Lenz Custom Concrete, LLP Concrete contractor cheat crook lied liar scam scammer custom stamped brian lenz Internet, Internet

On 2/17/2010 I saw an ad on Craigslist offering the following: 20X30 Stamped concrete patio for $2900
The offer included: Grading, Sprinkler relocation, Gravel, Labor, Concrete, 2 colors and sealer.

I replied to the Craigslist ad and CCd: bllenz@aol.com

Hi,
I have been wanting a beautiful concrete patio like you have pictured but am about $900 short. What can we do to compromise? I have a 10X20 plain concrete patio that I have been wanting to double and have stamped and colored to look like natural stone. Don't know if its cheaper or possible to re-use the existing patio and extend.

Thanks,
Tony
(((phone number redacted)))


Brian responded via email on 2/18/12:

tony,
give me a call have some questions I am sure we can do something.  brian 989/6119
 
On 2/20/22? Brian came to the house. I had laid out the shape of the area I wanted poured. I also showed Brian where I was planning a future add on which would require footings underneath the concrete. He told me if I dug the holes he would just fill when he poured.  At the time I was very specific in telling Brian that I wanted what was offered in the Craigslist ad and that I had been wanting a stamped concrete patio of this size for a long time and that I had been saving for it, but if he could not do it for what I could afford, which was $2000, I would rather wait until I could save enough and get what I wanted. I offered to do labor if that could make it fall within mu budget. He assured me we could do this if we removed the walk-way that I had outlined on the yard. I did agree to this and redid the shape of the patio while Brian was there. Then we went inside and I picked my colors. I also looked at some of his projects where he had left a hole for a fire pit. I talked about this and he said he could do that if I wanted it for no charge. I told him I would think about it but probably would not do it. He wrote up the contract and I wrote him a check  for of the bid amount of $2184 ($1092).
 
On 2/20 and 2/21 My girlfriend and I relocated all the sprinkler heads, moved the old gravel and concrete curbing out of the area to be poured, dug the 3 footing holes, and marked off the area that I wanted to leave unfilled for a fountain water fountain (instead of a fire pit as we had discussed). I sent Brian this email (with pics) on 2/21/2012:

Brian,
I am taking Friday off so that I can be there for the pouring. i just wanted to make sure we were planning on site prep Thursday and pouring Friday, correct?

I had a few things to go over with you;

- Would you bring the color charts Thursday please, so I that  I can take one more look if it's not too late? I'll be there around 2:30.

- The dirt, I don't think there will be a lot. if that's true I'd like to keep it and re-distribute it around the property myself. If you can fill that small pond that would be great but if not that's OK to. Would it work if I lay out a tarp near the site for your crew to pile the dirt on?

- That pole that is holding the gate on the East edge of the new patio is leaning a little. I will straighten and brace it if you could include it in the pour area that would help shore it up. You can pour up to the gate and then I will saw off enough to allow it to swing inwards open.

- There is a faucet, a vent and an outlet  near that gate that will need a well around before the pour, I set a wooden table and some wood there. The well needs to be about 4 1/2 ft wide and 16" - 18" from the wall. (Pic attached) - There is also a buried 110V wire that takes power to the waterfall. It runs from the outlet box near the faucet, underground along what will be the East edge. Please be careful not to cut it while excavating. Go ahead and pour over the part on the ground that goes to the outlet on the wall as well as the sprinkler line that is feeds the head that is attached to same pole. (pic attached)

- I would like about 3' circle on the new patio but instead of being for a fire pit I'll use it for the fountain that I had on my patio. I will fill it with gravel and center the fountain on it. I would like to run a PVC pipe from the outer edge of the patio to the center of the hole for electric and water supply line and have you pour over it.(pic attached. just to give idea where)

- I dug 3 holes for the footings for the future posts. I wanted to ask you if there is an easy way to discretely mark the spots where the footings are. If not I'll just mark the walls and measure out from there and record those measurements.

Sorry the pics are crappy. Let me know if you have questions, otherwise I'll see you Thursday around 2:30.

Thank you,
See you Thursday
Tony
(((phone number redacted)))
 
On Friday 2/24/12 Brian and his crew came out and did a site prep. On this morning I also asked Brian to change my concrete color from salmon to a lighter color. I also asked about the other item in my email that he never replied to; the hole for the water fountain. He said Sure, but it will cost about $35 for that. Hr had originally told me he would do that no charge.

