Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/03/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I hired Makki in June 2024 to carry out the demolition, reconstruction of my backyard concrete patio, and the reinstallation of deck posts. Before the project began, their project manager repeatedly assured me that their work, which involved using advanced s**** piles instead of traditional deck posts, would completely resolve the deck's tilting issue caused by soil expansion and contraction. The construction was completed in June 2024, and I paid the full amount of $11,966. However, in less than six months, I noticed that the newly installed concrete patio had developed large cracks. I reported this to the project manager on December 2, 2024, and sent him photos. He promised to address the issue in the spring of 2025 when the weather improved. By February 24, 2025, I discovered that the newly installed concrete patio was too high and had lifted, causing damage to part of my exterior wall siding due to compression. I immediately contacted the project manager, who came to the site, removed the damaged siding by hand, discarded it on the ground, and told me that an engineer would come to assess the situation and provide a solution. However, no one ever came. After that, the project manager stopped answering my calls and ignored my voicemails. Two days later, he sent me an email stating that the damage was caused by weather conditions and that they could not take responsibility. I then filed a complaint with the company, but they shifted all the blame onto me. When I provided irrefutable evidence, they chose to stop responding entirely. As a result, I have no choice but to seek help from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and hope that you can help me protect my legal rights. Thank you very much for your attention.*****

  

  Business Response

  Date: 10/03/2025

  After a thorough review, we stand by our work, as the issues reported are due to external environmental conditions and improper maintenance, not workmanship or material defects.

  Makki Demolition was hired to demolish and reconstruct a concrete patio and reinstall deck posts using s**** piles. The project was successfully completed, and full payment was received, indicating client satisfaction. At no point did we guarantee against soil shifting, weather-related conditions, or site drainage issues.

  Several factors beyond our control contributed to the reported issues:

  Improper Water Drainage & High Water Table: Photos confirm backyard grading directs water toward the slab, preventing proper drainage. Additionally, downspout extensions were disconnected, further increasing water accumulation.

  Snow Accumulation & FreezeThaw Damage: Large amounts of snow were shovelled against the deck posts and patio, leading to excessive meltwater pooling, freezing, and causing soil expansion that lifted the patio.

  No Workmanship Defects or Warranty for Soil Movement: The work met industry standards, and no defects were reported at the time of completion. Mr. **** has provided no documentation proving a guarantee against environmental soil shifts.

  On December 2, 2024, Mr. **** contacted us about cracks. We promptly responded and offered an inspection in spring 2025 when conditions allowed.

  On February 24, 2025, further movement was reported. Our project manager visited the site and confirmed external water issues.

  While we take customer concerns seriously, we cannot be held responsible for external site drainage issues, downspout maintenance, snow accumulation, or extreme weather conditions. These factors are beyond our control and unrelated to the quality of our work.We remain open to offering guidance on remediation solutions, but repairs required due to environmental factors are not our responsibility.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 20/03/2025

   
  Complaint: 23044728
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Actually, I have already negotiated this issue with Makki Demolition via email, but they have been using the same excuses to ***** their responsibility. However, I have already refuted their unreasonable arguments one by one in my reply to them. Since they had no way to counter my response, they simply chose to stop replying. Now, I will once again clarify the situation based on what they have claimed.

  Before the project started last year, my original deck had tilted due to one of the posts rising, and the concrete patio that was originally laid had also developed cracks. So, I searched online for companies that could address these issues and contacted several businesses, including Makki Demolition. Their project manager came to inspect my home and pointed out that the reason my deck was tilting was that the original builder used the traditional deck post installation method and did not bury the posts deep enough. He assured me that they would use s**** posts instead of the traditional method, ensuring that the posts would be buried below the frost line. This way, even if the soil shifted, the posts themselves would not be affected.

