SHOWCASE REMODELING INC

Service Provider Response

We take pride in the quality of our work and strive to provide our customers with the best finished project possible. We are sorry that this customer was disappointed. We corrected the matters the customer brought to our attention, but were never informed that the customer believes there is an issue with the deck stairs. The stairs were constructed and piered as detailed in the plans and approved by the building inspector. We cannot imagine how they would be pulling away from the deck, but we would be happy to inspect them at the customer's request and correct any problems that may exist. Regrettably, we apparently failed to adequately communicate the building permit/building inspection process on this job. Building permits are not required for all deck repairs/replacements. In cases where a building permit may not be required, we allow our customers to determine if they would like to go through the permitting process as that process can create delays in completion of the project. If a permit is required or if our customers request a permit, we always go through the permitting process. We never attempt to avoid inspections and permits of our work. In fact, we welcome the advice and information that seasoned and knowledgeable inspectors can provide. In this project, while we were preparing the secondary supports for the deck, we discovered that the existing concrete which our blueprints indicated was to be cut out to place the posts was in fact sufficiently deep to allow for the placement of the posts on the concrete. We contacted the building department and spoke to the plan examiner and were told that it was not necessary to chisel into the concrete and a modification to the plans to allow for the posts to be placed on the concrete was acceptable. This change and the circumstances surrounding it were apparently not conveyed to the inspector who came to inspect the posts and as a result, the post installation did not pass inspection. Thereafter, the customer demanded that the deck posts be completed as provided in the plans. Although we did not feel the original process was necessary given the concrete support, we did as the customer requested and completed the posts in the manner originally detailed in the blueprints. When we chiseled into the concrete and dug the holes for the posts, we discovered that the concrete was in fact of sufficient depth to more than adequately support the deck. Nevertheless, we did as the customer asked and installed the posts as specified in the plans. There were in fact two inspections before the approval of the posts because two inspections are required for such approval. The first inspection is required to inspect the actual holes the posts will go into and the second inspection is required to inspect the final installation of the posts. There is nothing unusual or negative in the fact that two inspections occurred. We have been in business for 20 years, have completed hundreds of projects, large and small, and have numerous repeat customers. We strive to ensure that our customers are more than satisfied with their projects. We remain available to correct any issues this customer may have with their deck stairs and recognize that we could have avoided many of the issues on this project had be done a better job communicating with he customer on this project.