Don's Lawn Service & Landscaping

This was our first experience with this type and size of project and after consulting with several references on his list we decided to move forward with a contract.  We should have had an inclination from the beginning when his contract left out several specific details regarding the project.  In fact we submitted and requested an acknowledgement of amendments to the original contract which was never signed but verbally acknowledged.  The project began in late Fall/Early winter and continued through the Spring with several delays on the contractors part "due to incliminate weather" although his snow plowing business was in full swing. We had justifiable concernes with a subcontractor he had hired and when brought to the contractors attention he defended the sub rather than attempting to come to resolution with us.  Ultimately we fired his sub and had to hire our own subcontractor for HVAC work.  Unfortunately much of the errors in the original HVAC sub could not be corrected without substantial cost because the work had already been closed up with drywall.  Several other incidents of poor craftmanship arose that had we not been on site daily would have gone unnoticed for example insulation.  The sub contractor for insulation arrived and the lead foreman on our porject didnt bother to verify what they were installing in the walls was the incorrect R factor.  It was noted and brought to their attention by us and confirmed the wrong material was being installed which was later removed and correct insulation installed.  In addition the finish work both exterior and interior was horrible.  Supposedly the contractor had a family member who was excellent at trim work. the work was shoddy and often times the corners did not meet and the wood filler placed in the gaps was raised wiped off on other walls and woodwork requiring extensive sanding and reapplication.  the exterior trim leaves much to be desired along with vinyl siding starter strips and j channel which are coming loose and uneveen.  Overall we should have went with a contractor who specializes in remodels and cared about craftmanship. This was too large of a project for this contractor.