Overall, great concrete work, but it's not someone that is easy to work with if you expect professional courtesy and timeliness (as others have said in reviews).
Maybe I should have read all previous reviews and not most when hirining Brown Concrete Services.
After hiring BCS, we were setup to have the work completed the following week. I sent in pictures, a rough guess of 600 sq ft, and offered to allow them to come out if needed to measure or check out the work area (they declined). As the following week came to an end, they asked if they could do the work on Saturday and we agreed with no concerns and even planned to pay in full at that time.
Derek and his son showed up on Saturday and literally took the top layer of sod off of about two-thirds of the area where work was to be completed. Since they weren't doing much, I wasn't going to pay someone in full at this point. They left with a plan communicated to us that they'll form this out and concrete would be poured Mon at noon.
Knowing there is no form or prepped work area, I reached out around 11a on Monday to inquire on if they are performing any work on Mon. I get a call within the hour that informs me people didn't show up for a job but they'll be out in a little while to finish prep work and form the area out in a couple hours. As I get home around 6p, there's still no work done so I call Derek and am sent to voicemail on the second ring and I leave a message that "there have been two missed appointments now, I would like to know the plan for finishing my job." A couple hours later Derek calls back to dispute and argue with me that he hasn't missed two appointments, he's had bigger jobs to do that are more important than mine, that he's not trying to screw anyone over, and other exchanges. This literally became a 13 min argument on the phone just because he wouldn't communicate when he would do the work (so don't be surprised if you hire him and he has terrible people skills and timeliness) and because I am holding my ground on what was communicated to me. In this exchange I also learn his wife does all the scheduling, so in not so many words she is partially to blame too based on what was said.
Tuesday I get a message that they'll be out around 2p. to finish the prep work for the space and there is a crew that comes that afternoon and finishes up the prep and leaves piles of dirt, grass, etc. on top of our sodded yard when they could dump it less than 20 feet away where they dumped it all on Sat.
Tuesday evening we are told the soonest he can get concrete is Thursday at 8a so they will be out then. Wed night, we get a message that there is a 70 percent chance of rain, he hasn't cancelled concrete, but will check in the morning on the weather. Thursday around 330p we finally here that they will now be out at noon on Friday. Either his forecast showed rain, because it didn't until the evening (less than 40 percent) at our house, or he had another bigger job again.
Friday they show up and finish up the prep work and pour the concrete for the back slab. The work itself looks really good, they framed it up close to the door as they said they would, there is a good slope, and they cut it in to the concrete at the bottom of the steps we have that is required for our wood deck stairs. They did a really good job with leveling and putting the broomed/brushed finish on the surface. The next morning, they showed up and placed the necessary cuts into the concrete and took away their tools and lumber used to frame it out. The only feedback to share about the work from Fri and Sat is some splatter left on the house, our back door, and back window from the pouring on Fri.
Overall, I would say that Derek of Brown Concrete Service do great work and that the actual work performed looks very good, it's actually a touch bigger than I initially thought it would be based on where they were able to extend out to the deck as we requested, and I asked for his card in case any others want work like this done.
The caution/warning/feedback to prepare yourself with - if it's a "smaller" job don't expect it to be as important or a priority and don't hold a firm date in your head if one is given (I'm not the only one with this feedback, read others) and don't expect great people skills of you question him.
I told Derek this and still mean it (he wasn't even the cheapest bid - but every review says his work, once completed, is very good) that I believe in supporting locally owned and operated businesses and that I saw his work is good. While I got frustrated and I frustrated Derek, he did the GOOD WORK I expected and hoped for once it was done and we are happy with our new concrete area. read more
