JPM Contracting, Inc.

Review: In October 2014 I contracted xxxx xxxxxx, of JPM Contracting, to build a garage onto my existing home. I provided him with scaled drawings and measurements of what I wanted built. He was continually reassuring me that he is a man of his word and that he would complete the job to my satisfaction. In mid-December the final inspection was done by the Kent County inspector. All of the building code requirements were met for the final inspection but there were still things that needed to be esthetically finished to complete the job. JPM was paid in full for the job in December at the time of final inspection, with our understanding that the remaining materials on the site were to be removed and the site would be completely cleaned. Due to rainy weather I understood that it could not be done right away due to the rainy weather and muddy soil surrounding the garage. Several weeks later, after a few telephone reminders to him JPM sent some of his employees out to clean up the site. It took several more weeks to get them back out to complete the job of removing the rubble which [redacted] assured me would be removed.

At the first snowfall of the year, I noticed the concrete at the entrance one of the garage doors was beginning to flake off a little when I swept the snow away from it with a broom. A week or so later the other garage door entrance was the same with concrete flaking. I notified JPM of the problem and he assured me that he would be out to look at it. As the weeks went by it continued to get worse and I continued to call. He did finally come out to look at it several weeks later. I then notice a slight crack in the concrete at the entrance where I had first noticed the flaking. A few weeks later I noticed another crack and then another. I informed JPM again of the problem and he again took weeks before responding. Prior to him arriving to inspect the cracks in the floor we had a heavy rain one night and I noticed that there was an inordinate amount of water leaking into the garage through the pedestrian door. I called and requested that he attend to these matters and make good on his assurance of completing the job. He came to the garage and looked at the leaking door and said I see what the problem is and I can fix that, it’s very simple. A few more weeks and a few more calls JPM finally responded to the cracking concrete and the door leak. He stated that “You need to have a storm door on there or you will get rain coming in.” I challenged that statement and he said that he would fix the door leak. As for the concrete, he stated, “I contacted my supplier and he said that that is to be expected on concrete, it is caused by salt and snow and it happens all of the time.”

The concrete continued to crack in several other placed and I continued to call [redacted] who assured me that he would have his supplier out to look at the problem. Weeks later, and several more phone calls, I finally got supplier out to look at the concrete and he simply stated the “That’s normal cracking and flaking caused by snow and salt. There’s nothing that can be done about it.”

Now I have reassessed the entire job, listing all of the problems that I have found, such as, the cracks and flaking of the concrete, pedestrian door leaking (also, door installed with no shims and face nailed into the sheathing), gutter leaking water, window installed improperly (12 inches higher than other windows installed on the garage, also not aligned with windows on the existing structure), weather strip and trim around both garage doors improperly installed and now buckling, no caulking around the doors, pieces of siding coming loose and falling from the garage due to improper installation. JPM’s response to the problems that I pointed out to him is “You’re just nit picking and want something for nothing. You should have told me these things before. You wrote me the check so the job is now done.”Desired Settlement: Complete work necessary to correct; the cracks and flaking of the concrete, pedestrian door leaking (also, door installed with no shims and face nailed into the sheathing), gutter leaking water, window installed improperly (12 inches higher than other windows installed on the garage, also not aligned with windows on the existing structure), weather strip and trim around both garage doors improperly installed and now buckling, no caulking around the doors, pieces of siding coming loose and falling from the garage due to improper installation.

Review: The contracting company proposed to REMOVE and REPLACE all roofing materials. As opposed to removing the roofers went over the existing tar paper and did not remove existing drip edge. I was charged for new drip edge. The contracting included fees for new chimney flashing, a new cover for the flue gas and charged for roof venting which were not excluded from the final billing. The contractor did not hang the gutters correctly. One particular section was hung short while others were not sealed properly. The last item was the window wrapping. The old window wrap was to be REMOVED and then REPLACED. The contractor went over top of the old.Desired Settlement: That the contractor settles the way in which he did the work in an ethical manner.

Consumer

Response: