Vision Construction

I emphatically do *not* recommend Vision Construction based on the following events/factors that occurred during our project:

• in the beginning of our project, while our toilet was being removed, water leaked into the downstairs neighbor's bathroom, essentially wrecking their ceiling and causing their ceiling to sag; Vision replaced their ceiling but this was a huge error and did not reflect well on us in terms of our relationship with our neighbors
• the contractual deadline was 2 weeks, yet the work entered its 4th week, despite asking/begging/prodding/pressuring Graham to give us a firm deadline. Each new deadline seemed to be exceeded. This was a rather big deal because, having only one bathroom, we were required to lodge elsewhere during the renovation.
• before work was to commence on the roof (a condo common area according to the bylaws), we asked Graham several times on the phone, in person, in email, and text message to provide proof of his business insurance. After a series of requests, instead of providing us with an email copy or paper copy of his insurance, he told us to call his insurance company and follow up on it ourselves. I found this to be extremely rude and unprofessional.

Concerning the work itself, there were a series of errors that could have been easily avoided as they were clearly laid out in the Scope of Work (SOW) that I had drafted and provided Vision Construction. The SOW was available in a binder, on site, at all times for any of the Vision workers to read. Among the errors were:

• One wall was tiled improperly according to the SOW (we ate this mistake in the interest of saving time)
• The floor was tiled the wrong pattern despite there being a picture in the SOW of how it was to be tiled (had to be redone)
• The backsplash was tiled wrong despite providing Vision an example picture, a drawn diagram, AND written description of how it was to be arranged (had to hire someone else to fix it)

Additional work that I found unsatisfactory on the project:

• plaster blemishes; bumpy, patchy, rough areas of plaster on walls
• lack of clean paint lines; ceiling paint leaked into tile grout lines near ceiling
• questionable electrical work; I had been told by other contractors that the electrical work was not up to code and could actually be a fire hazard, and that the wires were supposed to have been isolated by putting them into an electrical box

In terms of other aspects of the project, again this is of my personal experience and opinion, I did not feel as though Graham treated us with respect or professionalism, especially as his parting words to us via email on the day that he communicated to us he no long wanted to work on our project were "Im done with your crap get someone else to finish everything keep the money u owe me you guys are idiots and I don't want anything forget [sic] to do with yah so bye bye"

Whether or not he was to finish the work, I don't think anyone deserves to be called names by their general contractor. We never spoken to him in the same manner and never resorted to name-calling. Understandably, towards the end we were firm in verbalizing our need for him to commit to a finish date and to provide proof of insurance. I think it was our change in tone from being complacent to demanding answers that set him off. It is my belief that the more troublesome the job became for Graham, the more unreachable and unresponsive he became. Additionally, I feel that his own frustration with the job was severely misplaced as it certainly seemed as though he blamed us for the mistakes that his crew caused; on several occasions he told me that the delays in the job were costing him time and money, (but I guess who cares about our time, sanity, and having to live outside our own home?).

I have much more to say than this, but I think this is a sufficiently long review already. I just think my experience merits warning others to avoid this contractor, especially when there are many qualified ones out there on Angie's list to choose from.

My condo association hired Graham Keane to replace the roof above the front entrance.  We received a written estimate to "replace the roof."  The wood was rotten and some shingles had blown off leaving a hole.  First Graham covered the rotten wood with shingles.  It looked good and since I was not home during the day I could not tell what was underneath.  They blew off in a few months.  Finally after I gave him a 93A letter and paid him another $50 he agreed to replace the rotten wood.  Now after one winter, the shingles are pealing off again.  The job will need to be redone.   I do not recommend this worker. 

He came out to do an estimate. When he walked out on the back porch, I warned him of a weak floor board. He ripped up the board leaving a big hole. He said if he got the remodeling job, than he would also fix the board for an additional $20. He apparently specializes in property destruction. I did not use him for services.

EVERYTHING WENT VERY WELL OVERALL. From the estimate from the beginning of every project to the finish of everyone of them, I am very happy with the results.

I was very pleased with the experience from start to finish. I initially hired Graham for the small job of removing the A/C units, and then he submitted a very reasonable bid for the subsequent repairs. I am pleased enough with his work and professionalism that I am planning to use him again soon for additional renovation work on my home. Graham is very pleasant to work with and even-tempered. He is highly flexible about scheduling and was able to accommodate the times I proposed around my work schedule. He has communicated very well with me throughout the process, by both phone and email. While it is clear that Graham's company can handle bigger jobs, and of course would prefer bigger jobs, he has handled my initial small jobs with care in order to build a working relationship for bigger jobs in the future. That is my kind of contractor.