Top Notch Contracting

We were very impressed with Bryan's workmanship and attention to detailHe shared creative ideas and economical options for us to consider for our projectWe hIghly recommend Top Notch

Dear Revdex.com Denver and Boulder, Colorado, It has recently come to my attention that there is an outstanding complaint against my company Top Notch ContractingI apologies for the delay in response as this complaint was sent to an invalid email. Top Notch was contracted to preform a
full roof replacement for Mr*** * *** located at *** *** *** *** *** * ** ***Upon completion of the project Mr*** informed the Project manager that the stove pipe Jack was tilted on the exterior of the propertyUpon notification the project manager returned to the site to inspect and make the repairs, Top Notch was responsible forTop Notch Straightened the existing Exterior stove pipe jack to which the owner was satisfied After further investigation it was found that the Exterior stove pipe was never installed correctly or attached to any other structure including the interior wood burning stoveMr*** was notified of this matter, and fully understands that this issue was not caused by Top Notch ContractingHe requested Top Notch to preform this repair but was informed that this work could not be done by Top Notch as we are not HVAC Certified or qualified to preform this type of work. Furthermore, the inspector for the town of Deer Trail Inspected the property and reported that this issue exists with a few of the homes in the communityThe inspector also stated that the property in question never received a final HVAC inspection. With that said, this owner was instructed to go back to his builderSince, our company has not received any calls, text, emails, or any other type of correspondence in regards to the matter. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter, *** ***Top Notch Contracting- OwnerComplaint# ***

Complaint: ***
I am rejecting this response because: I have pictures of the stove pipe prior to, during and after the roof installation.I have pictures of the stove pipe prior to the roof installation, while the roof was being installed and after the roof installationThose pictures show the chimney standing straight up before the roof installation, the stove pipe canted during the installation with the roof installersworking around the pipe and the pipe still canted after the roof installation.I have pictures of the stove pipe interior installation, before showing the stove pipe correct and after installation showing the stove pipe displaced.This interior damage was actually worse after *** *** entered my attic to repair the damage. It was actually worse after his repairs than it was before.Those photos were furnished to Top Notch representatives prior to the Revdex.com complaintThey have refused to answer emails and phone calls.I have emails from Top Notch representatives, *** *** and *** *** in reference to thiThe HVAC installer assures me that the stove pipe installation was in fact inspected and approvedI would like to see Top Notch proof that this is not thecase. So I am rejecting this response from Top Notch
Sincerely,
*** ***

