GORDON HALLAS ASSOCIATES

AVOID THIS CONTRACTOR. I hired Gordon Hallas to do some siding repairs and structural support on the house. A price was quoted and an invoice sent to pay 50% deposit. Project was completed 75% and Gordon said he wasn't aware I wanted all planters were to be demolished. (this was a tactic to charge more, because who would leave 1 planter out of four intact, continuing future water damage??) I refused to pay until he agreed the whole patio was to be completed as discussed. Since he was going to purchase more pavers we then discussed paving a front terrace and side terrace. he sent an invoice that included a breakdown of 3 amounts - 1 sum due now for bluestone pavers, 1 sum due at completion of front terrace and 1 sum due at completion of side terrace. I paid for the stone in full which I now considered my property. Work started late. then he said pavers were delayed. then there was a storm in his area that caused damage (mind you he used the storm excuse for 2 weeks while he took on other jobs.) Finally I threatened to cancel and he sent workers. Stones on side terrace were laid completely crooked and the ground was not levels so they sloped terribly, and the worker argued with me for an hour that is wasn't. Gordon was no where to be found - never visited the job site, rarely took calls. He finally got back to me saying that the pavers were crooked and that he would fix the next day and install the pergola we agreed on. The next day came and went. He never told me the workers would not show due to weather (a drizzle, meanwhile all other workers on my property from other firms showed up in that weather.) The next day his workers did some work, not all, and made a huge mess on my property with the dirt they were adding to level the ground (many plants died, smothered by this dirt). Frustrated, I told Gordon when he arrived that he had 1 more day to complete this or I would cancel and take action. He asked me to sign some documents he had with him and I told him I would, but in this case I needed to review with my attorney before signing, considering the problems we are facing. I went inside and when I returned his workers were gone and he stole all of the $4k worth of pavers I paid for and owned. His invoices say work completed within 1 week on all projects. We are now 1 1/2 months in and he stole my deposits and property. AVOID THIS CONTRACTOR.

When Gordon and his team built our studio, we couldn't ask for a more responsive, professional contractor. He is smart, personable, and at the time, professional. Our studio is gorgeous and I know it was a challenging task to tackle. Gordon was our contractor when we needed our house painted and then again when we needed a bathroom vent re-routed to the outside of our house. This is when things went awry. The vent was re-routed which necessitated opening a ceiling that a year later remains unfinished. When I contacted Gordon back in March to ask if he could help us with another larger project, he came out to visit to discuss what we needed and then proceeded to fall off the face of the planet. I had contacted another contractor at the same time who gave me an estimate (and probably would have shown up to do the job) but I had confidence in Gordon. We had already established a relationship and I felt comfortable having him and his team in my home. Over the last few months there have been emails, apologies, excuses and promises to come and meet about our plans. I have an email Gordon sent me dated in the last week of July, in which he says he come and discuss details and begin work in August. Well, it's August and there is no written estimate, no contract, and no Gordon. I thought the world of Gordon and am hesitant to submit this review but I am upset that he would treat established clients with such little respect. I was always under the impression that one of the keys to establishing a good business is to create a loyal customer base. Well, apparently, that isn't in Gordon's business plan.

They gave personal attention to all the products. They were very responsive and were really nice. They did quality work and I enjoyed working with them. I would rate them high overall and would use them again in the future.

The only problem is that he is too punctual.