We used this company several times to power wash our siding and were pleased with their work…read more
My last experience with this company changed everything. I apologize in advance for the lengthy review, but it is critical to understanding the situation and type of company this is.
Most recently, we made the mistake of having them power wash and reseal our stamped concrete patio and sidewalks. They patio was installed about 18 years ago and sidewalks within past 3 years. I hired them to power wash the patio and sidewalks, as was done periodically as part of maintenance, but to my dismay when I looked out window, I noticed them using large rotating brush and some cleaning solvent/solution (including letting it set on concrete before running the brush repeatedly over it). As a longtime owner of stamped concrete patio, I never saw anyone use anything but power washer, however I remembered the owner's comments "we do this all the time and maintain some prominent commercial properties in the Lehigh Valley". I thought surely they must know what they are doing. Ironically, when they finished cleaning patio and sidewalk, they said they could return next day to seal after it was dry, but strongly felt "Sealing is a waste of money. I wouldn't seal it, it doesn't need it, there is plenty of sealer left". He said "Look" as he squeaked his shoes on concrete.
A few hours later, after it dried, my nightmare started. It became obvious that they absolutely destroyed the finish. I called immediately. At first the owner seemed responsive and promised to "make it right". He came the next day and acknowledged "I don't know what happened, this never happened before, but clearly we messed up" and again assured me "we will make it right". Initially I was pleased with his responsiveness and thought to myself "this is an honest/reputable company and man". I soon realized how mistaken I was.
I had several experts and installers look at it and talked to numerous other concrete specialists. I know the owner did as well. No one would touch it. The consensus was:
1. The finish was blown off and there isn't much you can do to fix it
2. No reputable cleaning company would use any thing but water to clean stamped concrete (maybe bleach and hand brush in spots).
3. The finish was destroyed by either too high water pressure, too close of nozzle, cleaning solution, large rotating brush, or a combination of these factors. One expert suggested maybe sand/dirt/rock got trapped in brush which caused it to act as sandpaper/grinder.
This is when things started to fall apart and the commitment to resolution faded, I think the realization that there was no quick or cheap fix set in. The owner became much less responsive, more annoyed when I called, and even started to blame me! He suggested maybe you didn't seal it often enough, maybe it's because you didn't shovel the snow off, maybe it's because of high foot traffic, maybe it's because of the sun. Forget the fact that in 18 years this never happened and the 3 year old sidewalk looks worst than the 18 year old patio. Forget the fact the finish was destroyed only in certain areas, forget the fact that it occurred where there was little foot traffic and in both sun and shade alike. It was laughable as much as it was insulting. Own your mistakes, as you did initially!
I could have got a lawyer involved and easily won, especially since I have "before pictures" (taken same day before they arrived) and "after pictures". It went back and forth for months, then winter came. In hindsight that was probably his game plan all along (run out the clock until I became weary). Then the global pandemic hit and I never heard back from the company.
This is not the type of company that should be rewarded with future business which is the point of this review. I am the type of person who prefers supporting good family run small businesses. I tend to be loyal and recommend my "good finds" to family and friends. My loyalty failed me here because I trusted someone who did a good job in past and seemed so trustworthy with "We will make this right". No trustworthy and honorable company would in good faith leave a customer in this situation.