Complaint: ***
I am rejecting this response because:I have chosen to answer each of the Top Notch responses individually and my responses are noted by using Italics. When replacing a roof the shingle have to be removedTypically when removing shingles down to the decking the pipe jack has to be replaced (due to hail in this case). When the roof was stripped to the decking it was noticed that the pipe in question was loose/ leaningThe pipe was adjusted to the owners satisfaction and secured from the exterior to the best of our abilitiesThe owner informed us that this stove pipe was not attached to anything within the home as he was planning to install a larger wood burning stove. Interestingly, the "loose/leaning" pipe was NOT brought to my attentionI brought it to their attention and being a photographer by avocation, I was constantly making a record of the roof installationPictures showing the pipe standing straight and then with workers around it, standing crooked have been furnished to Mr***.The pipe was never adjusted to the "owners satisfaction" (me). As the roof was being installed I immediately brought this problem to the attention of the on sight supervisor Mr*** *** who assured me that the problem would be resolved to my satisfaction. At no time was there any indication that the stove pipe had been already adjusted and accordingly, there could have been no satisfaction on my part. The on site supervisor and his supervisor, Mr*** ***, both left stating that this repair and some other minor adjustments would be made at a later date. And as there is no stove of any size currently installed, installing a "larger" stove is not now nor ever has been a question. The stove pipe in question, has been installed on my roof and standing straight for over (two) years with no problem and as the pictures that I have already furnished to Mr*** ***, the project manager, show the stove pipe standing straight and true at the beginning of the roof project and later with workers around it and the stove pipe standing crookedAnd also before and after pictures show the same displacement of the interior structure with a later picture showing the worsened condition after Mr*** effortsIf the pipe had already been adjusted to the "owners satisfaction" why did Mr*** come to my home, get in the attic and try to adjust the pipe possibly compromising the original installation? To further investigate the issue the project manager entered into the attic and found that the stove pipe was not attached to any structure in the atticA pipe this size has to be secured with straps, to a stable structureStove pipes, like the one in question, are traditionally strapped to the trussesThe project manager took pictures to show the owner the condition of the pipe within the attic.My discussions with original stove pipe installer, Mr*** *** of *** ***, indicate that the stove pipe was correctly installed under all building codes and requirements in place at the time of installation and again, I have remind all parties that the stove pipe stood under all weather and wind conditions for (two) years prior to being displaced in a few minutes by the roof installers. I don't know what the efforts of Mr*** to "repair" the stove pipe have done to compromise the original installation If this pipe was strapped to the trusses in the attic it would not have become loose or lean as it did when the pipe jack was replace or when the shingles were removed.At no time during the installation of the roof was this concern about the "incorrect" installation of the stove pipe and how that might affect the correct installation of my roof brought to my attention. As I have stated, I brought the damage to my stove pipe to the on site supervisor's attention while the roof was being installed and the workers were still on siteAt no time was any concern about the integrity of the stove pipe installation brought to my attention while the roof was being installedIf the roof installers had been so concerned about the stove pipe, why didn't they bring it to my attention? As stated previously, it is highly suggested that this owner have a certified HVAC specialist inspect this pipe to insure that it is properly installed, as Top Notch is not a certified HVAC specialist companyWe would also suggest that once the new wood stove is installed (which will stabilize the pipe further) the owner should re-evaluate this matter and email us if the problem still exists, and what he feels needs to be done to remedy this situationAs I have stated, there is NO larger stove being installedThere is no stove installed currently and never has beenNeverAs a matter of fact, I am considering the installation of a gas fireplace in lieu of the woodburning stove. The original stove pipe installer has assured me that the stove pipe was installed per regulations and requirements at the time of the installation. If Top Notch wishes to contract with an inspector to officially examine the installation they are certainly able to do so, remembering that the original installation has now been compromised by the efforts of Mr*** to repair itVery noisy efforts, I might add.I just wish my property to be returned to the condition it was in before Top Notch installed the roofBlaming the stove pipe for what appears to be unprofessional workmanship by the roofers seems to be counter productive. If the interior of the property was damaged due to the project manager inspecting the attic we would request that the owner email Top Notch photos showing the damage and we will send a tech out for the repair at no cost to the ownerWe would prefer to repair the interior area in question prior to any other person entering the attic and prior to the new larger wood burning stove is installed. And yet again, the "NEW LARGER" wood burning stove is mentioned. It's pretty hard to install a "new" stove, when there is NO stove and never has been. Just a stove pipe which stood unmoved for years until the roofers got hold of it.As far as I know, there was no damage to the interior of the property other than the unsightly condition of the crooked stove pipe both after the original roof installation and then made worse by the efforts of Mr*** to straighten the pipe while responding to my original complaintAny interior damage will be repaired by the returning of my stove pipe the it's pre roofing condition to my satisfaction, assuming that Mr***' efforts to repair the damage done by the roofers didn't compromise the original installation.I feel in all fairness to Top Notch I should mention that the other damage that I had complaints about, the satellite dish damage, they responded to and did reimburse me for the replacement of the satellite dish which was damaged by the roof installers as they dismounted it to replace the roof. This damage was not noted until the satellite provider came to adjust the dish after efforts to do so by Top Notch personnel were unsuccessful. The adjustment was covered by insurance, but not the replacementThe dish had been bent out any use and had to be replaced. This replacement cost was eventually paid by Top NotchThe dish installer stated that the dish appeared to have been thrown from the roof with enough energy to have bent and deformed the dish which deformation made the dish unusable. I still have the dish and Mr*** examined it when making the paymentMr*** had originally set the appointment but he was unable to attend due to conflicting appointments, or something.All in all, my experience the Top Notch until the controversy over the stove pipe was satisfactoryTheir representatives have been mostly professional and with the exception of the stove pipe and the satellite dish the work was eventually and up to now satisfactorily doneAs a matter of fact, the work was even started before the acquisition of a building permit in order to get my new roof installed quicklyThe work was done on the 25th of June and the building permit is dated the 28th. So they were obviously anxious to get my new roof installed.I assume that the final inspection has been completed. The building permit taped to my front window from the 28th of June until the first of September has not been signed, so I have no way of knowing and the folks at Top Notch have not felt the need to share that information with meAs the property being inspected was my property, it seems that information might have been shared.Thank you.*** * *** ***Owner*** *** ***
*** *** ** ***Thank you, *** ***
Sincerely,
*** ***

Thank you for your Response, When replacing a roof the shingle have to be removedTypically when removing shingles down to the decking the pipe jack has to be replaced (due to hail in this case). When the roof was stripped to the decking it was noticed that the pipe in question was loose/ leaningThe pipe was adjusted to the owners satisfaction and secured from the exterior to the best of our abilitiesThe owner informed us that this stove pipe was not attached to anything within the home as he was planning to install a larger wood burning stove. To further investigate the issue the project manager entered into the attic and found that the stove pipe was not attached to any structure in the atticA pipe this size has to be secured with straps, to a stable structureStove pipes, like the one in question, are traditionally strapped to the trussesThe project manager took pictures to show the owner the condition of the pipe within the attic. If this pipe was strapped to the trusses in the attic it would not have become loose or lean as it did when the pipe jack was replace or when the shingles were removed. As stated previously, it is highly suggested that this owner have a certified HVAC specialist inspect this pipe to insure that it is properly installed, as Top Notch is not a certified HVAC specialist companyWe would also suggest that once the new wood stove is installed (which will stabilize the pipe further) the owner should re-evaluate this matter and email us if the problem still exists, and what he feels needs to be done to remedy this situation If the interior of the property was damaged due to the project manager inspecting the attic we would request that the owner email Top Notch photos showing the damage and we will send a tech out for the repair at no cost to the ownerWe would prefer to repair the interior area in question prior to any other person entering the attic and prior to the new larger wood burning stove is installed. Thank you, *** ***

We were very impressed with Bryan's workmanship and attention to detail. He shared creative ideas and economical options for us to consider for our project. We hIghly recommend Top Notch.