Jim C.
1/5
Ground Control Lawn and Maintenance
We contracted with this company to build our deck because of their adequate performance in doing lower level work for us in cleaning our yard in the spring of leaves and twigs. Our deck had become unsafe and it became imperative to build a new one. Our first choice - a highly skilled and trustworthy contractor - was unavailable, so we chose this company because they informed us that they had expertise in building decks.
Contracting with this company became a virtual nightmare beginning with Fred Schofield's request that we get the money to pay him by going to several banks, getting sums of money and giving the money to his mother to give to him. He didn't want a paper trail and wanted cash, obviously wanting to avoid paying income tax. I refused to give him cash and instead provided him with a bank draft so that I could have a paper trail to prove that he had been paid.
On the day that Fred arrived at our home, he engaged in very strange, unexpected behaviour. He had to adjust his jeans several times because they kept dropping and exposing his bare butt. I was shocked at his behaviour and unimpressed. I thought that his guy was ill-prepared for the high level work of executing structural repairs. Nevertheless, I decided to take a chance with him. Unhappily, after completing the work, neighbours and other contractors commented on the sloppy job that had been done.
There were many flaws on our deck. The small step in front of our door was placed without a support beam. We had to bring this to the attention of the contractor and that problem was later corrected. The steps going onto the deck were too far apart and made it difficult to step up so that had to be changed. The step was uneven, it tilted forward and was supported by a hinge attached to the side of the deck. The "master carpenter" Colton stuck 4 small pieces of wood under one end of the step to hold it up. We complained about that, so he returned and stuck a cement block to replace the pieces of wood which was inadequate. One end of the step was on the block and the other touched the ground. They didn't cover the area under the step so pieces of concrete were visible under the step.
We explicitly stated that we didn't want a deck railing. Fred was told that we wanted, instead, 2 hand rails installed at both ends of the deck. Despite the contractors having been told what we wanted, the workers showed up and started installing a deck railing. When they were told immediately that we didn't want the railing, they stopped the installation. The other contractor, Scott Akar, accused us of lying and stated that we had wanted the deck railing when in fact both he and his partner had clearly been told what we wanted.
We had one hand rail installed, and the other rail was to be installed but the worker, unfortunately, ended up in emergency for treatment of an eye injury. He was supposed to install the other hand rail, later that same day, but never showed up. Scott informed us that he had hired another contractor who would be coming over to install the second rail at 5 pm. the next day, but he never showed up.
The deck rail, which we did not want was returned and we were entitled to a refund. The cost of the smaller hand rails was deducted from the cost of the more expensive deck rail and the balance was to be returned to us. We are still waiting for our refund.
We have hired another contractor to remedy the flaws. We have so far given this company $9000. It will cost us $2000 for the repair work.
My recommendation: Never, never, never pay until the work has been done to your satisfaction, should you choose this company despite my comments. The contractors are not to be trusted - Buyer beware!!!
