictures available

We got several quotes for a concrete patio. Gary Dean was by for the cheapest option and he could get started on the job very quickly. The other companies were saying they wouldn't be able to get to us for at least a month. We explained to him that we needed a slight incline due to stop water from draining into our basement. He performed the work very quickly and our basement hasn't flooded since! The patio looks good and it has been a year since it was poured.

We hired him a month later to put in a chain link fence. He did it for half the price other companies had quoted us. He had the fence installed within a week. We feel that we really got what we paid for with Gary. We will be hiring him for several other things in the future.

After the completion of the job, we were pleased with the work. However, last winter after the snow started melting and the spring rain, the patio facing west began to hold water. Lots of water, meaning, we had at least 2 or more inches of standing water right in front of our patio doors and extending out front and on both sides. This created water seeping under the patio door onto the carpet, soaking and staining it.

Early in March 2011, I called Gary Dean to explain what was happening and asked him to come out so he could see the problem. He said he'd be out, but he never called back or showed up. Then, finally on March 26 he came out to see the patio and was also shown the stained carpet. Gary, said he would take care of replacing the bad concrete and completely re-do the patio. He agreed this was to be at his expense. Since, then I have made repeated phone calls to him in April and May. On June 6th I called him again, and he was suppose to show up on Sat. June 11th. He did come out then, but said it would take him a week to ten days, because he was having trouble with his truck. Again, he didn't show up. Once again, on July 21st Mr. Dean called back to tell me he would be here on the 27th. I called him on the 26th to confirm that he would definitely be here on the 27th and he said he would. He didn't show up, but called to say he'd be here on Sat. July 30th first thing in the morning. He didn't show up, but called back at 10:00 am. to say he was on another job and that he would be here when he got done. He was a no show again, no phone call, no sight of him.
At this time I want restitution of $1562.50 which is half of what he was paid. There is no way he could ever be trusted with tearing out the concrete patio and returning to replace the patio. All he has done is lie. We paid him in good faith and believe he should have to repay us.