Hercules Construction had done a couple of small (less then $1,000) jobs for me when I contracted with them to do a large (over $20,000) project replacing stairs to my upstairs rental, adding decks and under-stairs dry storage rooms and fixing the kitchen porch all while I was out of town. I gave them detailed drawings which I had worked on for months. A couple of days before they started I discovered the planned on changing the design without checking with me. I told them not to change anything without talking to me and then only if there were building code issues. I left town and they started work. A couple weeks later Brad ( the owner) emailed photos and I saw they had gone ahead and built exactly the way I told him not to. When I pointed this out never explained why they ignored my instructions but said he would have them fix it. Although they did re-do the stairs and landings to match my plans, they reconstructed it on the surface without changing the underlying framing which ended up making everything out of whack with railing posts hanging half off the deck and stair supports and railings that looked like they were stuck together in a very hap-hazard way. Railings on different sides were different heights there were design differences in different sections as though they were building with different carpenters and plans from one day to the next without looking at the previous days work. Work was very sloppy. It looked like the were using dull saws as cuts were burned and rough with lots of splinter. Deck boards cut crooked. Screws in exposed areas of hand rails causing splinters where you put your hands. Deck screws not counter sunk until I pointed it out. Storage units that leak and have warped doors and only utilizing a portion of the area in my design. According to my neighbors, the workers had very bad work habits--working slowly, smoking and goofing off and leaving early with the Brad hardly ever being seen at the work site. Brad told me he knew the workers put in a full days work because he had their time sheets (which they filled out). When I got back I was very upset (Brad had never sent more photos after I saw that first problem) when I saw the work. Brad had his workers counter sink the deck screws and adjust and cut a few things but they exhibited a bad attitude and I just wanted them off my property. I had already paid for everything but the porch repair which was supposed to be less than $800 but a figured Brad would be so embarrassed by everything he wouldn't have the gall to bill me for more. To my surprise, he sent a bill for almost $5,000. I told him to come over and we could discuss what he needed to do to fix everything before I would pay him more money. He never replied. I found out later, through another contractor, that Brad had put a lien on my property. I got no official notification of this. I heard through the grapevine that he used this tactic before with other clients when they didn't want to pay for what they felt was sub-standard work. I already knew I was going to have to pay someone else to fix everything but due to the lien I sued Hercules. I got the lien removed but no money back. read more
