CS
Caleb Sorvik
Jul 15, 2025
First off, I would like to clarify two things: 1. I am a Fire Inspector, which has no real bearing on this other than the fact that I know what I am talking about when it comes to fire and building codes, and 2. Trinity is capable of doing an amazing job, but the risk isn't worth it.
8 years ago my parent's house burned, killing my father and leaving my mother and brother without a place to live. My brother is a paraplegic and requires an ADA compliant home. They built a new duplex in the city of Duluth to the specs my brother requires. During the build they were having issues with their concrete contractor and asked Trinity to take over. They were AMAZING. Fast, responsive, prompt. They did a massive driveway, sidewalk, and patio. The workmanship was excellent. 7 years later and hardly a crack anywhere.
Because of this, they were my first choice doing the foundation on my home addition. The job was for a shallow frost protected slab - prescriptive for additions per Minnesota Residential Building code 403.3.1.2. Most of the rest of specifications can also be found under section MN R 403
At first, Trinity told me that this type of foundation could not be done and was against code. I showed them the code and they agreed to move forward. My quote and bid was for the dirt work and slab, project starting on the week of June 18th, weather permitting.
Then trouble began. No one was showing up to do the job, and every time I spoke with the rep -Todd - I was told "next week". We are a month out and still nothing. Two weeks, Todd called and said the owner, Jeff, didn't realize the bid was for the dirt work as well and asked if I could do it myself. Obviously I responded "no" that was not part of our agreement. Again, always told a day they would be there, and nothing.
Eventually I grew tired of the run-around and was able to get ahold of Jeff directly. He told me that the way my bid was done was a mistake and he wanted another 4K to do the dirt work, claiming our contract said nothing about dirt work and Todd had spoken out of line. I did not agree to this. Jeff asked me to send him my approved plans for the project so he could look them over. I did.
Jeff texted and emailed me back saying that the plans weren't stamped by an engineer so neither he, nor anyone else, could touch my project. This, my friends, is a load BS. All of my plans were approved by the city and reviewed to be code prescriptive. This means I do not need an engineer to sign off, as they are all approved. Engineer signoffs are only required when a design goes outside of code and needs to prove it holds to the same safety/environmental standards or (in some cases) is a commercial building. My project is residential and approved by the city - and as the home owner I am legally allowed to be the general contractor and pull all the permits - which I did. Everything is GOOD TO GO. I texted and emailed Jeff this, with no reply. I called, the phone was picked up then immediately hung up. I called again and left a voice mail.
Next day, no follow up. Stopped by their "office" at 902 Belknap suite C, and though it was business hours, no one was there. Called again, got the secretary who said Jeff was unavailable.
This was the straw that broke the camels back for me.
I sent Jeff and Todd an email and text letting them know I would be speaking with both Duluth and Superior's Building Inspection departments to let them know of the situation and would be leaving a 1star review until we got this matter hammered out.
Low and behold, the unavailable Jeff calls me back, but because I was in a meeting, I couldn't grab it. He left a message saying he won't work with people who leave threatening texts and that he had been trying to help me out. Inaccurately saying "I can't do it" is NOT trying to help out. I called him back multiple times, still no answer.
Please, save yourself the headache and DO NOT hire this company. Listen to the bad reviews, unfortunately, they are accurate. I wish I hadn't had to deal with this first hand to believe them.