  This was the main reason I decided to hire them for the project. If he had not promised that the posts would no longer rise with soil movement and convinced me, I would never have hired them. Because my fundamental goal is to completely resolve the issue of deck posts being lifted by frozen soil. Please note that their response stating they never promised that the soil would not move is a deliberate misrepresentation. They never said the soil wouldnt move, but they repeatedly assured me that even if the soil moved, the s**** piles, being buried below the frost line, would ensure the posts themselves would not be affected. This was the fundamental premise of this project.

  As for their claim that melting snow caused the concrete to crack, that makes absolutely no sense. Just look at the date I first emailed the company about the concrete cracksDecember 2, 2024. At that time, ******* was in the middle of winter, and there was no melting snow at all. Then I would like to ask them: Since there was no melting snow, how could soil movement have been caused by melting snow?

  Based on my current observations, I believe the possible causes of the current situation are as follows:

  1. The concrete used in the project did not meet quality standards and had performance defects, causing it to crack in a very short period.
  2. The construction process did not follow standard procedures, leading to defects in the concrete platform that resulted in rapid cracking.
  3. Although s**** piles were used, they were mistakenly integrated with the concrete patio during the pouring process, causing the concrete platform to lift the piles along with it when it shifted.
  4. Since the concrete patio cracked prematurely in the winter, it lost its intended function of preventing snowmelt from seeping into the ground during the thawing season, leading to even more severe consequences.

  So, this is clearly a construction-related issue caused by the contractors mistakes, and they must provide a solution.

  For a company that wants to survive in the Calgary market long-term, integrity and accountability are the most basic qualities. What they should do now is send someone to communicate with me further and work out a solution, rather than trying to shift the blame. They also mentioned that I paid the full amount promptly after the project was completed. This was a sign of my trust in them, as well as my trust in the BBB accreditation. However, I now feel that they have betrayed that trust. So far, aside from the project manager spending five minutes inspecting the site, I have not seen anyone conduct a further investigation. I have called and left numerous messages for the project manager, but he has ignored all of them. Their company has only this one public contact number, and after realizing they could not provide a reasonable explanation for my rebuttal email, they have completely stopped responding.

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ****

  

  Business Response

  Date: 20/03/2025

  Dear *****,

  
  We appreciate your continued communication and the opportunity to address your concerns. Our goal has always been to ensure that our work meets industry standards and customer expectations, and we regret that you are dissatisfied with the outcome of your project.

  To clarify, Makki Demolition completed the demolition and reconstruction of your concrete patio and the installation of s**** piles for your deck posts as per the agreed-upon scope of work. While s**** piles provide greater stability, they do not eliminate the natural effects of environmental conditions, which can still impact surrounding concrete and soil. Which is why we would not have provided a guarantee on that.

  Regarding the reported cracks in the concrete patio, we recognize your frustration, but concrete is subject to expansion and contraction due to temperature changes, moisture levels, and soil movement. While we take care to follow proper construction techniques, external factors such as water drainage, freeze-thaw cycles, and soil conditions remain beyond our control.

  We understand that you believe the cracks and shifting are due to construction-related issues. However, based on our observations, we have not found evidence of workmanship defects, nor have you provided any evidence.

  As for communication, we apologize if you felt unheard. Our team has responded to your concerns and provided explanations based on our findings. While we may not always be able to provide the resolution a client hopes for, we do our best to engage in constructive discussions.

  Thanks,

  Makki Team

  Customer Answer

  Date: 25/03/2025

   
  Complaint: 23044728
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  I cannot accept Makki's unreasonable arguments in bad faith. I have provided sufficient photo evidence and time-stamped proof to refute their irresponsible excuses. However, they have failed to provide any substantive explanation or show any willingness to resolve the issue face-to-face.
  I hope that the BBB will urge them to uphold the commitment they made when obtaining BBB accreditationto genuinely care for their customers, take responsibility for their work, and protect their company's reputation. They should propose a solution as soon as possible. Otherwise, I will formally file a lawsuit against them in the Alberta court to protect my legal rights.

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ****