f you're in the market for poor quality work, flawed construction, inferior materials, unethical practices and nonexistent customer service....then F&B is the concrete contractor for you!
F&B poured a small (22' x 25') driveway pad at our newly built home in late July of 2017. Within months, the concrete was covered in Spider-Cracks (surface cracks resembling fractured glass) and Spauling (surface pop-outs and flaking). Paul, owner of F&B gave me every excuse for the concrete issues, freely admitted that F&B has been having this issue with their concrete driveways since 2015. He blames the issue on road salt and the raw materials that are supplied by United Materials of Cheektowaga.
I really don't care why it is happening. All I know is that I paid for, and was expecting, a new concrete pad that would/should last decades, not months. Paul would not take any responsibility for the issue. He poured my concrete pad and took my money, most of it in cash (of course, he's a contractor....why should he have to pay income tax), knowing all along that the "raw material" was defective. He never warned me beforehand of the Spauling issues that would follow.
Paul's remedy for my deteriorating concrete...."seal the concrete twice a year (every year), never power wash it because it will pop-out (Spaul) the surface....and do not allow any heavy vehicles on it".
This past September 2019, Natalie Builders had F&B replace (at F&B's expense) six of their defective driveways at the Avalon Meadows Patio Home development in East Amherst. Also, this past July 2019, Essex Homes had F&B replace six more additional defected driveways (at F&B's expense) in their Waterford Patio Home Development in the town of Clarence. These driveways were only replaced because the Builders and the Homeowners Association put pressure on F&B to do so. Unfortunately, my Builder (Mordeno Homes) is not interested in helping me in this matter. F&B (Paul) is one of Mordeno's Subcontractors and Jim Mordeno will not oppose him.
I have called & texted F&B dozens of times throughout the past two plus years, I call the office and I call and text Paul's personal cell phone. Not once, since July of 2018, has anyone picked up the office phone or Paul's cell phone. I leave long/detailed phone & text messages explaining my issues with my concrete driveway. Again, not since July of 2018 have I received a response back.
This was a custom, new build home and our driveway should reflect that. We should not have to accept a driveway that is falling apart 6-months after it was poured. I do not feel that it is my duty nor my responsibility to scrub and seal this pad twice a year and "Baby" this concrete (for the rest of my life???) in order to keep it from total destruction.
I have spent way to much time, effort and money. I have preformed four costly and time consuming concrete sealing applications to this concrete (so far)...and all what remains is "a deteriorating driveway".
July 2018 was the last time I was "privileged" to speak with Paul. He suggested that I should pay for and "get a Core Sample taken from my driveway by an independent lab", then "have it analyzed for its composition and PSI". I spent hours online and on the phone trying to find such a service. I should not be the one having to do, and pay for, any of this...the Spauling & Spider Cracking was not any fault of mine and I am asking Paul as the concrete contractor to please do something about it!!! This is a mere 550 sq' concrete pad, less than half the size of a typical driveway pour. I deserve my money back....a full refund, including the time and expense I have put into keeping this lousy driveway alive!
BUYERS BEWARE of F&B!!! Their Spauling & Spider-Cracking is VERY Prevalent and F&B will not dare WARN you of this! If you live in a Development with an HOA and have a reputable & responsible Home Builder, you may have some recourse and get results. Otherwise, like me, you are on your own....having to deal with a dishonest company and an owner (Paul) of no ethics and no conscience. read more
