DENVER — Theresa and Mike Martinez dreamed of a completely paved area instead of a backyard that would have to be mowed.

They hired a contractor to do the job for $17,000, but ended up with a mess.

“It is devastating it makes me so upset,” Theresa Martinez said.

There were cracks in big slabs that the couple said appeared a week after the job was done as well as crooked stairs and concrete splattered all over the walls of their garage.

There was concrete spillage that adhered itself to their lawn and large piles of cement thrown over a fence.

The area is not level, so rainwater is seeping into the garage. The Martinezes showed an agreement with Kenneth Martinez.

They say he told them to make out a check to Colorado Concrete Connections for the first $6,000 payment, but the bank would not cash it.

Theresa and Mike Martinez showed an email agreement for the job, but consumer experts say homeowners should always get a signed contract.

If you start to suspect your contractor is botching the job, get another opinion right away before making another payment.

The Martinezes just got an estimate from a reputable company for the repair work that must now be done for $48,000.

“I don’t have the money for a redo,” Theresa Martinez said.

She and her husband will file a complaint with the state Attorney General’s office.

The FOX31 Problem Solvers have made several attempts to reach the contractor.

RELAYED: How to choose a reputable contractor visit the Better Business Bureau