Kranig Excavating, Inc.

Review: Driveway

Issues here started when company wanted more money to lay down a fabric under the gravel that was not in bid. They said this was better and would be required due to frost in ground. Without this we would have to wait until frost was out of ground. We decided to wait the 3-5 weeks (cost would have been thousands)

The driveway was measured by the excavating company (more than once) and it was determined how much gravel was needed. The contractor ended the final gravel short saying this was all that was allowed in bid and driveway was left unfinished. The driveway is not level and has low spots causing water to puddle. Beginning of driveway is unfinished, steep with no culvert. End of driveway (approximately 100 feet) is unfinished and is 4-6 inches below level of the cement on garage apron. [redacted] had made the driveway wider than originally discussed by the apron and another contractor has had to correct that work at an additional cost. We are waiting to receive a couple of estimates on finishing the work that was done in the driveway to complete the project.

Septic installation

Had estimate for putting in septic system. When time came to install the company said they could not complete the job because trees needed to be removed. Tress were removed and builder [redacted] asked if this was acceptable and if anything else needed to be complete. [redacted] was told it was ok and they would push anything else out of the way

After completion we were told there was a extra charge because they had to remove (push) stuff out of the way. They also dug deeper to put in septic (cost 700)

Had to put in fill because of quality of dirt which contractor said was unknown but this individual had done the house excavation and dug the septic test spots so he was aware of the soil conditions

Conclusion is that this contractor seems to engage in shady/deceptive practices by always having items that are required that increase costs. He never notified us that costs would increase and just expects the home builder to spend unplanned money and this company to make up for placing a lower bid and being awarded the job. Discussed this entire matter with the building contractor and this contractor has been know for doing things like this on past jobsDesired Settlement: Driveway: I have to have another contractor come in and on a real tight schedule to repair and finish the work that the company agreed to do and to do correctly

Other items are completed and have been paid for and lien releases signed so I would prefer that we have no contact with this company

Business

Response:

The frost issue with the driveway in question sounds like perhaps a misunderstanding by the owners. We told the owners, and [redacted], their building contractor, that if we took out 22” of frost to begin installation of their driveway at the time they were wanting us to (February & March 2013), it would need more rock than we estimated. This is quite an obvious extra. Placement of driveway fabric was suggested to support the driveway in wet conditions such as we experienced this spring and the fact that their driveway was through a wooded area. In regard to “puddles” in the driveway, heavy traffic during a construction project and choosing not to use the fabric meant it probably would settle and require more rock to be used than estimated. In regard to comments about the septic system installation, we needed to use pipe bedding material because the conditions were wet and soil borings dug are only to determine the type of system that was required and had no bearing on this. Additional septic risers were required because the piping for the septic system was brought of the house out by their indoor plumbing contractor lower than it was supposed to. That was not under our control. It states in our estimate allowance that if undiggable rock or frost are encountered it may result in costs greater than the estimate amount. I don’t know if our estimate notes were shared with the owners by [redacted], but he was well aware. Weather conditions in Wisconsin play a big part in construction costs, especially excavation and driveway work.

This project was visited with the builder several times and bid twice over the past two years. [redacted] was given estimate amounts 11/27/12 that included maximum allowances for driveway rock and limestone chips for the basement excavation. We have no contract with the owners and they did not pay us directly. In fact, this work should have been a time and material project as [redacted] did not return a signed estimate for any of the work, yet told us to proceed and continue with the work. There were extras on the basement excavation invoice dated 4/3/2013, but also a credit for material we did NOT use. Not all contractors do this. Whether [redacted] passed this credit to the property owners we do not know. The culvert type and size that was included in our estimate was noted very clearly. The septic system riser allowance in the estimate was also clearly stated and the cost per foot if additional risers would be required was stated, too.

We have not been paid in full for work that has been done, or even partial payment for some bills submitted. I was ordered off of the property by one of the owners after trying to discuss the billings with the owners and [redacted], so we were unable to come back to complete some things that should have been done. If we are paid for the work we have done, including the extra costs, and get written permission from the owners that we can come back and finish we will do just that.

We work for several building contractors and their customers and have also worked with many individuals on projects over the years with no problems. If there are any questions or concerns during construction regarding extras or changes required they are answered and resolved after common sense explanations are given to the builders and/or the owners and they are happy and understand completely.

Kranig Excavating, Inc.

P.O. Box 343 – Albany, WI 53502

Ph: [redacted]

Fx: [redacted]

Consumer

Response: