Short review: hiring Construction Systems of Virginia is the hardest I've ever had to work for a job I was paying somebody else to do. Between missed self-imposed deadlines, poor workmanship, and major mistakes, completing the project to satisfaction took constant vigilance on my part and a general knowledge of construction techniques I felt lucky to have, but would've left someone less experienced with sometimes unsafe conditions in their home. Overall, the project was completed, but it took significant effort, time, and money on my part and, as a result, I wouldn't recommend anybody to hire Construction Systems of Virginia.
The final straw for me to write this review is that one of the two patio doors I had installed by CSOVA started peeling on the door jamb after only a year or two. I reached out to CSOVA to ask for a receipt so I could file a warranty claim with the manufacturer. They had no receipt. I asked for a statement or some kind of paperwork that I could send to the manufacturer. They said they would send it but have never followed up despite asking for it multiple times.
My project was large in scope and took five months. I hired CSOVA via Patrick Mullen to repair the back exterior wall of my townhouse after we discovered mold on the inside. It's difficult to be concise with all the things that went sideways on this project so here's my top ten things that went wrong:
1. They installed an outlet without an electrical box
2. They didn't initially replace the piece of sheathing that caused our mold problem until I noticed it
3. They boarded up our laundry and bathroom exhaust vents, until I pointed it out.
4. They painted over our fireplace bricks when installing the mantle which was not requested nor inside the scope of work.
5. They bought the wrong insulation materials twice even though the brand was specifically listed in the contract
6. Materials were ordered late and delayed parts of the project
7. Siding repairs were mismatched for a different style that our HOA explicitly didn't allow. I had sent CSOVA our HOA terms.
8. They reattached our downspouts without the proper drain adapter (as it was before)
9. The brand new patio door they installed still leaked water after multiple repair attempts.
10. The work crew, on several occasions, breached the mold containment zone that the mold remediation company said not to breach.
This list doesn't even include the lack of diligence on finish details that would indicate a professional install: wall and outlet plates not removed prior to painting (and when I did it myself for the 2nd coat, they were reinstalled immediately after painting before it could dry); a gallon paint can I supplied mangled to the point it had to be discarded; three different colors of caulk on the exterior of my door frame; mismatched screws on the hinges of a brand new patio door; a missing bracket on one downspout but not the other; different trim pieces for the same type of exhaust vent literally side-by-side; and probably more that Ive forgotten or yet to discover.
All said and done, I cannot recommend CSOVA. I leave two stars because I do appreciate that Patrick always had a good attitude, was open to addressing the issues, and accommodating with scheduling. In the end, the work simply was not of quality without tremendous personal effort and time. read more