Southern York County Life

Hello all.

I was wondering if anyone had a similiar situation or a recommendation of someone to use.  I had my driveway sealcoated recently.  Never having done this before, I just went with someone who did a friends driveway, JMA Enterprises.  Well the experience hasn’t less than professional.  I have a steep driveway, and with the rain the last week, I found that I cannot get up the driveway with my car, it’s too slick.  I did some research, and found that a sealer with sand in it should have been used.  I called JMA back, and they want to charge full price again for the job.  Which is basically unacceptable, they’ve lost me as a future customer.  Does anyone have any recommendations on whom I could use to resolve this problem.

As for JMA Enterprises, please be aware of their business practices.  Once he got his money, he didn’t stand behind his work.  He touted 30 years of experience, yet he was unknowledgable enough to know to use a sealcoater with sand, and then wouldn’t compromise in fixing the problem.  He told me to use a sealcoater with sand, “high traction” it would have cost me $70 more for the whole job, but he now wants $250 to redo it, and that’s not the whole driveway, just the incline.  I offered to pay the extra $70 and meet him halfway on the difference, so $150, but he wouldn’t budge, suggesting that I could buy the sealcoater from him and do it myself for $120.  Not only that, but he suggested that he may not have the time to correct the problem as he has other jobs that are his bread & butter that he must attend to.  Well, that’s not my concern, it should have been done right the first time.  Unfortuneatelyl, I did not know enough about driveway sealcoating to advise him what he needed to use.  Fair warning, beware JMA Enterprises.

I used him once, then I made a mistake and asked him for a quote to seal my deck and he never responded, but he kept sending me postcards.

His work is clean, pretty smooth, but when I used him his price was around $105 for the standard driveway in the Station. I thought it was steep, but I figured I was paying for keeping my ankles clean.

Well next summer rolled around and the driveway started to fade and I start getting his postcards telling me its time to re-seal. What?

Did some research, the $19.99 barrel of driveway sealant at Home Depot had a 7-year warranty and was allegedly the stuff they used on airports. So I bought 3 of the buckets and did it myself, yeah got my ankles dirty. So I spent $60 2.5 years ago and haven’t done anything since. I will probably re-do next spring or summer only because I did have an area or 2(or 3...) that I spread it a little too thin and its wore(not faded) off.

So on top of his careless attitude of what he stands behind or his failure to get quotes for addition services he offers, I believe his sealant isn’t up to par with the good stuff you could get at Home Depot or Lowe’s.

My suggestion to you would be go up to the courthouse and file papers(or at least talk to the lady’s there) to at least try and get your money back. It seems to me you were cheated. The only issue I believe it costs like $130(recent experience) to file. So of course that creates a problem as well, if the judge would happen to rule against you, then you would almost be out double the money. If you win, then JMA pays the court cost. Once he gets served you will have his attention and he may try and fix it, but then you would be out the court costs.

With the Rain and snow coming you may want to take care of this quickly especially if your having problems.

call wayne schaefer at schaefer’s excavating...993-2238

Schaefer’s doesn’t do sealcoating.  They just repaved our driveway and advised they don’t recommend sealcoating. 

Of course, I’ve heard arguments for both sides, so the choice is up to you.

There’s always signs around town in people’s yards for the companies that have done their sealcoating.  Just take a drive around!

What was their argument for not seal coating? I imagine they could make a couple pennies if they offered the service. They would have to wait X number of years for your driveway to break apart again to gain your business back.

They said that it’s not good to seal coat and they don’t recommend it.  I’m assuming it’s because people want their driveways to look ‘new’.  So, after they start to fade, they seal coat.  Gives a nice ‘new’ look, right?  Well, if that keeps you happy with your driveway, you won’t need it redone.  That’s my assumption, I could be wrong, but if you want to do it, you’re going to do it, whether one place tells you not to or otherwise!

My 2 cents…

I’ve used JMA Enterprises and was pleased with his service. I’ve done my driveway twice myself and the last time had JMA do it. I’ve seen why his looks nice and smooth and black and can duplicate the job myself and save the money. Assumming of course I have the time.

The stuff with sand does cost more… I would have expected JMA to know that but then again mistakes happen.

Concerning to seal coat or not.. When the Rec.Board had the parking lot paved the contractors that provided quoates recommended that we don’t sealcoat the parking lot either.
Basically it doesn’t need it. It’s more of an appearance thing than a sealing it from moisture solution.

Jeff Bruening