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FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
Concrete Flatwork - Repair & Resurface, Poured Concrete Wall Service, Concrete Foundation Installation,
About us
Foundation Builders LLC specializes in the installation of Basement Egress Windows and Outside Basement Entries for the Northern Kentucky, Greater Cincinnati, & Dayton areas. The owner, Mike Hancock, has over 45 years of experience in the home building and has built nearly 700 homes. Foundation Builders was formed and has evolved into a company that is passionate about helping homeowners who are in need of these two specialty services. Residential customers can make changes and solve problems to their existing homes, entrusting a real and credible professional to take on the job. We are here to help! "No Mess Egress!" Check out our website at www.foundationbuildersllc.com to fill out a site consultation form and we'd be happy to provide a free estimate!
Business highlights
Emergency services offered
27 years of experience
Services we offer
Foundation Builders LLC has been serving the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio area for over 40 years. We specialize in basement egress window installation, outside entry systems and other concrete services. Call us for a free estimate! 513-753-6699.
Amenities
Emergency Services
Yes
Free Estimates
Yes
Accepted Payment Methods
- CreditCard
Reviews
4.744 Reviews
| Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 84% | ||
| 9% | ||
| 2% | ||
| 0% | ||
| 5% |
Showing 1-25 of 44 reviews
Sally S.
Feb 2024
Foundation builders installed the egress window on my basement not only they did a great job but at a very nice price. He can be a bit higher than the other companies but you really get what you pay for. If you want a job done well call them. The weather was not great but they worked through it regardless and that showed dedication. What I love the most about the company is that you don’t have to deal with big corporate companies where you get bounce from one department to the next. Mike the owner is very friendly very accessible he always answers all questions. The job was done in a week and they did an excellent job and they cleaned up the area leaving no mess, it rained the same day not one leakage. I also passed the inspection so I’m very happy with the job. I couldn’t ask for anything better. Thanks foundation builders
Patrick I.
Dec 2021
The window units were delayed due to Covid-19 supply chain issues. But, Michael was great to work with. He kept me informed of the issues. His associates were polite, friendly, and courteous.
Lorie N.
Oct 2021
Highly recommend Foundation Builders! Entire process was seamless and organized -- from the phone call to set up the first appointment with Stacy, to the walk-through and estimate with Mike, to the install and completion of the work. Mike, the owner, is involved in the entire process and oversees all work from his team. I am always attentive and particular when we are getting work done to our home. And I must say, it really is a "No mess Egress" -- the inside of our basement was clean and no dust or dirt, which is truly amazing! We thought for sure that there would be some dirt and dust from cutting through the concrete wall of our home, but there was none, due to their patented containment system. We also had an outside drainage issue that we were not aware of (house drainage system from gutter downspout was not working properly and thus would have affected the drainage from the egress area) that Mike identified and thankfully fixed for us! It is rare you see this kind of attention, service, and quality anymore from a company, but you will find it with Mike. We had other bids and although the other bids may have been slightly less in cost, the other companies could not commit to "no mess" and did not portray the same level of high quality work and professionalism as we felt with Foundation Builders. Best thing we did for our basement and we could not be happier!
Roger F.
Oct 2021
Mike and his crew were great! We had originally ordered an egress window and a walkout, but had to alter our order due to HOA guidelines and Mike was very easy to work with to make the adjustments and we ended up with two egress windows. Billing and administration was also seamless. Can't speak highly enough of the company.
Lisa G.
