Suncrest Builders Inc

On 10/15/2015, I signed a contract with Suncrest Builders Incto install custom buicabinetry, to paint it white, and install a Butcher Block seat and stain and seal the seat The owner of Suncrest Builders, John C***, provided a contract with line items totaling $ My wife paid one half of the cost in advance, $
Unfortunately, termite damage was uncovered A change order to the original contract was signed on 11/13/to remove all affected wood, framing, studs & replace with pressure treated wood Secondly, the change order directed the installation of insulation, repair of the drywall and walls, painting of the walls and ceiling Lastly, the change order directed the removal of existing siding as required to complete the repairs, replacement of sheathing, installation of new flashing and drip caps, and the re installation of the existing vinyl siding
Suncrest Builders began the work in November 2015, removed all of the termite damage but

Review: Suncrest Builders was hired to remodel kitchen, floors and bathroom. In the process they damaged my tub and driveway which they said they would fix. Their laborer was at [redacted] the week of June 3-7, 2013 finishing a job that was contracted on Feb 1., 2013. The Operations Manager, [redacted], said that he would have [redacted], President, contact me by Friday, June 7, 2013, in regards to reparing the damaged tub by hiring a company to glaze and repair the driveway. I have not heard from them and they have been paid in full. I also believe I am owed a refund as the billing was done incorrectly when they added a change order to the original estimate they did not remove the original line item. I was charged twice.Desired Settlement: I want the tub repaired as well as the damaged shelves installed in the tub. The driveway needs to be repaired as the dumpster cracked it and it is rusted because the dumpster was there for so long.

Business

Response:

We will make the desired repairs for [redacted]. [redacted].

Review: On June 19, 2012 we entered into a contract with Suncrest Builders, [redacted], [redacted], [redacted] in the amount of $130,420.00. Upon signature a payment of $13,042 (10%) was made. The contract called for:

1. The demolition of an 12’x14’ room on the right side of our home, replacing it with the shell only

2. The demolition of a sunroom and stoop at the rear of the home plus several interior walls and the rear wall of the home in order to extend the back of the home 11’4” (framing only) and add a new 5’6”x16’ Trek deck.

3. The demolition of an existing front stoop to be replaced with a 6’x23’ front porch including roof and railing.

When we originally discussed the timing of the entire demolition/framing project with the owner, [redacted], he verbally indicated the project would take roughly three months with an estimated completion date of October 1st, 2012. NOTE: the contract provided to us did not include when the work was to begin and the estimated completion date as required by the 18 VAC 50-22-260 B. 9.a.

On July 5th, 2012 [redacted] came out for the initial “commencement” meeting and received another payment of $13,420 (10%). At that time, **. [redacted] indicated that we may need a grading plan. Our architect had originally indicated that no grading permit was necessary; however, in order to get the project started, **. [redacted] broke the job into two phases and acquired a permit for the first phase (Build a one-story garage). NOTE: There were no discussions with **. [redacted] as to which Phase we wanted him to start with. In addition, a revised proposal was never prepared to indicate the new terms of the work to be performed. We were not notified that he had indeed broken the job into two phases until AFTER the July11th demolition was done.

On July 11th, 2012, a demolition crew removed the structure to the right side of our home, as well as both the front and back stoop and the sun room. NOTE: A bay window which was to be relocated to the back of the garage structure was damaged during the demolition project and therefore we were unable to use. We were not given any reduction to our contract for this error by the demolition crew. In addition, both stoops and the sunroom were in the area that would be considered Phase II of the construction project. Demolition was completed July 15th, 2012 at which time a payment of $13,420 (10%) was made. We contend that demolition of our front and back stoops, as well as, the sunroom should not have occurred until Phase II of our project began.

The foundation for the garage was completed on or about July 25th, 2012 at which time a payment of $26,084 was made representing 80% of the total foundation cost indicated in the contract.

Framing of the garage began around August 7th, 2012. On August 21st, 2012, a payment of $13,042 was made which represented 50% of the total framing cost indicated in the contract. At this point 60% of the total contract had been paid.

On September 28th, **. [redacted] requested a payment of $19,000. We asked for a breakdown for the work he has completed which would justify this payment. His response via e-mail:

From: [redacted] [mailto:[redacted]@yoursuncrest.com]

Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2012 9:15 PM

To: [redacted]

Cc: [redacted]; [redacted]

Subject: RE: Draw request

[redacted],

Here is a breakdown of the payments to date:

6/20/12 $13,042.00 10% Deposit at contract ratification

7/5/12 $13,042.00 10% Commencement payment

7/19/12 $13,042.00 10% Demolition complete payment

7/26/12 $26,084.00 20% Foundation payment. $6,521.00 balance for phase 2 concrete

8/22/12 $2,335.26 Payment for windows. Delivery set up for Tuesday.

