ComplaintsforConstruction & Inspection Division (CID) LLC

• Initial Complaint

  11/21/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  He was hired in November, 2020 to remodel a kitchen and bathroom. Also some other work, like a handrail, 7 new doors, peg board installation, medicine cabinet, installation, mirror and molding. To date he has not finished anything in the year since we hired him. He promised the kitchen would be done by October 31, 2021. It is not finished as of 11/21/21. We have lived without a kitchen for 8 months. Using a bathroom as a kitchen. We have not been able to use our garage, since he is using it as a work space.

  

  Business response

  04/11/2022

  Respond to ************** complaint                                                                                                                          

  This project was started in the winter months and at the height of the Covid 19 pandemic not knowing all the difficulties forthcoming of this pandemic.  In addition, there were multiple (owner related) unexpected setbacks as well.  The owner was notified of delays on material, lockdowns and other industry issues that we and many other contractors had to endure to get things done during this pandemic.  Lot of this was also explained under the forced majeure terms and other related clause in the agreements.   This agreement included a full bathroom remodel, kitchen remodel, pegboard installation in garage, change out some interior door, one hand railing, mirrors and base molding.

   My job was to not only to remodel a kitchen but to also build custom cabinets with a custom color.  This was not an ordinal cabinet job with cabinets ready to. It had custom sizes etc.  It was agreed on to use the garage (on site) to build the cabinets and use for work area, owner was in agreement that the garage would not be used to park cars in until I we were done.   

  Every contractor has a plan as to how and which phase to start and finish a project that would facilitate the job.  My plan was to do all the demolition required for the job and start from the bathroom and get it to a point where I can get tile crew in to start the tiling, then work on the kitchen.   This would also put us into better season so we can use the garage to start building the kitchen cabinets (garage had no heat).   However, this plan was interrupted by the owner when I was well in the bathroom phase.   I was asked to concentrate on the kitchen fully and get that done first.  Now it puts us in a bad situation of having to start on the kitchen (change the game plan) and its also against our agreement that the contractor having the say on how the project should move forward.  Owner was advised that this can prolong the project.   

  For starters, mid-December, the **** stopped working and we had no heat in the house.  Owner asked if I could facilitate and find a heating air company to come out and check the unit. I did that and it was recommended to change the unit.  The owner worked directly with a heating company to get it **** replaced.  This took about 3 to 4 weeks into January and delayed the job.  It was hard to work in the house with no heat and the electric heater we took out were not doing the job.  This got compounded by bad weather and snow to the point where we couldnt get vehicles in driveway or walk up to the home for many days.  Owner asked us to see if we can find someone to plow driveway and that they would pay for it, so we did that.  All this really delayed the project at early stages.

   Kitchen plans were started that included phases of lighting, electrical, closing up existing soffits, closing drywall areas, plumbing, ceiling texturing, paint and other things.  These items were all completed.  Next   confirming and first stage building of the cabinets had begun.  We made over 20 cabinet color samples to choose from.   I explained to owner that when I make cabinets, I like to stain all the frames, and other parts prior to assembling it to the cabinet boxes because for us it faster and easier this way.   That didnt happen because it took the owner 5 to 6 weeks to decide on a color for cabinets.  This is unusual to take this long on a color.  This also prolonged the cabinet build and owner was notified of this.

  Later stages of building cabinets, changes were made by owner (I had already built most of the cabinets to size) .  The original plan included an island.  This plan got changed to not having an island and instead they planed on a peninsula and ceiling hung cabinets over the peninsula.  This change added a lot of time and materials to my list of things to do.   

  Once this new plan and all the cabinets were built stained and installed the owner asked to make changes to the peninsula cabinet.  They wanted the cabinets to be narrower and not protrude from the wall.  I had to disassemble the cabinets and make modifications which also prolonged this project. 

  At another stage, it was confirmed by owner that she wanted to have the microwave to be installed higher than initial plans.  Shes tall so she wanted the microwave higher.  We all stood in the kitchen and I made some marks on the wall to determine which height she would like.   I made arrangement during the cabinet build to accommodate that.  At latter stages after all the kitchen backsplash tile was installed and they were using the microwave for few months, they asked me to make changes and lower the microwave down to original plans.  More time and delay.  I now have to build new cabinet to make this change happen.  In addition, the owner went to a tile showroom and selected tile, trim for the kitchen floor inlay design and backsplash.  Tiles and trim were noted and confirmed. At the stage of tile installation owner decided that she doesnt like the trim for the tile backsplash.  I reordered something she reselected and now that its all done and installed, she doesnt like this one either.  We have to reorder trim for third time, remove the once installed and put in new trim.  More time delays.

  There has been more delays, issues and concerns on this job by owner, but I would care not to disclose that at this point since it would be demeaning for owner.   These issues were brought to Mr. ** attention, we worked through it to keep the job moving along. 