Apr 2021
I hired Foundation Builders to install a basement egress window for a rental house because I had met with Mike from F.B. and he seemed like a decent and knowledgeable guy, and I liked the no mess concept. I had no idea that it would be a 9 month nightmare. My nightmare began with filing for a building permit with the City of Cincinnati, which is nearly impossible. Much of the needed information required construction knowledge that I didn't have - that's why I was hiring a professional for the job. At first, Mike angrily told me that he knew he should never have come down to Cincinnati for a job because he'd had problems there in the past (why did you then?). Later, Mike promised that I didn't need to do anything else, because they would get the permit. But when months went by with no communication from him, I continued on with the permit process myself. These are a few of things I had to teach myself how to do: submit digital drawings via the required computer program, write a legal covenant, submit it to the City Legal Department for approval, have it notarized and then filed with the county, and then write a RLS and submit it to the City. And I had to do all of this while working as a full-time RN during a global pandemic - fun. But after countless frustrating hours and no contact from F.B. , I got that dang building permit! But that was just the beginning. The first day the crew came late and they tracked dirt through the foyer, down the stairs and in the basement hallway. They didn't sweep up all of the construction debris and the entire room was covered in construction dust. When I sent pictures to Mike, he disputed that his crew had left a mess because he's never had a complaint in 30 years. He insinuated that I was lying and that it was our fault anyway. He said he would notify us when they'd be back so we could better prepare. But again, with no notice, the crew showed up a month later. I had no idea they were there until I received photos from my tenant showing sludge that had dripped down the walls onto the carpet and a camera backpack case. The crew did clean up and when I informed Mike, he said the system failed because the wall was too thick but that he'd replace the $100 backpack because "we need to get something right"! I later found out that he only paid the tenant $25. Two weeks later, I received a call from Mike telling me that the window was finished (again with no notification that the crew had been on site). Given all the missteps, I thought he might actually reduce the price but, incredibly, he tried to charge me $500 more because the wall was thicker than he had anticipated! I was disappointed with two parts of the finished job. Despite the contract stating that excavation dirt would be left in a pile, it was actually all smashed down on top of the lawn, not just around the window but in a much larger area. And the interior drywall and caulking job was sloppy at best. I sent pictures of everything to Mike. At first he replied that the dirt was done that way to drain water away from the wall and something about having to install a taller well than expected. OK, seems reasonable. But then the next AM, Mike texted that he woke up with a feeling that something wasn't right with our job so he looked closer at the pictures and saw how sloppy the drywall looked. He said he'd stop by to look at it and make arrangements to get it corrected. A week later he texted that he went to look and there was nothing wrong with it. Hopefully, my egress nightmare is over. I don't know why this job seemed cursed from the beginning or why I'm the "only customer to complain in 30 years". I'm sure Foundation Builder's has done many fine jobs but I can assure you, mine was not one of them. I'm sorry to say that for me, instead of "No Mess Egress", it was 9 months of "Stress and Big Mess Egress".
Angela B.
Apr 2021
We are very pleased with our new egress window. Mike, Stacy, and the entire crew were quick to respond to my questions and took care of the job, just as they described. There was truly was no mess in our home and everything turned out great! I never knew this type of work could even be done in a pre-existing home.
Mickey M.
Mar 2021
Absolutely horrible experience. Ghosted for over a month after deposit made. Then even after communicating with Mike and Stacy multiple times and clarifying we wanted a 4 foot egress window installed with a steel Lintel they still messed up. Cut the concrete over a foot wider than needed. Didn't install the Lintel and even after admitting he got confused all he could say was 99% of people are happy. They would randomly show up never telling us they were coming, Going into a fenced in backyard where my little kids and dog play without so much as a knock on the door. Completely unprofessional and unapologetic about anything.
Christopher K.
Nov 2020
Excellent job by Mike and his team at foundation builders, their "No Mess Egress" is the way to go, they may cost a little bit more than other companies that we talked to but you get what you pay for! Extremely respectful and hard working team, excellent quality.
Doug I.
Oct 2020
The weather and scheduling delayed the work a bit, but overall they kept me informed. The process takes a while but the no mess egress is great and prevents any mess inside your home. I would definitely choose Mike and is crew for any egress window needs. They are very professional, knowledgeable and up front on cost no hidden fees. I was completely satisfied with my basement egress project.
James G.
Jul 2020
We had great experience with Foundation Builders, the Egress Window Install was exactly what we expected with exceptional quality and minimal mess and disruption. Mike and his crew were very knowledgeable, professional and answered all of our questions. We would definitely use them again.
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"Thank you for the feedback! We appreciate your business and are so glad you are satisfied with the finished product! We would love the opportunity to work with you again, should the need arise."
Jill O.
Jul 2020
Mike was awesome. We hired him because we knew the first time we met him that he enjoyed his work and took pride in what he does. Obviously weather dictates the time frame but between snow, rain, rain and more rain it took longer than expected. But he got it done.
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"Thank you for trusting me to complete your Outside Entry project. I appreciate your patience as you waited for you job to be completed. It was a pleasure working with you!"
Michael K.
Jul 2020
We had to wait several months for our window to be installed, but it was worth the wait! Foundation Builders did what they said they were going to do, the employees were friendly and took care to make sure there was no mess inside my house. I would definitely recommend them to anyone needing an egress window!
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"Thank you [Member Name Removed]! We are happy to hear the completed project was worth the wait! We appreciate your patience as you waited for your project to begin and sincerely thank you for your business."
Katie W.
Jul 2020
The entire project start to finish took about 4 weeks ( not continual) Once the installation itself got started it was about 5 days. The work itself is great and the crews are fantastic. We loved the guys that worked on our install so much we baked them cookies and bought them lunch. There was a few issues with communication on when things would be started but it was minor and always got answered when I inquired. We are very pleased with the finished product, it looks better than we expected!
