Fj Reynolds Contracting

unknown

We had a signed contract and a deposit of $4400.00 was given to cover the materials needed. Remainder of payment was due on completion of the project. Materials were delivered and the process started. He worked quickly but cut corners. We were ouit of town and Mr. Reynolds wanted to surprise us when we returned...we were glad we came home before more damage was done. The first thing we noticed is that he had used our exciting stairs and put new materials ON TOP of the existing rotting wood. The risers were in front of the treads making the stairs unsafe. They didn't come down exactly where we wantedthem, but where Mr. Reynolds decided was convenient for him. He closed off the sides and told us our maintenanoffce free stairs would have to be painted to look like everything else. Not what we wanted. The flooring was to have an overhang of 2" giving the "old home" appearance. Instead Mr. Reynolds decided without our approval to build us a deck floor instead of a porch floor. The contract clearly states "front porch floor" with overhang. Because of his decsion, the floor is off by 2" all the way around. Trim pieces were starting to be installed when we returned. He had decided to change the trim materials to a cheaper grade thinking we wouldn't notice. Because of the "no-overhang" issue, the trim was then running around the edge of the flooring instead of under the flooring. We have a different colorlip on sides but not the front. When confronted on how he was to cover the existing front pieces of the boards, he stated they wouldn't be and he didn't see a problem. The trim pieces that he did attach are now falling off. We asked Mr. Reynolds to stop the process, expressed our concern and disappointment with the what was taking place in our absence. We noted the stair issue, trim not being mitered cuts but caulked together joints and the inferior quality trim. Mr. Reynolds was fine when he left our home but then refused to return phone calls or speak to us at all. He sent us a bill for his time and said he would not go further until we paid him for the time he had spent on our porch. We have tried numerous times to at least speak with him, but he will not. We decided to take an inventory of materials still left and noted that only 1/2 of the handrails and support rails were at our home. The original monies given were for ALL materials, including trim & handrails. Mr. Reynolds took our money, told us it was for materials and then requests more money when we don't even have all of the materials needed. Because this is the front entrance into our home, we called in 2 additional contractors (after 2 months of waiting for Mr. Reynolds) and were told that the floor would need to come completely up. 2 independent contractors noted that the support beams under the flooring had not been installed with correct centers, spacers were missing and the pillars that support our roof over the porch were only sitting on the floor boards and not a support beam. This would void any warranty that came with the materials. These same 2 contractors said we should take FJ Reynolds Contractors to court for the cost of our materials and both said they would gladly be witnesses for us. We are left with an unfinished front porch, no money to purchase the materials needed to re-do everything and a contractor who refuses to communicate. It is not our desire to take him to court over this matter, we just wanted our porch finished to the way our contract originally stated. We would not recommend FJ Reynolds Contractors or Fred Reynolds in any way.