ComplaintsforLay The Hammer Down Contracting

• Initial Complaint

  12/20/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  10/11/2021 10,010 We hired this company to install a standing seam metal roof on our home. They started on 10/11/2021 and as of 12/20/2021 they have yet to complete the roof. In that time, people have been inside our home when we have been away. Tobacco has been in our living room and our bed used. All I keep being told is we didn’t do that or it wasn’t us or the sub contractors and the contractor we hired, just blame each other or blame us for being impatient. Water has been inside our home. We have cleaned up numerous amounts of garbage as now there is snow on the ground hiding things. Panels are not put together properly and I paid for the materials myself and it seems like the quality of the materials has greatly diminished. Jagged edges and things don’t look sealed properly. Not all panels are even folded into the drop edge. Metal around the chimney doesn’t look flush. Overall we paid 20,000 dollars for a roof that looks like garbage. These people told me they value quality but I was told that what the owner had done was improper. Too many people have touched this roof. In addition, I was told that the job would be completed except for clean up 10/29/2021 and asked to cash the remaining check balance 5150. Upon going to check on the roof 2 days later, we found old material that had yet to be ripped off as well as countless other parts that needed to be completed such as the drip edge and ridge vent (all of which still needs to be finished) of When stating I want someone else to finish the work, they said their warranty would be voided and only they or their subs could work on the roof. Meanwhile, I do not like their quality of work and they keep lying. I would like some of my money back in order to allow someone else who cares about our home and roof to finish it. I’m tired of the I’m sorry and the guilt trips. They should have never been paid to begin with. All they do is blame each other. Not professional.

  Business response

  01/04/2022

  We advised the homeowner to call the police several times if in fact someone did stay in her home and sleep in her bed.  I would have called the police if it was my home. She didn't instead she installed a camera.  This is a vacant home gutted down to the studs from the roof down.  When driving by to anyone it looks like a vacant house and it could be anyone who is staying there. 

  The roof prior to us starting this job leaked for years causing mildew and mold in the home and this is part of the reason the homeowner has gutted 2/3's of the home.  Yes the roof did leak twice because of the heavy rain and wind which ripped our tarp and we were there to in the middle of a heavy rain storm on the roof fixing the issue with the homeowners.

  The owner has several chickens and roosters free range on the property which peck at the bags because of lunch debris and carried wrappers etc over the lawn.  This is a construction site the is going to be debris. There was more garbage in front of her house and on the porch from her own construction debris than there was from us.  All the garbage and debris has been picked up and removed from the property as of 1/3 by us.

  We never once told her or her husband they were impatient in fact I have emails and text messages where I thank them for their patience.  When we went to start the job our crew came down with covid and was quarantined for 14 days which left us to find a sub contractor who we checked all their references and they came highly recommended.  We have done a lot of extra work that we did not bill the homeowners for as we knew they were on a tight budget and we wanted to help them stay within budget.  The weather did not work in our favor as well.  It rained or snowed 3-4 days out of every week.  The safety of my subs is most important so yes has it been 11 weeks it has but if you add up how many actual days we worked per week due to weather its been 3-4.  Plus the roof when we ripped the old one off had things we didn't expected which took extra time to do correctly to retro fit onto this old farmhouse. Then on 12/21/2021 we were hit with covid again and quarantined until 1/1/2022. 

  The materials where picked out and paid for by the homeowner.  The quality of the materials has nothing to do with our company.  Upon removal of the olf roof homeowner was advised and told that the roof needed plywood the original decking for the roof was 1" pine boards that were spaced 3" apart to 4" apart where dry rotted creating multiple issues for the integrity of the installation.  The homeowner decided NOT to put plywood down after what we advised her.  At which time they were advised that it would void any manufacturers warranty and any labor warranty to their roof cause it was going to cause multiple different problems.  Their choice was for us to continue at which point we expressed our none willingness to do installation improperly.  We then hired subs for the rest of the roof.  We hired **** ******** from ******** ********.  From 11/14-12/20 our company had no contact with the homeowner at all as she was speaking to and dealing with the sub directly which we highly frown upon.  However **** told me the homeowners were happy.  I was on the phone with him on 11/14 when he was walking around the home with the homeowners going over everything and they were happy.  on 12/20 we where ambushed with complaints by the homeowner. at which time we had come to an agreement via text message to satisfy the homeowners complaints.  upon which the very next day  we received this complaint via your office.  The complaints are mostly all cosmetic and a result of the homeowners choice to proceed without plywood to have proper mechanical installation surface which is important for a standing seam roof.  Uneven and lack of solid areas t attach roof system fasteners has lead to all complaints of the craftsmanship of work.  We have made three more text message agreements to satisfy  homeowner in the morning it seems we are agreed and after 3:30pm its like communicating with a different person.  We asked her to allow us to complete the job which we feel is 4 hours with 2 guys.  She has refused to allow us to do this.  She asked us to remove all our things.  Which we have.  She has said she isn't asking us to pay for the persons labor to finish the job.  However she'd like us to pay for any additional materials the new person says they need.  In our opinion other than screws there is not other material needed as there is nothing wrong with the roof that installed now.  She never gave us the opportunity to present her with a finished product before judging how it would turn out.  I have emails and text messages to prove what I am saying to you that can be provided but at this point being sick with covid I am having all I can do to put in this reply within 14 days, but I wanted to at least advise these issues.  As I have continued to try and address issues with the homeowner while sick and on Christmas eve, Christmas day and New years Eve and New years day. We have done everything we can being extremely sick and during the holidays to resolve this issue. 

