[Viking]

In April, 2011, I hired Artisticrete for concrete design for our driveway and lanai, plus they painted garage floor. The price was $3,500 and they did a good job. We really liked the guy that did most of the work, (one of the three brothers) that we gave him our lanai set, since we were getting a new one. In April, 2012, he returned to apply a sealer, which cost about $275. By the way, they also got three other jobs on our street as a result of doing our driveway.

After a while, we began to notice tire marks on the driveway going into the garage. In May of this year, they were doing another job on the block, so I brought him over to look at the marks. He said we can take care of that for you in about two weeks. I said that’s fine. Not hearing from them after three weeks, I called on five different occasions, three times leaving a message with a live person and twice on voice mail. Still no response. I then left an email on their website that I was going to relate my bad experience on Talk of The Villages if I didn't hear from anyone. The next day I received a call from a second brother, who is the sales guy. He came by and said we can take care of that for you and it will look “ten times better”, plus there will be no charge. About a week later one of the workers, came out and tried to remove (and even paint) over the tire marks. He spent 3 ½ hours here, but there was little or no improvement. (Pressure washing did not work either.) He said he would have to talk to third brother, who is supposed to be the top guy in this operation.

After 7 more days with no call, I called them again and got another worker who said none of the brothers was in yet. I told him this is the last call I’m going to make because I have no patience left. Two days later, the worker called and said the top guy had been “out of town”, but they will both come by on September 5th. September 5th came and went with no one showing up or even a call.

Although initially Artisticrete did a good job, I have had it with this company because they are unreliable and unresponsive if you need them to return to a job. Apparently, I am not the only one after I recently read similar complaints on the internet (Artisticrete, LLC Business Review in Leesburg, FL - Central ...). Lesson learned, do your homework.

[Warren Kiefer]

Originally Posted by Viking

In April, 2011, I hired Artisticrete for concrete design for our driveway and lanai, plus they painted garage floor. The price was $3,500 and they did a good job. We really liked the guy that did most of the work, (one of the three brothers) that we gave him our lanai set, since we were getting a new one. In April, 2012, he returned to apply a sealer, which cost about $275. By the way, they also got three other jobs on our street as a result of doing our driveway.

After a while, we began to notice tire marks on the driveway going into the garage. In May of this year, they were doing another job on the block, so I brought him over to look at the marks. He said we can take care of that for you in about two weeks. I said that’s fine. Not hearing from them after three weeks, I called on five different occasions, three times leaving a message with a live person and twice on voice mail. Still no response. I then left an email on their website that I was going to relate my bad experience on Talk of The Villages if I didn't hear from anyone. The next day I received a call from a second brother, who is the sales guy. He came by and said we can take care of that for you and it will look “ten times better”, plus there will be no charge. About a week later one of the workers, came out and tried to remove (and even paint) over the tire marks. He spent 3 ½ hours here, but there was little or no improvement. (Pressure washing did not work either.) He said he would have to talk to third brother, who is supposed to be the top guy in this operation.

After 7 more days with no call, I called them again and got another worker who said none of the brothers was in yet. I told him this is the last call I’m going to make because I have no patience left. Two days later, the worker called and said the top guy had been “out of town”, but they will both come by on September 5th. September 5th came and went with no one showing up or even a call.

Although initially Artisticrete did a good job, I have had it with this company because they are unreliable and unresponsive if you need them to return to a job. Apparently, I am not the only one after I recently read similar complaints on the internet (Artisticrete, LLC Business Review in Leesburg, FL - Central ...). Lesson learned, do your homework.

You should have posted a comment asking about staining of driveways and who would anyone recommend. I have posted at least a dozen responses to such questions. First, I would never use stain again and would have the liquid concrete application instead. Liquid concrete never shows tire marks and seldom needs cleaning of any kind Now to the company, Artisticrete does use the same products but Florida Deck and Pool does a much better job.

[jimbo2012]

I think the best looking driveways are those with pavers, not sure what they charge here but it can't more than $3500.

Last forever.

I know the materiel can be bought for $1 a sq foot, the labor I guess 2 days 2-3 men.

I plan on doing mine later on this year myself, already did my lanai and pool deck it was very straight forward, on a scale of difficulty (1-10) I rate it a 4.

[Ooper]

Be careful with pavers... I have noticed a few homes in my neighborhood where some of the pavers have lifted up and others have cracked.

[billlaur]

thanks for info. I was going to use them but not after your experience, really appreciate it, saves a lot of aggravation..........

[DAWN MARIE]

I've also been warned by a friend who has pavers not to get them. They have broken and cracked and now they are thinking of having them torn up all together. I also was thinking of getting them. Love the way they look. Now am thinking of waiting and doing more research.

[Viking]

Originally Posted by Warren Kiefer

You should have posted a comment asking about staining of driveways and who would anyone recommend. I have posted at least a dozen responses to such questions. First, I would never use stain again and would have the liquid concrete application instead. Liquid concrete never shows tire marks and seldom needs cleaning of any kind Now to the company, Artisticrete does use the same products but Florida Deck and Pool does a much better job.

Thanks for your comments, and you're right, I should have done more research before choosing this type of contractor after we first moved here. They did use the liquid concrete type and, as I said, initially they did a good job, but they evidently put the coating over the tire marks. My problem was with their follow-up if there was a problem. They were very unreliable and unprofessional. My purpose in posting a comment on TOTV was just to alert people of my personal experience with this company.

[Teeitup]

All good info, thanks.

We have been contemplating doing something with our plain driveway since moving in (February of this year), but still haven't decided which way to go.