At one point Brian and one of his workers went somewhere and left a third crewmember (Pedro) behind. I was off that day and watched Pedro actually go in my shed, which was not locked, and grab a shovel out of it and start using it to remove sod. I couldnt believe how bold this was but I knew he knew I was home, or at least I thought he did so I figured he would surely return it when done. I was wrong. When the crew left that day I searched my yard and the shed, and had my son double check with me just to make sure I hadnt missed it. It was definitely no longer on the property. I emailed Brian Sunday 2/26/12. I had to carefully word my email so as to allow him to save face and call it an accident so I could get my shovel back because I figured if I outright said he stole it he would deny it and Id never see it and have issues with the pouring which was to happen Monday 2/27/12. In the email I also asked about changing the color back to my original choice of salmon
 
On 2/26/11 I emailed Brian

Hi Brian,
I hope you are having a good weekend. Friday when you and the other guy (Miguel?) left, Pablo was using my shovel to remove sod. Not a problem, but it looks like it must have gotten mixed in with your equipment when you left, because it is no longer here. It has a yellow fiberglass handle. I believe it is a Stanley. Please get that back to me.

The other thing is. I have been going over the colors and if it's not too, late I'd like to stick with my original choice for the base color: salmon. Thanks Brian! See ya tomorrow.

-Tony

I also sent Brian a Text message to let him know that I had sent him an email regarding my shovel and the concrete color
Brian texted back about the color change request telling me it would cost me $60 to change it now. I thought this was very strange since they had not mixed anything yet and would not do it until the day it was to be picked up. I knew he was just trying cheat me out of extra money out so I told him to never mind, I would stick with the last color I had chosen.

On Monday 2/27/12 They poured the concrete patio and by the time I got home they were loading up. I asked about my shovel and they pointed to it in the yard and acted as though it had been there all along.  I asked Brian if the sealer was already on of if that has to go on later. He replied; No, it has to dry first. I asked when he would put it on. He replied its supposed to rain so he will watch the weather forecast and when he sees a few sunny days he will be out and put it on then. I asked if I would need to call him to do it of if he would just come out and do it when he had the opportunity. He said he would just come out and do it.

After they left I did not see much color contrast as I had selected 2 colors. The second color was very dark and I was not seeing it at all. So I texted Brian; Hey Brian, as it dries Im only seeing one solid color, shouldnt the contrast be more noticeable?

He replied:
You will see more once its dry and cure out and seald
 
I left all the furniture and BBQ off the patio as I was planning on having the sealer before moving everything back. I also watched the weather forecast and saw that on Friday 3/2/12 and the next 5 days they were calling for sunshine. I texted Brian on 2/29 7:24 AM
 
hi brian, the weather report is sunshine Friday through the weekend, could you please do the seal Friday so I can put my bbq and stuff back this weekend?
 
Did not hear back so re-sent  text at  12:46 PM
 
Still did not hear back so texted again at 2:38 PM
 
brian, just checking to see if your getting my txt messages. I sent 2 earlier about Friday
 
At 2:42 PM brian finally replied:
 
Tony this is brian I;ve been out of phone service all day I reviewed the original document when you signed up 4 concrete there was no sealer included in that price review your copy I believe its the same if I do this either there will have to be a charge and it will probly be about 450 bucks
 
Again trying to cheat me out of extra money.
 
We exchanged words and I threatened to report him to the BBB. He replied
You do it you gotta do tony I will then take a copy of the receipt t6o the better business bureau show what was included and then I will sue your a*s for deposition of character n your text message says about me put the sealer on at my expense you show me proof on my price other than that any bad remarks I will have no choice but to take you to court in sue you4 false reporting
 
This is when I realized he had omitted actually listing  the sealer  in the written bid even though we had spoken about it several times and he never once told me that it was not included. In my opinion he intentionally led me to believe that the sealer was in the bid all the way up to the point that I had paid him in full. He specifically told me he would watch the weather and I would not have to call him, that he would come out and put it on when he saw a few sunny days in a row.
In my opinion this man is a crook and a liar and he intentionally cheated me by omitting the agreed upon sealer but only after he had received the balance of payment from me.
  
Since Brian claims the cost of sealing the concrete was an additional $450 in his text message I would accept a refund in the amount of $450 for the work left undone or consider having the work done by another contractor of my choosing. I would not want to have any further contact with Brian Lenze nor have his business as I have lost all respect for him and would not believe another thing he told me  or trust his work ethic.

Contact info:
bllenz@aol.com
http://www.lenzcustomconcrete.com/
Lenz Custom Concrete, LLP
18319 Ustick Rd.
Boise, ID, 83705
PHONE (208) 989-6119
Fax: (208) 498-2046

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