We hired Atlas Restoration as a general contractor for repairs to interior and exterior from…read moretornado damage. We chose Atlas based on their positive reviews. The initial meeting went well, and they seemed knowledgeable and professional and talked through the whole process.
Atlas did a walk through with us and informed us which rooms we needed to empty, where we should put the items, what they would tarp, and what could be left in place. They explained that they would put down floor coverings, tarp off their work areas, and put dust-eaters in those areas. They said I would need to clean out my refrigerator because it would be unplugged and wrapped. These specific items were written into the insurance estimate and the insurance company paid Atlas to do these things.
Ultimately, Atlas did none of the above. There was significant damage to my home and personal items from drywall dust, paint overspray, and paint drips/footprints. Drywall dust and debris were in my HVAC (not completely unexpected from a remodel, but this was caked in), all the internal parts of my brand-new refrigerator, between the floorboards, in light fixtures, in closets, in pictures frames, and in cardboard moving boxes. They also must have had the windows open because drywall dust and debris were in the windowsills and caked to the screens. Paint overspray was on floors, walls, doors, doorknobs, and windows. Paint footprints were on my dining chairs, desk, moving boxes, door mats, and front porch. They set up stations to cut wood and metal in my garage and driveway with the garage door open and got wood and metal shavings in everything I had stored in the garage.
When I complained, Atlas said they would have to file a supplemental insurance claim for the cleanup. I told them the insurance had already paid them for the prevention that they did not do. They said insurance would pay for this as part of tornado clean up. The insurance had already paid for initial tornado clean up and this was not part of it. Atlas then had a cleaning crew come out twice, but they just did basic housecleaning (sweep, mop, dust.) When I told Atlas this was unsatisfactory, they said that this was the fault of the subcontractors and they were not responsible. We were left with hours of cleaning and permanent damage.
In addition, there were numerous other issues. Items that Atlas was paid for by insurance were not completed or were completed with cheaper products. For example, Atlas was paid to replace some of the blown in insulation in the attic but instead spread out existing insulation.
Other acts of unprofessionalism included using our personal tools from our tool chest (tools left lying around the house), rummaging through our storage closet for paint, using our washer/dryer, using our dining chairs/desk/moving boxes in place of step ladders, and using our personal trash cans and brooms for drywall and paint cleanup and ruining them. This left partial paint footprints on all items and broke a box of wine glasses (box labeled "fragile - glasses".) When I complained about these things, they said that they are not responsible for their subcontractors. When I said that as the general contractor, they were, they told me, "It was probably like that before and you just didn't notice."
Of course, the job also took much longer than promised. This would have been understandable if we were waiting for materials but that was not the case. Despite initially promising that they focus on one job at a time, it was clear that they were juggling jobs. They only worked at my house 2-3 days per week. There were multiple times that I was asked to meet them or be there to accept a delivery and they no showed. There were also times when I would get very last-minute notices, all impacting my work schedule (taking unnecessary time off or needing last minute time off.)
There were even more issues than mentioned here. They ultimately completed the big-ticket items (roof, siding, electric, cabinets, drywall), but their lack of oversight and professionalism that caused significant damage and stress was not worth it. I would not recommend them.
