Worst contractors I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with…read more
Hired Deck Experts to built a modest-sized deck patio cover, aluminum with tinted glass roof, 8'x12'.
The end product looks fine, but the total lack of professionalism made me regret hiring these guys. The workers left a mess and damaged property, without saying anything, and we received no apology from them.
After being blown off in early May, I decided to leave the project until next year, but in mid-August, the company owner emailed back asking if I was still interested. I (now regretfully) said sure.
Here's' my experience...I met with the owner, Darryl G. we were then emailed a quote of $2465+tax for the 8'X12' (96 sq ft) project. We gave it the green light. We were sent an email to prepay a 50% deposit at the local CIBC, which I thought was a bit strange. I was a bit hesitant. Normally, every contractor I've worked with gets a cheque the day they show up to start a project. And, they pick up a cheque and deposit it into their own bank. We went ahead hoping our money wasn't just gone with the wind. This should have been a red flag
2 weeks after our deposit, workers appeared on the back deck and started work...no phone call notification, no knock on the door even? Also of note, the company owner was not present...just two second-rate hired hands. (Who I vetted to do the job is not who I got. Very misleading). It didn't take long, maybe two hours, for installation. They vanished. No knock on the door to say they were done?
My deck was covered in aluminum cuttings/shards, bolts/screws, dirt/gunk from the gutters they cut away, and even exact-o blade bits. Not cool. Also, a large flower planter was smashed on my back patio. I would have expected a knock and apology. And clean up! Unbelievably, I discovered that the workers used my patio furniture as sawhorses to cut metal posts. Unacceptable.
Only two of three quoted support posts were installed. I quickly sent emails to the owner and advised them of my issues. He replied to say "he'll talk to them" about the clean up. He also said that the third support post was deemed unnecessary with the installation of a supposedly heftier beam. When this decision was made is beyond me. The price was "unaffected."
Any modification to a quote should be made in writing to inform customers...otherwise it leaves them wondering if they're getting what they paid for...that should be normal practice for all industries. Better to keep the customer in the loop than not. Note: completely ignored my broken planter situation. I know it was intact before they showed up. Grrr.
If you're looking for great attention to detail and customer service, this is not the place for you. Honestly, if they hadn't of left it messy and broken my planter, I wouldn't be upset. (If they had addressed the broken pot and apologized upfront, I wouldn't be as upset). C'est la vie. I'm left feeling like I don't matter, probably because in Deck Experts' world, I don't.
After a barrage of emails, and then cc-ing the owner's accountant/wife, I finally received an email apology. He "said" he fired the guys that did my install without having seen the work/damage in person.
I also was offered a small discount for my labour to clean up THEIR mess, with my own shop vac., and the cost of replacing my broken planter.
One final note, I withheld paying the balance since they forgot to bolt one of the support beams to the roof (would that pass code?) properly. It took 2 weeks to get someone to fix this??
I wish someone had posted any feedback about this company. There is no way this is their first debacle. I would have avoided them like the plague.