Vanguard Building Solutions

Review: Vanguard was hired to repair/replace brick on front porch/stoop and sidewalk. While the brick Mason completed above mentioned work, no one has returned to complete cleanup of residual mortar. We were told via email and phone that the cleanup and pressure washing would be done on Tuesday, February 9, 2016. Allowing for the inclement weather during February, we have waited 30 days, yet no one has contacted us.

I contacted [redacted] of Vanguard Building Solutions via email on Thursday, March 10, 2016, and called him as well later that morning. When we spoke, he said he would get back with me later that day or on Friday and could probably complete the work before the weekend. As of today he has not attempted to contact us.

If this is the quality/caliber of this company's work, woe be unto anyone who chooses to hire 'em!

Our home is now left as an eyesore in our neighborhood!Desired Settlement: Completion of removal of residual mortar from porch and sidewalk by a reputable company with solid knowledge of masonry work. Perhaps this would be best done by someone other that Vanguard Building Solutions and [redacted].

Again, this result is not what we were told would be done. Our home is an eyesore!

Business

Response:

I have completed pressure washing the brick stoop and sidewalk. The stoop is far from an eye sore it's actually the built correctly and looks better than the neighbors thst surround her. Attached is pics from when we started after the contractor failed the job we took it from there and finished it.

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.The pictures submitted by Vanguard are not reflective of actual project. The picture showing gravel base was work being done by the initial contractor, not Vanguard. The picture showing the brick sidewalk reflects the work done by Vanguard. If one looks closely at this picture, you can see there is no mortar in the spaces between the brick. Therein lies the problem. I hired Vanguard to complete the porch and sidewalk project, which included laying brick on the top of the porch and the sidewalk. This was done. However, when they applied the mortar, instead of filling the spaces between the brick, the mortar was smeared over the brick like icing on a cake! We were told they would return an a day or two to pressure wash the residual mortar off. They also stated the rain, which had been forecasted, would wash it off. The rain did not wash away the surface mortar. No one from Vanguard called or returned for the next month. [redacted] finally called after I reported this issue to the Revdex.com. He did come to pressure wash the brick on Wednesday, March 16, 2016. When he realized pressure washing would not resolve the problem, he then went to purchase muriatic acid, hoping this would remove the mortar. It did not. My porch and sidewalk remain covered with mortar, looking grey instead of the red brick we were expecting.What can be done to correct this problem? My husband and I suppose we are either left with this eyesore or we will have to find a licensed Mason who can offer sound advise as how to proceed.

Regards,