Unfortunately, hiring this company for our basement's concrete slab epoxy coating in custom metallic matte finish turned out to be a very costly mistake. Cannot recommend. Originally, our basement had wall-to-wall carpeting with some old linoleum tiles underneath. But, after a happenstance of heavy rains and sewer backup, the basement got flooded and the ruined carpeting was removed by the damage mitigation company leaving us with highly unattractive linoleum glue-down tiles in faded rose pattern from the 70's. So, after some research, we decided on epoxy coating in metallic matte finish hoping to get durability, low maintenance and high aesthetic appeal for our basement floor. From the start, the project was filled with numerous delays and setbacks as the company seemed to have been stretched out thin between several concurrent project sites, trading daylaborers with doubtful qualifications (as evidenced by them getting yelled at throughout the day) and, at times, displaying complete disregard to the amount of collateral damage inflicted upon our basement's walls, doors, stairs, HVAC equipment, light fixtures and adjacent bathroom. Despite my pleas to cover up the doorways, stairs, closet shelves and provide proper containment for the airborne dust from grinding the concrete floor, virtually zero precautions were taken along the way. Furthermore, an enormous cloud of dust was generated one day by the apparently malfunctioning grinder setting off smoke detectors around the house and covering the entire kitchen, the living room, playroom and hallway upstairs in a layer of thick white dust. I'm baffled why the work was not stopped immediately and instead went on for the rest of the day. This lack of basic job site supervision showed very little concern for the well being and health of my family (my wife and our 1 year old son had no choice but to stay at home during the pandemic lockdown). We were not offered any compensation for the hours and hours of unexpected cleanup that we had to do afterwards. While we can't know for certain of the quality of the products being used for the epoxy mix (or any of the stages), we're not convinced that the guys that were here on company's behalf were doing a diligent job across the board as evidenced by very poor handling of dust/debris control that we were exposed to. So, given the sad end results, there are reasonable doubts on how well the process was handled along the way. Fast-forward to now, not even 120 days after the job was completed, the majority of the epoxy coated floor started developing blisters and bubbles filled with liquid and air. Strangely, the blisters on the epoxy followed the checkered/square pattern of the glue-down tiles. Jake (the owner) denied any wrongdoing during the install of the epoxy coating and blamed the environmental factors (such as ground waters) after the fact. We were offered to pay about 25-30% extra to have the floor re-sanded and covered in permeable/breathable concrete overlay, instead of offering even a partial refund for the poor outcome to date. Concerned for the collateral damage to the newly remodeled basement and the overall devastation to the budget, we asked to be refunded rather than paying more because we have not been happy with the results so far. According to several second opinions we received from the other flooring companies, it is not uncommon for the concrete floor to soak up moisture during the basement flood (which was caused by the sewer backup in our case prior to the epoxy coating) and the epoxy blisters are in the shape of the linoleum tiles for the most part because that's where the weakest penetration point was, around the glue-down tiles. It also appears to be a well known fact that the concrete is prone to a very slow release of this moisture back into the air under a curing seal as ambient humidity levels and temperature change over time. I was told 3 times by different people that this situation could have been basically avoided all together with proper concrete prep/drying and checking for humidity levels by drilling into concrete (typically 3 spots for every 1000 square feet) and taking appropriate measurements before the vapor barrier was installed. All of the blistering now is in the areas originally affected by flooding. We did not get any of our money back yet. I'd be glad to update this review if we ever get our refund. read more

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Buss was quick to answer job was done in a timely manner. Floor color is amazing does have weird markings but I'm sure doing epoxy concrete on an old concrete basement floor cannot be perfect. read more

You want to like Jake Buss. He says all the right things, it sounds professionally operated with integrity. I think they do decent work, however, the work ethic is a bit combative once you're in a deal. I paid a premium for their experience, they have it, but expect complaints, miscommunications and repairs to be ignored. Bell tell you telling you all the things you want to hear, he's got the right stuff for the fix and he'll get it in the schedule, but you end up giving up on him. Disappointed, no need to lie and dodge, just be straight. That's what I thought I was getting. read more