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"Thank you so much! It was pleasure working with you to complete your egress window project. We appreciate your generosity - the crew on your job enjoyed the lunch and treats your family provided!"
Kevin K.
Jun 2020
It went exactly as Mike said it would. When I called Mike to ask any questions he promptly returned or texted me back.
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"Thank you for your feedback. It was a pleasure working with you to complete your egress project."
John R.
Jun 2020
The owner's communication was not good. All my issues are related to the owner's communications. This process took 4 months and he told me it would take 5 days once it started. We had our basement prepped for 4 weeks prior to completion and a hole in my yard for 3 weeks. During this time we had rain and my basement flooded for the 1st time ever. When the job was completed they left a huge pile of dirt in my side yard. When I reviewed the contract there was a line item with removing dirt and Mike had put a checkmark on it along with several other lines. I thought the checkmark meant the service was included in the price. Buyer beware, none of the checkmarks were included. I got 3 estimates and Foundation Builders was the most expensive one but i thought they would do a great job so I went with them. I wish I had it to do over again, I would have chosen one of the other companies.
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"Thanks for your feedback. Your Site Consultation was on 1/29/20. The proposal we gave you expired 10 days later. You didn’t sign the contract until 3/23/20 - 55 days after your SC. During this time, we sold over 30 windows that were then in line to be completed before yours. If you had signed the contract when it was presented to you in January, instead of waiting until March to hire us, your window would have been completed sooner. During the time of your install, we did have a high amount of rain. According to the National Weather Service, we typically receive 4.9” of rain in May. This May we received 8.16” of rain causing delays beyond our control. We installed the containment inside your home on 5/5. With the rain, the excavating of your job was not able to be started until 5/14. When we started excavating, the gas line was discovered that needed to be moved by Duke Energy. You were made aware of this & you contacted Duke Energy to move your gas line. No work could be done until they moved the gas line. After they moved the line on 5/27, we came out the next day to complete your installation & completed your project on 5/29/2020. You state that during the install, your basement flooded which is not an accurate description of what happened. A small amount of moisture was found on your carpet. The source of that moisture was not able to be found. Your basement did not flood. We apologize that you misunderstood the marks on your contract. We do offer many options at an additional charge. The items you selected were clearly marked with the price being charged written next to the line item. The lines crossing out all options you didn’t choose were never included. Several of the options with lines through them contradict each other. We could not possibly install 3 different size windows - all options that had a line by them. We also did not charge you a travel charge – another option with a line by it. We are happy you are satisfied with the quality of products we installed and hope you enjoy the benefits of it."
Connie R.
Sep 2019
The communication wasn't really all that great at first. There was about a 4 month waiting period. I realized 3 months into the wait that there was another rep that I could've contacted to get things straightened out but this wasn't told to me by the owner. If that information was given to me up front it would've been very helpful in terms of getting in contact with someone else in the company. The actual window well installation itself was done perfectly and they minimized any interior mess. They promised that there would be little exterior mess but, because of rain/mud, it ended up getting messy. I wasn't all that impressed with how the exterior mess looked.
Mike H.
Sep 2019
Getting an egress window is a big decision for most people. I highly recommend Foundation Builders to be the company you go with. Mike and team are very professional, with many years of experience. While there is a cost associated with this work, the end result is oh, so worth it! Adding a 4' x 4' window during our basement remodel has completely changed the look and feel of our basement. Of course it has also added safety so that my family could escape in the event of something catastrophic happening upstairs. I can tell you, the first time you open the door to go down to your basement and don't need to even turn the lights on to see, you will be amazed! My only suggestions are to be sure you have a good plan to deal with the interior and exterior once the window is installed. The amount of dirt that comes out of the excavation is going to 2X what you think it will be. If you already have a finished basement like we do, then you will have some framing/drywall work. Mike's team can also take care of this if need be. One unique point that Foundation Builders brings to the table is "no mess" - and it is true. As mentioned, we already had a finished basement, so didn't want our new floors water damaged, etc., when the concrete saw cut through the foundation. With their process, this was never even a question - no water, no dirt, no mess - throughout the process. I'm also convinced that in the long run this has also added at least as much value to our home as it cost. Highly recommend.
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"It was a pleasure working with you to get your Egress Window installed. We appreciate your business and are happy to hear you are pleased with the finished result. Thank you for your honest review!"
Scott T.