  Customer response

  01/05/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  Regards,
  ***** ******

  RESPONSES ARE IN BOLD.
  

  We advised the homeowner to call the police several times if in fact someone did stay in her home and sleep in her bed.  I would have called the police if it was my home. She didn't instead she installed a camera.  This is a vacant home gutted down to the studs from the roof down.  When driving by to anyone it looks like a vacant house and it could be anyone who is staying there. THE HOME IS NOT VACANT AND THE SECURITY CAMERA SHOWED THE SUBCONTRACTOR HIRED BY THE CONTRACTOR IN THE BASEMENT CHANGING HIS CLOTHES. WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE SUBCONTRACTOR (HIRED BY LAY THE HAMMER DOWN), AND HE APOLOGIZED FOR PEOPLE BEING IN THE HOME AND STATED THAT HE HAD GUYS UP THERE UNDER STRICT CONDITIONS AND THAT EVERYTHING THEY TOOK WOULD BE REPLACED ETC. STILL IS NOT MY FAULT AS I DID NOT HIRE THE SUBS.

  The roof prior to us starting this job leaked for years causing mildew and mold in the home and this is part of the reason the homeowner has gutted 2/3's of the home.  Yes the roof did leak twice because of the heavy rain and wind which ripped our tarp and we were there to in the middle of a heavy rain storm on the roof fixing the issue with the homeowners.  THE HOME IS BEING RENOVATED BECAUSE IT IS OUTDATED AND IS LATH AND PLASTER. NOT BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS WATER DAMAGE. 

  The owner has several chickens and roosters free range on the property which peck at the bags because of lunch debris and carried wrappers etc over the lawn.  This is a construction site the is going to be debris. There was more garbage in front of her house and on the porch from her own construction debris than there was from us.  All the garbage and debris has been picked up and removed from the property as of 1/3 by us.  WE HAVE NO FREE RANGE CHICKENS AND THE FOOD BAG DEBRIS WAS NEVER IN A GARBAGE BAG, WE ALWAYS HAD TO PICK IT UP. THE BAGS OF CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS/METAL WERE NOT PECKED. IN ADDITION, WE AS HOMEOWNERS HAD A METAL SCRAP PILE. NOT OUR OWN PERSONAL CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS. OUR DEBRIS WAS REMOVED PRIOR TO THEM ARRIVING.

  We never once told her or her husband they were impatient in fact I have emails and text messages where I thank them for their patience.  When we went to start the job our crew came down with covid and was quarantined for 14 days which left us to find a sub contractor who we checked all their references and they came highly recommended.  We have done a lot of extra work that we did not bill the homeowners for as we knew they were on a tight budget and we wanted to help them stay within budget.  The weather did not work in our favor as well.  It rained or snowed 3-4 days out of every week.  The safety of my subs is most important so yes has it been 11 weeks it has but if you add up how many actual days we worked per week due to weather its been 3-4.  Plus the roof when we ripped the old one off had things we didn't expected which took extra time to do correctly to retro fit onto this old farmhouse. Then on 12/21/2021 we were hit with covid again and quarantined until 1/1/2022.NOT SURE ABOUT SUBCONTRACTOR REFERENCES, SUBCONTRACTOR SAID HE WAS A FRIEND AND HELPING OUT CONTRACTOR.  THE WORK WAS SUPPOSED TO START IN SEPTEMBER AND WAS NOT STARTED ON 10/12 AS OF 1/3/22 STILL NOT DONE.

