1 STAR -- $9,152 LATER, THE LEAK IS STILL THERE -- EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE
I would give zero stars if Google allowed it.
I hired First Response Chimney Stove & Fireplace because I had a serious water leak in my basement coming from underneath my fireplace. I specifically hired them to inspect the problem, identify the source of the leak, and recommend the appropriate repair.
The owner, William, and his worker, Frank, inspected the situation and told me that the chimney was responsible for the water intrusion and that the chimney needed to be rebuilt to solve the problem. I trusted their professional assessment and agreed to proceed.
The estimate was for $9,152.00 and included a partial brick chimney rebuild, chimney crown work, flashing/kerf work, waterproofing, and other chimney-related services.
I relied on their representations that this work would address the water problem.
It didn't.
After all of this work and all of this money, I STILL HAVE THE SAME WATER LEAK COMING FROM THE SAME AREA UNDERNEATH THE FIREPLACE.
That is the single biggest issue with this entire experience.
The chimney was presented to me as the cause of the leak. After the chimney work was completed, the leak remained. I subsequently discovered that the actual problem was associated with the foundation, meaning I spent thousands of dollars addressing what appears to have been the wrong source of the water intrusion.
Had I been correctly advised in the beginning, I would not have authorized a $9,152 chimney project to address a problem that it did not resolve.
The problems didn't stop there.
Throughout the project, I experienced repeated last-minute changes to the construction schedule. These changes caused me to lose multiple days of work and disrupted my life unnecessarily.
The worksite/property was also left with a mess of concrete and construction debris in my backyard.
I was also given assurances regarding supervision and oversight of the work. My experience with what actually occurred did not match those assurances, which further damaged my confidence in the company.
I tried to be patient and overlook many of these problems because I assumed that, at the end of the project, at least the original problem--the water leak--would finally be fixed.
It wasn't.
And then came the most disturbing part.
When I confronted William about my disappointment and explained that the leak was still there despite the expensive chimney work, the response was not what I expected from a contractor who had just been paid to solve a specific problem.
My wife received text messages stating that a lien would be placed on the house if the bill was not paid in full.
This was particularly upsetting because I was already paying for the project through the financing program offered by the company and was continuing to make monthly payments.
Instead of feeling that the company was taking responsibility for an unresolved problem, I felt pressured over payment while the very problem I originally hired them to solve remained unresolved.
Bottom line:
I am now left paying a $9,152 project bill while still dealing with the same water leak underneath my fireplace.
I lost work days because of scheduling issues.
My property was left with a concrete mess.
I have serious concerns about the supervision and communication during the project.
Most importantly, the water problem that caused me to call this company in the first place was not fixed.
I hired a chimney company because I trusted their expertise. I relied on their diagnosis that the chimney was causing the leak. I authorized major work based on that diagnosis. Today, I am left with an expensive bill and the original leak.
That is extremely difficult to accept.
My advice to anyone considering hiring First Response Chimney Stove & Fireplace for a major repair: Do not rely solely on their diagnosis. Get an independent inspection and a second opinion before spending thousands of dollars. Make absolutely sure you know what is actually causing your problem before authorizing major work.
In my personal experience, this was an extremely expensive, frustrating, disruptive, and ultimately unsuccessful experience.
I would not recommend this company, and I would not hire them again. read more