ComplaintsforAlways Renovating

• Initial Complaint

  09/11/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Paid this company in full for quoted price to install brick paver walkway. *** is incomplete and owner has said that he will not be returning to finish the work. There is an area with already sunken pavers and the area around a drain pipe that the company installed is missing pavers. Owner is going to respond to BBB by saying he wanted more money for the job because the square footage was more than he thought. But he was in a real rush to get this opportunity and walked the job area before finalizing his quote. Must have left his measuring equipment at home before committing to the quote. Very unprofessional behavior as well.

  Business response

  09/11/2023

  In 5 years of owning ***** Home Renovations LLC dba-Always Renovating I have had 1 BBB complaint that I responded to the same day and was closed by BBB the same day based on both the client and contractor feedback.  I will remain professional despite the client's slander of this second complaint in 5 years.  **** awarded me their ************* Award for 2023 as well which they typically do not give to poor contractors.  The facts are:

  1) I responded to an **** request for paver work to renovate an existing walkway from ***********************.  On the initial call he advised he has a 4' x 60' walkway that was badly weather bricks.  He asked me to quote removing these bricks and replacing with used interlocking pavers from the golf coarse in a pile a mile down the street.  He advised he could buy these for $2/sq ft but he needed the walkway done quickly to get these used pavers.  I quoted $3,200 over the phone based on square footage.  He then added a drain which I said I would do for $200 on the second call.  Upon going to his house the same day, I had no reason no to trust him as he explained he owned 3 homes and could refer me to *********************** other residents.  Day 1 we removed the walkway and I showed him how the used interlocking pavers in the pile were not meant for the walkway and we discussed they were torn up at *********************** since people kept tripping on them.  I advised they are not meant for a walkway since there are larger gaps than normal flat edge pavers which we lay 50K sq ft per year.  We asked repeatedly for pictures of how he wanted them laid which he never gave us saying he was working on it.  I showed him prior to him leaving how the pavers would be laid.  Day 2 he said he would meet me in the morning as he had a golf outing.  We were there at 7:00AM when *********************** opened and he was already gone.  I called and texted him several times with questions for him and to advise him that the actual walkway for 76' with a large turnaround area at the end which was 56% more area 240 which he advised vs actual of 375 Sq ft and he did not respond or return till 2:00.  By then we had the entire walkway built except the cut edges.  He didn't like the look so we made slight changes where it met the driveway.  He left and came back shortly with asking us to rebuild the entire walkway moving the pavers slightly but required a complete rebuild of the walkway.  To ask for this without giving pictures of how he wanted it built or even being home as he communicated to discuss the walkway doubled the workload.  I then texted him that I would honor my quote despite the 56% larger area but he agreed to pay $3,900.  Despite the walkway area being 56% larger, he only agreed to pay 15% more despite us building the entire walkway twice.  Day 3 I showed him the walkway we amended and where we installed drain already, and half of the walkway that already had cut edges.  I never quoted doing a large paver area around the drain.  He approved and said he would be back in a couple hours to pay us.  Instead he never returned, we finished the walkway and completing the job.  He then texted me saying the he would have never agreed to the walkway if it had cut edges.  There is NO way to lay this design paver that doesn't allow turns without doing cut edges.  Plus many of the used pavers that we had to travel a mile to get over a dozen times had already cut edges many of which had concrete on them.  This took significant time just to sort through the pavers.  He then demanded that I come fix a couple pavers that were not level and to straighten top that was specifically laid at a slight angle to keep soil for covering it and to ensure water drained properly and that I needed to paver around the drain that was in a flower bed exactly where he asked for it.  We also advised him several times the sprinklers were broken in 2 spots causing the flooding which he elected to just turn off rather than fix.  He. advised he won't pay me the remaining $500 unless I did what he asked.  Due to him lying about the square footage, him not providing the pictures as requested to do the walkway build, to make us rebuild the entire walkway, then make demands that were not part of the quote, then not pay what he agreed to, I concluded I cannot trust this client.  You would think if a guy claimed to own 3 homes, he would have bought new pavers.  Instead he bought used pavers, treated the contractor unfairly, and then disparaged me on BBB, ****, and *********************** when I would not do what he demanded.  So, I professionally will respond and protect my business and employees.  It was funny though for him to say how and what I would say in this response.   As a licensed skilled carpenter, painter, landscape designer, flooring installer, and pavers installer, he advised I must of forgoten my measuring device (also known as a rule). The truth is I trusted what a new client (as I had no reason not to) that over time and what transpired above gave plenty of reasons that you can determine did not have had the proper integrity and truthfulness.  You can reach me below with any questions you have.  Thanks.

   

  *********************

  Owner, Always Renovating

  ************

  ***************************************

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