  By sometime in September of 2021 I was told by Mr. ** / owner to do as much as I can till end of October and that they would find another contractor to finish the rest of the job.  An approximated time set for kitchen only was end of October.   By and close to end of October I was told to continue and finish all the kitchen related work.  Im diligently at the stage of finishing the job and all new changes amongst all the other project Ive made arrangements for.   All the changes and delays of this job has significantly slowed down my other project as well.  Owner understands that completing the job is based on my schedule at hand and as agreed originally a place to finish the doors and trim.  

  Its also a discouragement that according to our agreement the owner upgraded the countertop by selection of materials and design.  This increased the cost of the countertops and the new cost was agreed on.  Till this date the owner has not yet paid the total additional cost asked for the countertops.  

  The owner complaint stating that nothing is finished yet has no merit.  The list bellow shows that.

  All the delays and changes have significantly affected the time line and completing this project.  I have other jobs and agreements as well and its outlined in our agreement that based on my availability the project can take longer to complete.  Im still working on this kitchen and I will do my best to finish this kitchen phase. 

  The kitchen has been in use for months now.  The double oven, stove / cooktop, sinks, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, trash compactor and cabinets have also been loaded and in use.  Basic use of kitchen is and was available.  I have photos and dates of when things were in use.   

  There are many phases of the project that are done and have been done before the date of this complain such as:

  1)      Bathroom: Existing Bathroom demolition, plumbing, new ************* new partition shower walls -bench, new lighting and exhaust fan, new shower valves / diverter, shower plumbing and drain, all the new backer board for shower walls, drop ceiling, expand bathroom doorway, and drywall. 

  This is more than the work required in this bathroom.  

  Note: I cant help the fact that they asked me to stop working on the bathroom early on into the job.  The bathroom would have been completed if I was allowed to continue working in there as I had originally planned.  Ive done the hardest parts of the bathroom and the fast-easier things are left to do.

   2)       All pegboard installation in garage is done.

  From what I was asked to finish:

  3)      The kitchen is 90% done. Lighting, electrical, plumbing and RO installed, cabinets, tile, all fixtures, double oven installed, cooktop, dishwasher, microwave all rollout trays, sink, fixers and under cabinet lighting, finishing window trim, backsplash and other tile works.

  Remaining items left to do are: install all the doors, some trim molding, and finish toe-kicks.

  As I explained to owner, it was hard to do any finishing of the doors off site due to cold weather and a place to do it in.   They did not allow me to use their home or garage as agreed on to complete my tasks.  Finishing of the cabinet door requires an indoor area and right temperatures to allow finish to dry properly.  It takes time and many layers to do.  I had to slowly finish other tasks and wait for better weather.  I explained to owner that for me finishing the door is best done on site.  This way I can compare the color of doors as I go to other finished cabinet parts and make proper color variation as needed and if needed to make adjustments of finish.  Ive now asked Mr. ** (owner) to give me permission to use the sunroom adjacent to the kitchen to stain and finish the door and he stated that it would be Ok to use the sunroom.

  This is the latest developments of this project.

  The amount of money that Ive taken from the customer is less than the work Ive done in the bathroom, garage pegboard and to finish kitchen work.  According to my costs and calculations the balance left on the project would be more than enough for me to complete the entire project.

   

  Customer response

  04/15/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined the response would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. 
  
  [Provide details of why you are not satisfied with this resolution.]

  My kitchen is still not done after 18 months.  The contractor complains about having to work in the cold. He had free use of the entire house for about 5 months.  He had use of the garage for 12 months.  He still has stuff in the garage.  We can only put one car in the garage.  It was combersome having to clean the car outside before we used it this winter.  He is once again asking for use of my home.  

  The peg board in the garage is white not ***** and on the wrong walls.

  The contractor is the one who installed the microwave too high.  He said it was due to a rule regulating the distance from the stove to the microwave.  My husband showed him the installation information on the microwave. We bought one that could be installed over a stove and not 2 feet above it.

  He does not list all the items he was to do.  It took him about 10 hours to change the width of the peninsula.  That change was a small bite of time.  He now works about 2 hours a week.  His progress is minimal.  I want my kitchen finished this month.  I have tried to hire other contractors to finish the kitchen but no one is willing to finish work begun by an unknown contractor. Basically I am stuck with the slow gentleman.  I had a **** square foot home built in 9 months.  Half the time he has spent so far on remolding my kitchen.

  We moved to Cicero to be closer to our grandchildren.  So far they have not been to our home.  I think it is too dangerous.  I have been unable to host holidays. No KITCHEN.

  I never wanted a trim around the backsplash.

  There are doors, drawers and trim to finish.  The closet in the basement needs to be fixed. The kitchen needs to be painted.

  He never shows when he says he will be here.  He is late or a no show.  Occasionally he notifies us he will not be coming.  He charged too much for the countertop.  His contract implied he would install the countertop and had a $1800 allowance for a countertop.  He said the countertop cost was $3800 when in reality it was 2357.41.  He owes me $1500.00.

  
  Regards,
  
  ***************************

  
  

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