  The materials where picked out and paid for by the homeowner.  NO MATERIALS WERE ORDERED BY CONTRACTOR AND PAID FOR BY HOMEOWNER.  The quality of the materials has nothing to do with our company.  Upon removal of the olf roof homeowner was advised and told that the roof needed plywood the original decking for the roof was 1" pine boards that were spaced 3" apart to 4" apart where dry rotted creating multiple issues for the integrity of the installation.  The homeowner decided NOT to put plywood down after what we advised her.  CONTRACTOR AGREED THAT THE PLYWOOD WAS NOT NEEDED.  At which time they were advised that it would void any manufacturers warranty and any labor warranty to their roof cause it was going to cause multiple different problems.  NEVER TOLD IT WOULD CAUSE PROBLEMS, CONTRACTOR SAID IF IT WAS THEIR ROOF THEY WOULD NOT PUT DOWN PLYWOOD.  Their choice was for us to continue at which point we expressed our none willingness to do installation improperly.  CONTRACTOR NEVER EXPRESSED ANY UNWILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE.  We then hired subs for the rest of the roof.  We hired **** ******** from ******** ********.  From 11/14-12/20 our company had no contact with the homeowner at all as she was speaking to and dealing with the sub directly which we highly frown upon.  However **** told me the homeowners were happy.   WERE HAPPY UNTIL WORK WAS DELAYED AND OPEN ROOF LEAKING AND CAUSING DAMAGE IN AREAS BEING WORKED ON FOR NEW MASTER BEDROOM/BATHROOM AND MAIN BATHROOM. AND THEN REPEATEDLY WENT TO OUR HOME TO FIND TRASH ETC ALL OVER THE PLACE; AND THE ROOF NOT LOOKING CORRECT. ALSO PRIOR TO HIRING, OFFERED THE SUBCONTRACTORS TO LOOK AT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ROOF TO SEE THE SUBSTRATE AND SAID THERE WERE GAPS BUT DECLINED. STATED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS.I was on the phone with him on 11/14 when he was walking around the home with the homeowners going over everything and they were happy. HE WAS WRONG. I WAS ACTUALLY POINTING OUT EVERYTHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE AND HE MADE A LIST OF WHAT NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED STILL AND BLAMED RAY AND PREVIOUS CONTRACTORS. on 12/20 we where ambushed with complaints by the homeowner. at which time we had come to an agreement via text message to satisfy the homeowners complaints.  upon which the very next day  we received this complaint via your office.  The complaints are mostly all cosmetic and a result of the homeowners choice to proceed without plywood to have proper mechanical installation surface which is important for a standing seam roof.  Uneven and lack of solid areas t attach roof system fasteners has lead to all complaints of the craftsmanship of work.  We have made three more text message agreements to satisfy  homeowner in the morning it seems we are agreed and after 3:30pm its like communicating with a different person.  We asked her to allow us to complete the job which we feel is 4 hours with 2 guys.  She has refused to allow us to do this.  She asked us to remove all our things.  Which we have.  She has said she isn't asking us to pay for the persons labor to finish the job.  However she'd like us to pay for any additional materials the new person says they need.  CONTRACTOR OFFERED TO "MAKE THINGS RIGHT" WITH NEW CONTRACTOR.  IN WHICH NEW CONTRACTOR PAID FOR MATERIALS HIMSELF AND WILL BE KEEPING THE EXTRA MATERIALS AS A FAVOR TO US SINCE THEY ARE AWARE OF OUR SITUATION. In our opinion other than screws there is not other material needed as there is nothing wrong with the roof that installed now.  She never gave us the opportunity to present her with a finished product before judging how it would turn out.  I have emails and text messages to prove what I am saying to you that can be provided but at this point being sick with covid I am having all I can do to put in this reply within 14 days, but I wanted to at least advise these issues.  As I have continued to try and address issues with the homeowner while sick and on Christmas eve, Christmas day and New years Eve and New years day. We have done everything we can being extremely sick and during the holidays to resolve this issue.
  

  Business response

  01/06/2022

  Attached you will find two text message communication between ***** and myself.  We made every effort to resolve this issue with her.  She has refused to let us go to the property to complete the job to allow us to present her with a finished project.  As you can see in her response to me she is not looking for any money or anything else from me.  We cleaned up all of our equipment and garbage as requested by her in the timeframe she requested.  The other company who came to look at the roof stated all the things we know had to be finished and fixed.  The chimney was never part of our original agreement and we were told to make it a temp. fix as it is being removed in the spring.  If it was not supposed to be just a temp fix then we would have done it completely different. She told me it was not leaking as per attached text now she says it is.  When dealing with her its like dealing with two different people from morning to night.  We come to an agreement in the morning by the evening it becomes something totally different.  Just as its not leaking now it is leaking.  Again we have done all we can to try and finish and be able to present her with a finished product and then allow her to tell us she's not happy.  She has elected NOT to allow us to do this and hired someone else.  She has told me in the text message attached that i don't need to pay for anything she could care less and don't worry about anything.  You can't please everyone in this world.  So I am doing what she told me to in this text not worrying about anything and moving on.  Had she allowed us to finish as we asked her to give us 7 days to present her with a finished roof she would not be paying out of pocket a second time to have it done by someone else.  This is completely her choice.  This roof is NOT done incorrectly then the few areas we knew we had to address.  The ridge cap that's off was on and blew off from the wind.  It just needs to be reattached.  Again things like this happen to roofs and homes during weather that can not be prevented.  As far as I am concerned this complaint should be closed based off *****'s text to me.  We are done with each other.

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