KEVIN WOLF & SONS CONSTRUCTION

We had had Kevin Wolf and Sons Construction do a couple of jobs for us prior. When I originally hired them to do the first job for us, we asked for an estimate, as we always do, and we had another estimate from another company. We decided to go with the Kevin Wolf and Sons company. They did the job for the price that they estimated. My husband took off from work and watched them do that job.  The second job that they did for us required opening up a doorway to make it larger and to put in new oak trim inside our home. They also replaced old door knobs with new easy to open knobs, repaired a couple cabinet doors in the kitchen and bath, and other miscellaneous handyman jobs requiring carpentry skill. My husband did not stay home for this work, and I watched the repair.  I felt a little uncomfortable because the owner of the company could not give me an estimate of what the work might cost, nor would he provide me with receipts for materials and supplies. The bill for the second job was much higher than we had thought the work would cost. I felt apprehensive about having this company do another job for us, but we had to have the porcelain tile removed from the master bedroom/bath floor and Kevin Wolf said they could do it. I met with Kevin Wolf and the salesman from Boss One Carpeting to discuss what needed to be done regarding the removal of the porcelain tile. I asked Kevin Wolf in front of the Boss Carpet One salesman how much he thought the removal of porcelain and replacement with SurePly sheets would cost and how long it would take. Mr. Wolf replied that he had no idea how much time it would take to remove the tile, and therefore he could not give me an estimate. He assured me in the presence of the salesman, that he, Kevin Wolf, would be fair with my husband and I on the price.
     On the day the job was to be done, Kevin Wolf and one of his sons arrived shortly after 7:30 a.m. By 10:30 a.m., the tile was off the floor, outside of the house and the floor swept clean. The workers left to go to the lumber yard to pick up materials.  They returned around noon the same day, and by shortly after 2:30 p.m. the same day, the SurePly sheets were nailed down in place on the floor and the job was done. Floor was solid and looked good. But the workers had left without saying a word to me, and I found a handwritten bill laying on a table.  I was shocked to see that I had been charged $1200.00.     
     I called Frary Lumber and asked how much the materials cost. SurePly sheets cost $24.35 each and about 8 sheets must have been purchased costing something around $200.00 for materials, not counting nails. I was charged $1200.00 for materials and labor for about 5 hours of carpentry, delivery of the SurePly sheets, clean up of the dust and debri. and Kevin Wolf took left over materials.     
    Kevin Wolf came by a day later for his payment and told me he wanted to get going on his vacation. I paid him immediately. He had NO receipts for materials for me, and his handwritten bill did not break down the cost for materials and labor, which I felt should have been  disclosed. Kevin Wolf and his sons seem to do good work, and they have experience. We keep track of all materials and supplies we put into this home for tax purposes. We needed receipts. We feel that this contractor may have taken advantage of our need to get a job done quickly, and he over-charged to see just how much we were willing to pay. We felt as if  we have been taken advantage of.
    I called Mr. Kevin Wolf, and I left this voice message for him: We needed the receipts for materials and supplies on the job that they were just paid for, AND in the future, we would require that this contractor give us a written estimate. Finally, we asked that all future bills include a breakdown of materials/supplies and labor.  To date, Kevin Wolf and Sons Construction has not responded. The was to have been some more carpentry work to be done, but now the job is on hold.
     I would highly recommend to anyone hiring this company or any company to request that a written estimate be given, and that when the work is done that you require that the  contractor provides you with a breakdown of cost of materials and labor. I felt like we were overcharged, and when we tried to discuss with the contractor, he was long gone.