Extremely disappointing experience with Tantalum Construction…read more
We first received an estimate from Tantalum in March, and then began working with them much more actively in late July to move forward with our bathroom remodel. From late July through September, we spent a significant amount of time going back and forth about the scope, permitting, waterproofing, window work, fixtures, pricing, warranty, and contract language.
This wasn't just an initial estimate. Tantalum prepared multiple revisions, answered detailed project questions, and ultimately sent us formal agreements to review. On August 28, they sent a revised agreement and gave us an anticipated construction schedule of October 1 through November 15. Ready to Sign Pending Update - Bathroom Remodel - 2007 w 95th st - updated decis.pdf
On September 7, after another round of clarifications, they gave us revised pricing and specifically asked us to confirm our "final selections." We responded that same day saying "we are ready to move forward," confirmed our final choices, and asked them to send the updated agreement so we could sign it. Ready to Sign Pending Update - Bathroom Remodel - 2007 w 95th st - updated decis.pdf
Even at that stage, communication was frustratingly slow. After telling them we were ready to proceed, it took another week for us to receive the final agreement. On September 14, they finally sent what they described as the agreement for the "confirmed work scope." Ready to Sign Pending Update - Bathroom Remodel - 2007 w 95th st - updated decis.pdf
We reviewed it and sent two final questions on September 23 about language in the agreement. They never answered those questions. Five days later, instead of responding to them, we received an email saying they could no longer take on our project because of "current project commitments and unexpected schedule changes." Ready to Sign Pending Update - Bathroom Remodel - 2007 w 95th st - updated decis.pdf
That was incredibly frustrating. We had spent months communicating with this company, worked through numerous details at their request, confirmed that we were ready to move forward, received a final agreement and had been planning around an anticipated October start. Then, rather than answering our final contract questions, their response was essentially that they could no longer work with us.
Of course a contractor has the right to decide they cannot take on a project, and schedules change. But I wish they had made that decision much earlier, rather than allowing us to invest so much time getting all the way to the final agreement and anticipated start date.
We now have to start over finding another contractor after spending the better part of late July, August and September trying to finalize this project with Tantalum.
Based on our experience, I would not recommend relying on their proposed schedule or investing months working through a project with them until you have a fully signed agreement and a firm commitment that they will actually take on the work.
