RJK Renovations

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After 9 weeks, our guest bathroom is partially complete(about 3/4ths) and we received a call today that they were closing their doors. We paid them 50% up front and we were informed that they were unable to provide us with a refund for unfinished work. They have left us in a poor situation with our 203K remodel loan.

After having things stolen from our house during a kitchen renovation, we hired RJK because they promised real project management, which included supervision of the subs.  Demolition took place on August 20 and our 4-6 week project wasn't completed until December 20 (17+ weeks).  Throughout the project, the subs were not monitored (and the quality of our "project manager" was sub-par, at best).  Our house was constantly left open and much of the work took place without a project manager being present.  Our belongings were not treated with respect, resulting in a damaged bronze front door, a damaged bed and a brand new tub with scratches.  The project managers were supposed to lay paper down but routinely did not.  Workers walked on our brand new carpet with dirty boots.  Robin was very apologetic and offered to "fix" the problems (as long as they could hold a sub accountable). RJK never personally took responsibility for any of our issues. Our front door will remain unfixed because the fix will be visible. We've opted not to have the tub resurfaced because the scratches are small and we're afraid of the fix.  The list of things that really weren't done correctly is long and there are many things that we are settling with (unevenly spaced faucets, poor caulk job). RJK's finish work is not up to our standards.  They do use some quality subs, but they are left to work unmonitored and communication with the subs is clearly not good.  I would not recommend them and I would not use them again.

RJK ran a promotional radio ad that stated For the entire month of August, book any kitchen or bath renovation and get fifty percent off any tile work. The first quote was $16,000. After modifying some of the requested work, the quote was substantially reduced at which time they said I did not qualify for the discount because the renovation was not large enough even though the ad did not say this. After much back and forth, they agreed to honor the discount but would never provide me with a new written quote. I emailed and called asking for a new quote, which still never came, but they sent an email on 9/7/2013 stating they would not honor the discount because I did not sign a contract in August, which they would never send to me. It is apparent they never intended to honor their promotion, at least on a smaller renovation. My emails were not responded to on a timely basis, which Required a follow up phone call asking for a response. Even asking for the final quote from them on August 25, got no response and had to call and leave a message. Received a call back from one of the partners stating she was moving and would send the quote next week (September). Instead I got an email stating I did not qualify because I didn't sign a contract in August. Very poor business practice and customer service

I liked the contractors. They did use painters that we did not like but they fixed the issue quickly. We really liked Joel and Jonathon. They were at our home within an hour if any issue's came up. The price was very competitive.

Because we had been pleased with this company's renovation of two bathrooms, we asked them to renovate our kitchen.  Unfortunately, this much larger, more complicated job was plagued by problems - most of which could be traced to the fact that Robyn, the partner who bid the job and who helped us select cabinet styles and the blower cover etc - didn't review the project plan in detail and didn't ensure complete communication between us, herself, the designer, the purchaser, and the project manager. Robyn did subsequently acknowledge this and apologize for it.  But that hasn't solved all of the resulting problems.  Some of these problems were simply due to the quality of work: for example, after installing our new gas stove, they failed to re-light the pilot; and the under-cabinet lights they installed keep falling down.  Others were due to a lack of attention to detail: for example, they failed to install the dishwasher in the footprint of the original and had to jerry-rig a repair to the floor; and the finish moulding they installed didn't match in several corners.  But the biggest problem continues to be the special cabinet/bookcase unit we asked them to build.  Somehow, our request for the bookshelves to be two different depths (deeper in the middle over the microwave, shallower on the ends to give us some working space on the cabinet top) didn't make it to paper, so they required us to pay for the replacement.  Furthermore, as they installed the cabinet base, they discovered that our floor in that area slanted (we didn't realize this - the free-standing bookshelf we had had in that space previously didn't suggest a problem.)  But instead of stopping work and alerting us to the problem, they completely installed the unit.  Pointing out that the unit wasn't level - one corner is a lot closer to the ceiling than the other - we asked  them to dismantle the unit so we could have someone come in to repair the floor, then come back to re-assemble it on the level.  One partner said, "Oh no, we can't do that."  Instead, he suggested adding wood on the wall above the unit, and assured us that it would mask the problem satisfactorily.  Reluctantly, we agreed to try it.  It didn't work.  Everyone who walks into the kitchen immediately notices that the unit is slanted.  Because the company began to contact us daily for their final payment, I foolishly agreed to write the last check.  But when the project manager arrived to collect it, I told her how unhappy and frustrated we were.  Subsequently, Robyn came out to visit me.  She apologized for the things I mentioned above and said relationships were very important to them; she wanted to see what they could do to fix the bookcase/cabinet unit.  I reiterated our expectations.  She said she would talk to her husband, and they would come out the following week to talk again.  They never came; they never called.  I emailed, telling her how disappointed I was that she had not returned or even called, and that I hoped to hear from her soon.  But she never responded.  Finally, I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.  Unfortunately, they haven't respond to the BBB either.   I hope this review will motivate them to return to dismantle the unit, so we can get the floor fixed, then re-assemble it on the level at no further cost to us.  In the meantime, I would never recommend this company to anyone.

Everything went well.

Once I contacted RJK, they responded quickly. Their representative, Robyn, came out to look at the job and listened as I described what I wanted and she then took measurements. In a couple of days she returned with Ryan, the project manager, to review the job and go over the quote. Once the job started, Ryan communicated with me each day letting me know what was done and what to expect the next day. Before they left each day, the crew cleaned the area and hauled off trash. They were all professional and polite. Ryan went above and beyond in overseeing the work and often pitched in to work as well. I consider myself very lucky to have found RJK Renovations and will certainly hire them again.

They did a wonderful job, and they made sure that the patio and the walk were properly set up for drainage.