Complaint Review: Salmeron company - Jersey City New Jersey

Amateur paving and concrete contractor masquerading as experienced craftsmen. As the manager of a mid-sized apartment complex, I was charged with having a small concrete repair and stair tread repair performed. With a career in construction and project managment, I solicited bids from two known contractors and one unknown. The unknown I pulled form The Blue Book normally a reliable source of quality contractors.

Prior to formal bid submittal and review, I was hit with a medical issue that prevented me from being involved in the bid review process, making it necessary for the building owners to decide which company to use for the repairs. It really wasn't een a matterof pricing oit was more an issue of timing as the repairs needed to be performed quickly. Their decision to retain Salmeron was based mainly on that factor as the other two bids were nearly half of the Salmerone bid, but those contractors couldn't free up a crew for the 1-2 day project for at least 3 weeks.

Judging by the price I expected  top notch work completed quickly and competently. What I received and witnessed was a ridiculous comedy of errors and cluelessness that I haven't seen since a middle school arts and crafts project.

It took 2 days for this company to remove 35 s.f. of 3" thick concrete sidewalk, generally a 2 hour job for two men. I questioned every step of this project as it progressed. The "tradesmen at that point told me they were ready to pour concrete. 

Building code and trade stanards call for a minimum of 3 1/2" of aggregate (3/4 stone) and 4" of concrete place on undisturbed earth. I held them to that standard and watch while over the next two days they removed 5" of earth and placed the require amount of stone in the hole, a four hour task at most, two hours of which would be going to pick uo the aggregate. 

Again they claimed ready to pour concrete. I had to stop them and require them to raise the curbside water shut-off and building drain cleanout to the height of the new pour as they wedre ready to pour right over them. A full day to go purchase install the extension. Normally a 15 minute task. 

Finally ready to pour, they had a concrete truck come and place like 3/4 CY of concrete. Generally a pour this small is handled by machine mixing on site as the cost is about 1/4 of having a delivery. After the concrete is place there is a prescrbed course of events that must be performed in specified time intervals. I went over those steps with the 'foremann' and he assured me they would have these done in that fashion and order.

Returning to the building later that day I immmediately saw that the steps of screeding, shaking, floating, jointing and finishing had not been performed correctly. But as concrete waits for no man, there was nothing to be done.

There was also a stone tread to be replaced. Removal went quick, and the install was correct though it took another full day. normally 2 hours work. The problem ensued when it came to the iron rail removal and reset. The rail was already loose when the original tread was removed as the stone had crumbled from around it. To reinstall it a hole needed to be drilled in the new tread, the rail base inserted and a cupful of mortar placed to secure it in the hole.

Instead, the foreman cut the rail and tried to attach it with a screw down stanchion base. Pretty futile and in no way would it ever provide enough lateral stability to hold the railing securely enough to provide a stable handrail.

Pointing this out caused much furor. No thats fine, I was told, it's good, etc. So I went and leaned on the rail (I'm 5'11", 195) and the rail pulled out of the stanchion base letting the rail lean a foot outof plumb. Had it not been secured at the top of the stair it would have toppled. 

This caused much discussion and I placed a call to the owner, Valerie Woodson. We had spoken on at least 4 occasions regarding the trade practices being utilized and each time I was assured the guys knew what they had to do and that it would be done. 

This time I was informed that per contract there was nothing specified regarding installation of railing.  I pointed aout that there was nothing regarding the removal of the railing, and surely nothing about the cutting of the rail base. After days of discussion with the building owner (they no loger wanted to speak with me at all, the sent out a welding subcontractor to repair and install the rail. Failing that they would have never received final payment.

I sent an email to the building owner listing in detail all the errors that were committed during the project, making it clear the I felt the work overall was not to trade standards and that this work would need to be ripped out and redone within five years at most, while A good walkway install of this type should last a minimum of 40 years. In light of that I advised against making final payment as the work was not correct per contract.  The building owners, being diligent with their obligations to contractors and tenants, abided by the terms and made final payment.

Now a year later the concrete work performed is cracked and scaling. I contacted Valerie Woodson 4 months ago, and she promised to send someone out the next day to lookk at the problem. Haven't heard from them yet, and all calls are going to voicemail and not being returned.

After nearly 3 weeks of bungling to complete a 1 day project I have concrete that will need to be replaced next summer as the winters freeze thaw cycle will cause the cracking and scaling to become crumbling. We are pursuing legal action.

What is now a main cauise for concern is that this company is now presenting itself as a home improvement contractor and using servicemagic as another marketing tool. And to be clear, the company address as listed is a parking lot in Jersey City. As a professional I detest scammers masquerading as ME! See my other reports to on other contractors to stay clear of.