From Sean Anderson.
Lucke Construction
Lucke Construction is owned by Terry Poupa.
Our experience was absolutely nightmarish. We hired Lucke Construction to pour a new patio to replace an old, cracked patio. Mr. Poop removed the old slab and hauled it away, then brought in some gravel material to fill the space. That's when things went downhill. Literally.
Once the concrete was poured, we returned home to a patio that was drastically steeper than any other patio we've ever seen - an average of a 3% grade. ACI training documents state that a 2% grade is sufficient to prevent water from ponding, but 3% is evidently the bare minimum that Lucke construction will use for a patio.
Furthermore, there was evidence of very sloppy finish work: concrete colorant spilled everywhere, splattered concrete on window wells, foundation plantings, etc., damage to existing concrete walkways, and sod dug but not replaced. When we brought these concerns to Mr. Poop, he denied any wrong-doing and insisted on being paid in full for his work. I think that photos speak for themselves in this case.
Long story short, Lucke Construction eventually placed a lien on my property and sued me, demanding payment. His attorney was Patrick Flaherty of Great Falls, MT. Eventually the judge took the stance that "work was performed, so money should change hands," and we were made to pay 90% of the contract price.
I'm not saying that we were victims of the court - this is Montana after all - but we were victims of a very bad business. Prior to our run-in with Lucke Construction, Mr. Poop had placed liens on at least three other properties in the Great Falls area to demand payment. He's also been cited for not obtaining a building permit and for not securing a load. The work performed on our house was not done in accordance with any existing code or common practices. Most troubling is the fact that, in our case, he is unwilling to make his customers happy and provide them with an acceptable product.
Based on our experience with Terry Poop and Lucke Construction, I would AVOID THIS COMPANY like the plague. Others may have had better experiences with him, but you should ask yourself what kind of person you'd like to work with. Liens? Lawsuits? Look elsewhere.
At the very least, you should take the time to PROTECT YOURSELF with a contract that specifically details the work being performed, the minute specifications of the work, and the quality that you expect, because Lucke Construction is certainly not going to be on your side if things go bad.
Good Luck.
