Centerbeam Foundation Co

Mr. Serene was referred to us by another foundation company. Whom they used for pier and beam. He, being Centerbeam Foundation Co., was one of 5 foundation companies I interviewed. Mr. Serene made a compelling presentation. The front of my daughters 900 sp ft late 1950's house had dropped by 2 + inches. pushing out the brick in the front of the house allowing gaps around the windows. There was another concern I had had for some time. A give in flooring at the front door entrance. In order to stabilize the treshold we put wood in between the floor and threshold. I really didn't know who to call to fix that particular situation. Mr. Serene told me it's foundation repair companies do that sort of repair. After getting under the house he told us that it was very dry just some condensation from the air handler. He explained what beams needed to be replaced and assured my duaghter and I that when he put in the new needed beams and shimmied it up it would correct the situation. Also any wood that needed to be replaced would be replaced, He explained the process. The initial quote was $1750.00. Although this was the lowest quote I had received, he was after all referred to us as the "pier and beam expert" He prepared a proposal and went on his way. I interviewed other companies the least expensive being $3,000 which included 13 piers. But I really was compelled to believe what Mr. Serene had said about the failure. He did a follow up call and discounted his price to $1500. Eventually I did select him. Then he wanted $1,000 for material purchase as downpayment. BIG MISTAKE! On Sat. 8/2/08 he arrived with his crew of two men. I went to excercise class as I do every saturday morning and sent my husband ahead. I knew it would be an all day job if not longer based on my previous experience with slab foundation work. Much to my suprise Mr. Serene was requesting another $1,000.so my husband sent my daughter to my class for a check. When I got out of my class they were already completed and I knew it was all wrong. The threshold hadn't even been touched. The brick pushed out even further, now the front living room windows were crooked. Mr. Serene said that this was normal and that the settling would take 90 days. He would be back to make adjustments. During that 90 days we experienced a bulging in the bathroom flooring. Cracks began to show inside the house. The floor was wavy and the flooring in the hallway where the water heater is located had suddenly dropped. 90 days came and went no Serene. The phone number on the business card was not good. FInally after 6 months my husband came across another business card that had another number inked in. When I called Serene he did showed up. He assured us it was the settling and if we would put up rain gutters everything would be okay. Two years later my daughters house has completely failed. The outside brick has separated. The inside is now over 3 inch drop and now there is so much interior work to be done. Every company that has been out for new estimates has said that Russell Serene did not know what he was doing and what he did would have to be removed. What a nightmare! I am in pursuit of Mr. Serene to obtain a judgment against him. However, I can't find him. The address on the contract/warranty is not a good address. When I called he said you have an attorney let them find me. There's more to the story as I tried to hold him accountable for that pivotal moment when he jacked up the price. But I think you get the picture. If it's too good to be true well then it is. That's my personal experience with Russell Serene Centerbeam Foundation Co.