Beware! Do not recommend. This man took our $4000 deposit, continued postponing our project, stopped answering calls and then kept all our money. Absolutely no work completed. Contacted the BBB and Attorney General. He has avoided their inquires as well. He seemed nice but was apparently a scammer! read more

I recommend this company for concrete work. I called for estimate and Jake came out right away. They did a great job with my front porch, driveway and new patio. Jake the owner and his crew is nice to work with and great communication. read more

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DON'T DO IT! Jake Buss took a $3500 deposit and never did the job. He is avoiding us and will not take our calls. That was in March 23 and it's October. He threatened me because we found out where he moved to. We are in the process of a lawsuit. read more

My basement was just finished and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out! The owner and his crews are genuinely the NICEST guys ever. Jake answered all of my questions thoroughly and communicated everything possible with me. I definitely recommend this company and will use them if I need them in the future! read more

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Jake Buss is a liar. He never finished our job and has been using one excuse after another.... He was in the hospital and his wife died a year ago... looks like from other reviews these are his usual excuses. My husband and I spent three hours cleaning up his mess. The work that was done is awful and Landscaping was absolutely destroyed. He's very quick and responsive for him to steal your money, though. It makes me sick that he continues to scam people. read more

Jake Buss' own words "we did a horrible, nightmare of a job." Jake was recommended to me by one of my best friends. He had worked with Jake before. Of the 3 quotes I got, he was the cheapest, so given this was a reco from a solid source, I moved forward. Well, "you get what you pay for" though, I don't think we even got that. The job - remove deck & install 700sq ft of stamped concrete Problem 1 - One of his crew STEPPED IN THE WET CONCRETE so I forever have a bootprint! Problem 2 - The drain doesn't drain! The water just pools on top of the concrete. Problem 3 - We told him the hot tub area needed to be level. It wasn't, so when installed, shingles were needed to level. Problem 4 - His crew hit a pool pipe which caused leaking & our fountains not to work. After months, he did pay for this to be fixed. Problem 5 - After just over a year, the patio began spalling the top layer of concrete with no salt use. Prior to discovering Problem 5, I referred my sister to Jake. I called out the issues above & told her it was risky. She did & there were a few things she was unhappy with, but overall was an OK experience. Problem 5 is where things really turned unreal. After the issues I already had, & referring work to him, this is how he treats me... In Spring 2021 when discovering in the spalling concrete, I sent pics to Jake. He claimed he hadn't seen anything like it before & wanted to come out. We schedule time, he never shows. Days go by, still no answer & no response to texts. I use a friend's phone & he picks up right away! This happens 2 more times before he comes. By the time he got to the house, it was May. He inspects the spalling, says hes never seen anything like it & says "this is horrible, we're going to need to rip this whole thing out & redo it". He suggested we wait until Spring 2022, giving the patio 1 less winter, & not losing any pool days. I initially agreed. Then, I told the plan to my wife who didn't trust Jake from the start (right as usual) and said to have him do it ASAP. I called him less than 10 min after he left & said wanted to do the work ASAP. He agreed to "before the end of June 2021". He goes silent again. Finally, on June 28th he texts back that hes in a meeting & will call me after. Nothing. I reach out July 8, nothing. July 12th he finally replies & says hes now going through personal stuff (I won't disclose details publicly) & doesn't have money to fix the patio and needs more time. I was completely understanding & told him we could wait until Spring 2022. Spring 2022 came & he starts dodging again. Eventually responding wanting to come out to take another look. We set up time, he reschedules twice, but eventually makes it out. Same outcome as the prior summer - he said it looks horrible & agreed to redo everything. He claimed he "had 1 other big job that first, & would use that money for my patio." He said all the work would get done before we open the pool in May. Before his work, I need an electrician to disconnect our hot tub, & have it & the gazebo moved- which Jake said he'd pay for. On March 14th, I told him that I was going to schedule that so the patio would be ready whenever he could start. No response until April 7th when he says he needs more time & asks for 2 weeks. I wait 2+ weeks & reach out April 25th. The dodging returns. No responses on 26th, 28th, May 3rd. I call him from my hotel room in New Orleans on May 3rd, he answers. I ask him why I need to call from my hotel room & he LAUGHS! I told him this has gotten ridiculous and he says we can lock everything in for mid-June. I remind him about the hot tub & gazebo, & that they need his credit card for the deposit, he says "I'll give you that tomorrow, I don't have money on this card." I know thats BS & call him out & he hangs up on me. On May 5 I asked him if he was going to keep his word or continue the BS, his response "stop calling". That was the last I've heard from the pathetic POS. He never had any intention of fixing the work his company did & instead decided to string me along for over a year. And I'm someone who was referred to him by a mutual friend, referred business to him, & was sympathetic to his personal situation & he still decided to screw me over. Stay away. Its cheaper to have it done right, the first time. read more