Nov 2018
Mike does a great job informing you about the project, going over the details, and meeting your expectations. His contract with additional options is straightforward and clear. I knew going in that it would take about 10 weeks to start installation, but it was worth the wait. I put down a deposit on 5/17/2018 and installation was complete on 9/20/2018. The project took about a week to complete, and considering we got a bunch of rain during that time, "no mess egress" was what we got. The "plug" they use to seal the wall before the cement cutter does his work holds ups amazingly well afterwards and we got no water intrusion what so ever. His team worked to place the window in the right place, matching existing basement windows already around it. It looks like the house was built with that egrees rght window from the start, you would never known it was added after the fact. Why a new home doesn't come with egress windows is beyond me. We have a finished basement, so that added to the overall price of the project. Mike's team (Tom is great), took care of everything, from cutting out the drywall and refinishing it after the window was installed. I then had my own painter sand down the drywall joints and make everything smooth before he finished things up with primer and paint. It looks amazing.
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"Thank you for your review. We appreciate your business and are happy to hear you are satisfied with the egress window in your basement! Please let us know if we can be of assistance to you in the future."
Matthew M.
Nov 2018
The entire job only took 3 days to complete (it would have taken me weeks) I know Foundation Builders is in high demand, There aren't many other contractors that are capable of providing this type of work. I was on the waiting list for about 2 months months, but worth the wait. They completed the work as promised, and would recommend them to anyone wanting to add a large window to an existing basement. I also understand they offer a door installation to give you a walk out basement !!!!!
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"We are so pleased to hear you are happy with your egress windows and the service you received from Foundation Builders. Thank you so much for the honest review. We appreciate your business and would be happy to work with you again should the need arise."
Zach I.
Oct 2018
It went very well. I was very happy with Mike as well as his helpers Tom and Zach. Tom was knowledgeable, and Zach was a very hard worker, dedicated, and very pleasant to work with. I am extremely satisfied with the final product and would certainly recommend Mike and Foundation Builders to others.
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"Thank you for the review. We are pleased to hear you are happy with the egress window. We appreciate your business and look forward to working with you again in the future should the need arise."
Mandy M.
Oct 2018
Mike and his team were professional and friendly. We had two windows installed and couldn’t be happier with the result. Would definitely recommend them and may be using them again in the future ourselves!
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"So happy to hear you are pleased with the egress windows. We would love to work with you again in the future. Thank you for your business and for the review."
Stacy G.
Sep 2018
We are very pleased with the egress window that was put in by Foundation Builders. The entire crew was very knowledgeable and courteous. Although I was a bit skeptical of the "No Mess Egress", I was beyond pleased with the way there was no mess inside our finished basement and our yard was not damaged at all! The level of professionalism and work ethic shown was top notch.
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"Thank you for the honest review. Providing excellent customer service is our top priority and we are pleased you were satisfied with our work."
Kevin M.
Oct 2017
Good work. Had to wait awhile they were behind on other jobs. Once they began it was completed within 3 days.
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"Thank you for the feedback. We are pleased to know you were satisfied with the finished product."
Ann S.
Jul 2017
They were a bit backed up but communicated well about the delay in starting. The work was completed quickly and well. My yard was not damaged at all, all dirt hauled away, and the window makes an enormous difference in livability as well as safety. They immediately repaired a chipped cinder block when I pointed it out. I wish I had known that there would be no trim, just bare window frame with spray foam around it. All the pictures they show you are of beautifully finished windows. I'll hire a handy man to finish it - that wasn't in the estimate and I should not have expected it. I'm extremely happy and will probably have them put a second one in. Of note, we have had TORRENTIAL rains since the window was done and not a drop has come through it. The well drains well.
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"Thank you for your great review. We are so glad to hear that you are satisfied and we look forward to that second window!"
James C.
Jul 2017
Mike was very good at keeping us informed about the start date due to the spring weather. Started and finished quickly and worked around our schedule. Their no mess system worked fantastically keeping dust and water outside during the cutting process and rains. Mike and his crew were very respectful of our property using mats to protect the lawn and gardens while under construction. The window is great, adds a lot of value and is performing as Mike described. Mike was also the most prompt contractor I have ever worked with. Got back to us within minutes of a quote request, was on time for the survey and was on site every day to oversee and evaluate the progress. We would highly recommend his services and when the basement is complete will update this with both interior and exterior photos.
Response from FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC
"So glad that your are satisfied and very pleased with our work. We take great pride in the details and our mission is to have happy homeowners. Thank you for your review!"
Licensing
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FAQ
FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC is currently rated 4.7 overall out of 5.
FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard
Yes, FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC offers free project estimates.
No, FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC does not offer a senior discount.
Yes, FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC offers emergency services.
No, FOUNDATION BUILDERS LLC does not offer warranties.