CONTRACTOR WARNING -- HOUSTON / ORANGE / SAM RAYBURN AREA…read more
I'm sharing my experience with Ralph Valenciano of Quality Roofing and Construction LLC for anyone considering hiring him for residential or commercial work.
I normally would never bring something like this to social media, but I believe people deserve the opportunity to do their research before handing over thousands of dollars. I'm also sharing this in case anyone else has had a similar experience and has information they would like to provide as I document everything for a case with Harris County.
Here is exactly what happened to me.
We met Ralph through a friend in April. Over the following months, we golfed together several times, met for drinks, and genuinely considered him a friend.
In August, my laundry room flooded and had to be completely redone. After seeing a video I posted of the damage, Ralph reached out and offered to help. I already have contractors I know and trust, but Ralph strongly encouraged me to let his company handle the project. He showed me photos of previous work that gave me confidence he could deliver the laundry room I wanted.
The scope included new drywall, baseboards, flooring and custom cabinetry. His quote was approximately $7,954, with a 50% deposit of roughly $4,000.
I initially asked to pay by American Express. He sent me a Square payment link, I paid it, and within days the transaction was refunded. Ralph told me there was an issue with the tax information connected to his merchant account and asked me to pay by check instead.
On August 27, I gave him the check.
Shortly afterward, my credit union called asking me to confirm the transaction because Ralph was physically at the bank attempting to cash the check.
That should have been my first major warning.
I was originally told the project would begin within days and be completed approximately one week later.
That did not happen.
Week after week, there were delays and explanations. Ralph continued sending me drawings, sketches and ideas for the laundry room, but the promised work was not being completed.
Meanwhile, my laundry room had been demolished down to the walls and floors and was left that way.
On September 15, Ralph finally returned and told me the entire project would be completed within two days.
He arrived approximately two hours late with cabinet bases -- but no cabinet faces, no drawers, no tile and none of the other materials necessary to complete the job.
He performed drywall work that day, left after a few hours, and told me he would return early the following morning and finish everything.
He was supposed to arrive at 9:00 a.m.
He never showed.
After I spent most of the day waiting and was unable to reach him, he finally called around 3:00 p.m. and told me he had run into "logistical issues."
At that point, I started researching.
I began looking through public records, company information and reviews associated with him and his businesses. What I found concerned me enough that I no longer felt comfortable allowing him to continue working in my home.
On September 16, I requested my money back.
He has refused to refund my deposit and is now claiming that I owe him an additional $527.
The photos attached to this post show the condition my laundry room was left in and the work that had been performed when I requested my money back.
I paid approximately $4,000.
I do not have a completed laundry room.
I do not have completed cabinetry.
I do not have my flooring installed.
I do not have the finished project I contracted and paid for.
Instead, I have a demolished laundry room and a dispute over my deposit.
Please learn from my experience: research anyone you hire BEFORE handing over a large deposit -- even when that person was introduced through someone you trust or you consider them a friend.
If you have personally hired or done business with Ralph Valenciano or Quality Roofing and Construction LLC and had a similar experience, please message me. I am documenting everything and would like to hear directly from anyone with firsthand information.
Receipts, invoices, messages, photos and the current condition of my laundry room are attached.
Please share this so someone else has the opportunity to do the research I wish I had done before handing over my money.
