Commercial Residential Aluminum & Fabricating

Hired to replace pool cage, CRA damaged pool deck pavers upon removal of an existing cage without telling us, and have done nothing to repair.
Hired CRA to replace existing pool cage and repair house gutters on 22 Mar 2019, for $6,308.88, paid half down. Work finally completed 6 Aug 2019 while we were out of the country; paid balance on good faith. Returned form overseas on 27 Aug 2019, and noted significant damage to pool deck pavers where old pool cage was removed by CRA. CRA said nothing about this damage to us. Made multiple attempts starting on 28 Aug to get CRA to make repairs. CRA salesman, Phil M. agreed repairs should be made and promised action multiple times (11 Sep, 16 Oct, 21 Oct). Notified 16 Oct Phil quit. We were promised action by CRA's Carmen S. in the form of a visit the morning of 21 Oct. Waited all day for promised visit by companyno show. Complained by phone and email the next day, 22 Oct. Were told by receptionist, Belinda, their Install Manager, Scott S. would be out on that day (22 Oct). Scott did arrive but did not announce his presence on our property. Wife happened to see someone in the backyard area and approached Scott. He was in the backyard applying simple grout in an attempt to repair damaged pavers. Scott claimed "he saw no one inside" and proceeded to the back (he did not bother to ring the doorbell). Wife questioned Scott about the use of grout to repair the damage as grout is usually used to fill spaces between tiles, not pavers and cement that was damaged. During conversation, stucco was mentioned and CRA's "professional" Scott, ended up googling (using Siri) to determine if stucco is stronger than grout and, thanks to Google, he discovered it was. We later discover through our own research that stucco is basically used to coat or cover less visually appealing construction materials. As with grout, stucco is not used to replace chunks of pavers or cement. In our uninformed opinion, a more durable and aesthetically pleasing solution is needed to adequately replace the cement/concrete/mortar and pavers that were destroyed. We further relayed to Scott (and later to Carmen via phone) our belief that their employees need to be better trained at communicating the truth to their customers, not simply saying what they think the customer wants to hear simply to get an irate customer off their back. Scott admitted the damage was done when the old pool cage was removed, but had no answer as to why we were not told of the damage, nor why repairs were not made. We continued to contact the company weekly until Thanksgiving, even providing the company exact dates we would be in town to work with them. Nothing was done other than an offer to have Scott come out and assess the damage. We declined the offer of their Googling expert and requested someone else. To date, no response despite emailing the president of the company, to include photo evidence of the damage. The only person at the company willing to speak with us has been a receptionist (Riga) who is very sympathetic, noted she has brought this up at staff meetings, yet nothing has been done. Despite repeated phone calls and attempt to get CRA managers to reach out to us, no one has. We continue to request they send a qualified person to complete these repairs, not a "professional" who has to Google fundamental information regarding the durability of basic construction materials. It is now evident they are ignoring our calls and requests for repairs.

Commercial Residential Aluminum (CRA) did not provide a quality product in a professional workman like manner. Our "new" cage is structurally flawed.
I have an issue with Commercial Residential Aluminum (CRA). They were contracted to construct our new screened enclosure. The product CRA erected is flawed both structurally, and by a lesser degree, cosmetically. When asked to repair the issues, a few were corrected, some made worse, and some just explained away ("ignored"). Two critical connections were addressed by a letter from CRA's on staff engineer. In it he surmised from a picture that the weakened support brackets strengthened the weakened support posts, so all was fine. Our area just had cat 5 hurricane (Dorian) swing by so I'm more than a little concerned he may be overly optimistic.

Basic construction techniques like measuring were often ignored. CRA didn't seem to check they just assembled connections and if placed wrong moved them later. The result is that 5 holes might be drilled where 2 are needed. 16 hole instead of 8. After two post base connections to the concrete patio were "repaired" once firmly attached base plates were now loosely re-installed using undersized fasteners bedded in caulk. Industry standard should have been to use 2 part anchoring epoxy or up-size the fasteners. Poor communication and poor construction ending in a "potentially" unsafe structure. Did it pass county inspection, yes. The connections I refer to are all internal anchor brackets. Post to beam and post to footing / patio connections. Without x-ray vision, the inspector could only check the number of screws against the approved plans. I only know because as the customer I watched some of the construction happen. When I saw internal connections that seemed sloppy, I took a picture. I guess the only way to really know if the cage is built to code now would be to tear it down and start over. When asked if the structure needed to be re-inspected based on what we now know about it's deficiencies, I was told it did not.

Finally there's the incompetence of support staff and management. Missed deadlines, miss cut materials, miss measured layout, unanswered emails and broken promises. Much could have been avoided with better communication and a little training. CRA broke an original promise to include me in the design of my own cage. That suggestion was made by a well intention-ed salesman, but when presented to management, fell on deaf ears. I requested plans before they cut materials, but never received a copy let alone a reply. Most everything is documented in email and photographs.

After 2 attempts I have lost faith in CRA's ability to repair our screened cage. This type of screwed together construction is strongest at first assembly. Once a connection is taken apart then put back together, it is weaker. I don't think CRA should be building anything until they train workers and put processes in place to build these cages correctly. We hire "professionals" hoping they have the proper knowledge and tools to perform specific tasks. Improper building practices are dangerous as the folks in New Orleans just experienced.

They used a door handle and lock that cannot be replaced. The handle corroded and broke after 2 years. They gave me a replacement that does not work
We had a new house built in 2014, which included a screen enclose installed by CRA. The first year we experienced the paint blistering, which was caused by the aluminum corroding under the paint. AT the same time the door handle and lock they installed also corroded and fell apart. I called CRA to get them to help. They would not return my phone calls until I called one of the owners. He came to our house and said there was nothing he could about the corrosion and paint chipping. He later delivered an can of spray paint and a replacement handle that would not work on the door they installed. I have left messages to return my calls with Larry H Sales Mgr. and Perry H, owner that the handle does not work and I can't find a replacement on line or through local hardware outlets. They have done nothing to help and I now have a brick holding the door closed.

I signed contract in October for 11-30-17 screen repair. Paid one half in advance. No work done yet and no one will tell me revised schedule.
I signed contract in October for approx $1500 in screen repair work. Given Schedule of November 30th for work to be completed. I paid One half in advance and check has been cashed. In early December I followed to see when work would be done. They said it might be a month and would provide regular updates on reschedule. I have received no updates and no one from company will return my call. Not the salesman, not the sales department, not scheduling, not service, no one.

CRA charged me an additional fee 4 years after the job was supposedly finished and put a lien on my house.
I hired these CRA to expand my lanai and cage it. I made it abundantly clear I wanted a "turn key" job. I didn't want any surprise charges at the end of the project. FOUR YEARS after the job was complete, they inform me that didn't finalize the project with the city and want me to pay for a final survey for an additional $200. I told them it was their responsibility and they put a lien on my house!!!