8/22/12 $13,042.00 10% Framing payment. $13,042.00 balance for phase 2 framing.

$19,000.00 75% shell payment. $7,084.00 balance for phase 2 shell.

5% completion $6,521.00 completion of project.

I am requesting 75% of the shell payment be paid in advance. I am requesting 75% as the current structure represents 75% of the total shell scope of the project. I am requesting the payment in advance so I can use the cash in hand as leverage to get the roofers, siding guys and masons on site & complete as quick as possible. The advance payment will put me in a great position to ensure we are able to complete phase 1 asap and begin phase 2.

Thank you for your help.

Best,

President

We met with **. [redacted] on October 1st, 2012. We agreed to pay $19,000 in two separate payments via cashier’s check in order to get our project completed.

On October 8th, we asked for a schedule to complete phase I and a tentative date to begin phase II of our project. **. [redacted] indicated phase I would be “ready for inspecton” on October 22nd and if all went well the permit for phase II could be pulled that week.

Work did not continue on our house until October 22nd when the bricklayers arrived. They worked through October 26th, then came back November 8th, they finished November 19th.

We reached out to **. [redacted] on November 30th to get an updated schedule. We received a response on December 2nd indicating he would “do his best” to have siding installed by the end of the week. We did not hear from **. [redacted] until Thursday, December 6th, he indicated the siding contractor would be picking up materials Monday and installing them immediately.

On December 7th, the siding contractor came by our house and indicated he would not be out Monday as **. [redacted] had indicated because he had yet to be paid for the roof he installed. **. [redacted] contacted the siding contractor and confirmed he would install the siding on December 10th, and that the contractor had been paid for the roof. Siding was installed December 7th through 12th.

We had requested various changes to the plans November 21st and on December 13th we received a copy of the proposed change order. We also received and invoice for $3,260.50 for “phase I completion”. Payment was made on December 14th.

On January 2nd payment of $11,946.65 was made for the requested changes. These changes all related to Phase II of the project.

We inquired about the final inspection for phase I on January 9th. Suncrest Builder’s operations manager indicated **. [redacted] and his associate were getting the necessary documents together. Final inspection occurred on or about January 15th for Phase I.

On February 13th we reached out to **. [redacted] to get an update on the status of phase II of our project. **. [redacted] indicated plans were to be submitted to the county that day for permit; however, due to some additional information needed by the county, the permit was not pulled until February 21st.

Received a call from **. [redacted] on February 28th. He indicated he was working on a date to get started on phase II of our project. He projected concrete work would start around March 11th.

March 13th we reached out to **. [redacted] to inquire if he intended to complete our project and if so, could he provide an anticipated start/finish date.

On April 5th the concrete contractors arrived. Received and paid invoice for $6,521 on April 10th for completion of foundation.

No work has been done at our home since the 2nd week of April. We did not hear from **. [redacted] until May 14th, he indicated framers would be at our house the week of May 27th at the latest. We did not hear from **. [redacted] again until May 23rd. He indicated that the framers would not be out the following week and it would be at least another 1-1/2 to 2 weeks before they would be able to makeDesired Settlement: We would like $30,000 returned of the funds advanced to Suncrest. Although they indicated approximately 70% of the project was complete, in fact a little over 50% of the total project contracted for has been completed.

Business

Response:

This client brought a set of complete drawings to us and requested we build their additions for them. Upon finding out from the county that the size of the project would require either a) a site plan, which would have cost the client an additional $5-$10,000, or b) we would need to break the project up into 2 completely independent projects with the second project not starting until we had the final inspection on the first, the client chose option b. As such we needed to schedule the two projects independently.

Once we had our final inspection for the first phase of the project and we had the permit for the second phase in place we scheduled our concrete subcontractor to install the foundation work. Now that the foundation is complete we need our carpenters to start the framing phase of the project. Due to the high amount of work days lost due to the heavy rains this year our carpenters are behind schedule. I informed the clients that the carpenters are currently halfway through a separate project and would not be available until mid June. We do not use subcontractors for carpentry work. I explained to the clients that I cannot pull the carpenters from the job they are currently on as they have the roof off of the house and are in the process of adding a second floor.

We understand & appreciate the clients frustration but since we schedule new project starts for months in advance it was impossible for us to keep our carpenters idle while the first phase was completed, inspected, the permit for phase 2 was secured and the foundation work was installed. The second phase of the project needed to go into our project queue with all of our other clients.