Harris Dukes Paving

Multiple cracks in the completed driveway. Top layer is falling apart after one year. Owners will not return any of our phone calls.

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Overall,  I suggest .,.   saying ' thanks'   to him... ' but  no thanks'.

I left a message at more than two companies, which I selected from Angie's List.  Mr Dukes was the first and only one to return my call.  He came and estimated $5100 to do the job.  When I mentioned I couldn't really afford this he said he would do it for about $4000 plus the cost of the drainage tunnel materials which he would pick up for me (estimated at $270.) in order to get the work for his men.  At the time of my original estimate we were having the rainiest spring in memory and that portion of the drive affected by the natural springs was like pudding to a depth of about a foot; the prior asphalt which was here in 2003 when I purchased the property had completely crumbled and disappeared from water freezing and melting repeatedly.  

Work began a week later than expected because the rain kept going.  Approximately 6 men arrived (in addition to Mr. Dukes) and began work, all of whom were pleasant, courteous and businesslike - they worked very hard.   The area was prepared and a very large ditch was dug across the area to be paved - actually much deeper and longer than I had anticipated - which was all to the good.  The tunnel material came only to about $160 for which Mr. Dukes had a receipt.  Old asphalt was removed and hauled away and the area was prepared with truckloads of gravel and stone.  The parking area immediately in front of the garage for a distance of 4 feet from the house was also removed and replaced with stone, since we agreed that the parking area was stable and not water-damaged and needed  only resurfacing without being fully removed, but the 4-foot approach to the garage had to be removed and replaced so that the new surface would be level with the garage floor.  

When the area was completely ready for asphalting, and all the stone and gravel lain and the drainage completed - not only the tunnel to conduct water under the pavement, but also some temporary channels alongside the area to be paved to direct existing water away from the driveway itself in order to allow the driveway to dry out enough for paving, Mr. Dukes told me I could use the driveway but that the actual asphalting could not be done until the area had drained - perhaps a month from then.  Mr. Dukes also told me that he had badly underestimated the cost of materials, that a great deal more was required than expected both labor and materials.  He would bear the labor costs but would like me to pay an additional $500 for materials.  I greed to this, because I believed it, and also because I was favorably impressed by the amount of work done beyond what I had expected.  I had the option to say no to this, I felt - it wasn't just added on the bill without discussion, nor was there any implied threat to stop work or do less.  It seemed reasonable.  

I was able to use the driveway and Mr. Dukes made at least two visits that I know of to check the progress of the drying of the area.  A week later, he showed up with the final materials and completed the job.  I am completely satisfied with the work.  It looks great, and I was amazed at the degree to which planted areas adjacent to the drive were left undisturbed.  It was a careful, professional job that looks fantastic.  There is no mess left behind, although of course I will need to landscape the area where the drainage runs.  A sharpish rise at the road end of the old driveway was reduced to a more gradual slope - which will be very helpful in winter.  A neighbor engaged Mr. Dukes after seeing the finished work, and my brother also has contracted to have his driveway paved with Mr. Dukes.   Mr. Dukes has made a post-work visit to make sure I am pleased and that all is OK.  

At first, Harris Dukes and his crew seemed friendly, responsible, and fairly punctual. The results, however, were subpar to say the least. Despite Harris's promises of a durable surface and flawless drainage, there have been major problems with both. He stopped by late last summer and said he and his men would return shortly to fix the problems we knew about at that point (we have since discovered others). But they never did come back, and haven't returned any of our phone calls. Sure, Harris guaranteed his work for two years. But unless we take him to small claims court, I seriously doubt we'll see him again. Now we're faced with having to hire someone else to finish the job properly.

I had been putting off getting a new driveway for years because it "seemed" just too complicated and big. ugh. I had enough with contractors in general, and just didn't want to deal with another big job. But Mr. Dukes and Harris Dukes Jr. came to give me an estimate and I liked them both right away. Mr Dukes told me what he'd do, he answered my questions, we talked about the price and I made a decision right there. I still felt like...ugh...this is going to be a pain because it is such a big job. We agreed on a date and much to my surprise, he came 2 days earlier after having a cancellation. I was thrilled! They got to work and these guys are PROS -- in every sense of the word. As a female homeowner, I always have "antenna up" for how I am treated and the behavior of the contractors. I usually get fed up with "trash talk" that I can overhear in my house or just less than professional demeanor/behavior. But all of the men who did this work are top of the crop -- polite, kind, friendly, responsive to questions and not engaged in anything except getting down to business. They finished the job in no time at all and my fears about it being "so big", messy and complicated were totally unfounded with this company. My driveway looks fantastic. I only wish I had done this years ago!! I HIGHLY recommend Harris Dukes Paving. They also do concrete and brick work and probably a bunch of stuff I don't know about. I really, really liked them and they did a GREAT job. In this day and age of so many contractors who don't know how to simply get the job done, Harris Dukes Paving is a breath of fresh air!! I'd hire them again without any hesitation.