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Jake and his crew saved the day and at the same time exceeded our expectations. Not only were they able to step in to do our offices flooring, but the timing was critical as this removes our employees from the office. Jake made every accommodation to work around other contractors and our schedule to complete a beautiful job, around our schedule. As well, the employees are as wonderful as the end product. Very polite, trustworthy, timely and knowledgeable. The minute anyone walks into our office the first thing they do is stop and make a comment on how beautiful our floors are. I gladly refer Jake and crew for any job you may need done as you will be left with more than a floor. We get compliments all the time that our floors are a work of art. read more

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Executive Summary: Jake's name is on the business and his work is exceptional. Whether its finished concrete or poured and brushed, polished, or epoxy, indoor or outdoor. You will not be disappointed with the work, the crew and the care they take with your project. He knows his stuff, he prides himself on his work and is excellent at communication and stays on deadline. Jake is one of the best contractors I have ever worked with. Backstory: Our basement flooded due to a burst pipe in December of 2017, the flooring in the basement was pergo style laminate and when the insurance company pulled the flooring during the initial mitigation they discovered what can best be described as a frankin-floor. There was concrete, OSB over concrete, vapor barrier in some areas and mold in others where the previous contractors cut many, many corners. Nothing was level, nothing was flat, nothing was right... We were advised by our insurance company of the environmental risks associated with laminate flooring in basements and although the cost of finished concrete would not be covered by insurance it was the best option forward. After doing rather extensive research the photos present on Jake's website and Yelp reviews sealed it for us. I am a very detailed oriented furniture maker and the fact that Jake showed in progress photos, and more importantly CLOSE-UPs and DETAIL shots of the work he did meant he was not afraid to show his work up close. Anything can look good from 10ft away, 10 inches is another story. Jake came to our house presented us with options forward and we settled on what we felt was best for us. He gave us a deadline and budget and met both. Jake and his crew are incredibly respectful, and whenever myself or my wife came by the project all worked stopped and he answered any questions we had, he explained all the work being done and advised us on the next steps towards completion. He was never dismissive, he was never too busy to answer questions or address our concerns. His crew was clean and efficient. Creatively speaking, Jake has an artists' eye and craftsman's precision. Jake was present every day working along side his crew. read more

Buss Custom Concrete - Buss Custom Epoxy flooring - Flooring Near Me - Hometown, Illinois

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I don't know how to describe my experience other than great. Jake came in and was kind, professional, consultative, and knows what he's doing. I had awful carpeting with damaged concrete below, and he made my condo look unreal. His team couldn't have been nicer either. My sister and I were genuinely sad when they were wrapping up because of how much of a pleasure it was working with this team. I've attached pictures below, too, but I would recommend Buss Custom Concrete 100 times over. read more

