Dickens Concrete

Quote process was OK and performance of the work was done in a timely manner.  However, after one winter season, the concrete started to deteriorate slightly (some small spots where spalling occurred).  After two winters, the spalling was significant - about 25% of the driveway apron surface had spalled.    In 2009, I made numerous calls with no response.  Finally, Dickens responded and agreed to come out and inspect the work.  He claimed the spalling was caused by salt and ice-melting chemicals.  I told him I disagreed - I pointed out that many other concrete driveway aprons in our neighborhood have no such deterioration.  He then said he probably got bad concrete from his supplier, Buckeye Concrete.  He said he'd contact Buckeye and ask one of their experts to look at the concrete.  I never heard from him, and he did not repond to numerous follow-up calls I'm an engineer, so I did some research on concrete and mailed Dickens a follow-up letter indicated the likely cause of the spallling was too little entrained air.  At installation, they probably thinned the concrete with water, which would cause this condition.  Today, I have a driveway appron surface that is 75% spalled and will need to be replaced after just a few years in service. Conclusion: don't have this guy do any concrete work for you.

It went pretty good. He was very pushy on his money and everything. He was kind of grouchy in certain ways and I'll probably never hire him again. The job turned out real good and he did a good job. He said he was going to break up all the back concrete and he couldn't get any power equipment back there so he took a bobcat back there and screwed my lawn all up but he went back the next day and put some dirt and grass in there so he did what he had to do. I couldn't really blame him for that because it wasn't his fault because he had to break up the concrete. He had to use a wheelbarrow so the labor took twice as long and I was paying him by the hour. He was kind of grouchy some times but I?m kind of grouchy some times too so I couldn't hold that against him.

He did a neat job, and he was clean. The job was well done.

They are reasonable although I did ask for a copy of the receipt, but he wouldn?t respond. I felt the price was appropriate.

This wasn?t the first time that we had him out because he is excellent and we are very pleased with the work. The work was exactly what he described it would be and the estimate was exactly what he charged; there were no surprises. He did a beautiful job.

Excellent work. Great price. Worked me in to his schedule quickly so that we could enjoy our backyard. Dickens will haul concrete for smaller jobs so that you don't have to pay for the concrete truck. This is a huge benefit. I will use him again!

Wayne is very good. I had a few other bids for the services and he was the best price and great quality. He seemed very knowledgeable and I highly recommend him. He comes when he says he will and informs you, by phone, if he cannot make it there. I paid him after he completed the work.

EXCELLENT - THIS GUY IS GOOD! HE AND HIS PARTNER DID METICULOUS WORK AND KEPT WORKING THE CONCRETE UNTIL IT WAS PERFECT. I REALLY APPRECIATED HIS WILLINGNESS TO PATCH OTHER PLACES WITH THE EXCESS CONCRETE INSTEAD OF JUST WASTING IT. THIS GUY IS A PRO!

CAME WHEN HE SAID HE WOULD, DID JOB ON TIME, AND HE CHARGED SAME AS HIS ESTIMATED PRICE.