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This guy doesn't finish work and always has excuses. Makes drastic excuses like he's sick and latest excuse is that his wife died. Does not finish job but claims he will read more

I hired Jake and his crew to pour a concrete floor for my shed. They had to remove a lot of dirt and grass in order to frame out the floor. The mountain of dirt and grass they removed was piled in the corner of my backyard. After the concrete was poured and cured, I waited for Jake to return to remove the dirt and to remove the frame for the concrete. Jake replied to my initial text that he'd forgotten and he'd check his calendar to schedule someone to return. I never heard from Jake again. Telephone calls and text messages went unanswered. My experience is similar to Tom W's. read more

The reason why I didn't give Jake (Buss Custom Concrete) a higher rating was for his failure to finish the job he was paid for. Jake promised to come back and fix chips on the driveway and sidewalk and side of the sidewalk where the forms met that left an ugly deformity. After 3 to 4 phone calls that never were returned and close to a dozen texts. I went to the village and reported the unsatisfactory work to the administration and to the building department. Jake I have been patient, but in 2 months I listened to your promises to return to fix the problem. I'm sorry but my wife and I no longer trust you. read more

Jake and Nick put on the epoxy coating on our concrete floor. They finished it within a week and were able to answer any questions we have. I really appropriate that they were able to work with our schedule. read more

Buss Custom Concrete - Flooring Near Me - Hometown, Illinois

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This company is beyond professional. We had to call them to get an estimate to fix our basement floor after a different contractor walked out on the project. It was awkward for us to call to explain the situation to Jake. Jake was very sympathetic and professional. He didn't make us feel awkward and wasn't judgmental in any way. He came to our house the next day. He had the estimate for us within a couple of days and even offered less expensive alternatives. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this company, and wish we hired them at the start of our project. read more

I had an experience over Summer/Fall similar to Michael D's review. We had Buss Custom Concrete demo and pour new walks in our yard and redo protective coating on other walks. The concrete walk of the new pour was very well done, we are happy with that. The cleanup from that was terrible. One of the crew mentioned they forgot a broom and asked if we could sweep. I found, at least, 30+ 3" nails scattered throughout our yard. Thankfully I found most before our nieces played in the yard. I'm also still picking up a lot of rocks all over our yard. For the newly coated portion we had significant cracks within weeks. I texted Jake pictures immediately and he said they would fix it. I let a month+ go by before contacting Jake again. After multiple calls and emails where Jake promised to repair them we had no one show up. This winter has absolutely destroyed our front walk along those cracks and we'll be using another company to repour that walk. We'd still be working together if he had showed up as promised, despite the cleanup issues. read more

We recently just got our basement floors done and could not be happier with the outcome! Jake and his crew did a fantastic job achieving our vision. The whole process was very fast and professional. We are so excited to have such a cool statement piece to enjoy with our friends and family! read more

Had a great experience with Jake and his team they were very knowledgeable and helpful when it came to designing my epoxy floor. Came out better then what i imagined and very satisfied. I will definitely be using these guys again in the near future! read more

Jake and the team did an amazing job finishing the floors in my basement remodel. I couldn't be more pleased with the concrete overlay. The look and finish is very modern, durable and sensible for a finished basement. Jake was very professional from start to finish. He came to the home with a bid and explained the several options available. My wife and I made a change with the floor finish mid-project and Jake adjusted to fit our vision to complete the job, even though it required him to extend the work at our home. Both Nick and Jake did a great job of keeping me updated on the project as it moved along. I felt very comfortable having them work in my home when I was at work and they were always professional by keeping me updated when work was complete for the day. I plan on having them back this summer to finish my garage floors. I highly recommend Buss for any concrete project you're considering. read more

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Jake and his crew did a great job on my stamp concrete patio. Jake and his crew take pride on the jobs they do. Jake and his crew were extremely friendly and professional. read more