JOHN LUCIA CONSTRUCTION llc

My story is a story of the utmost regard for the contractor and friend I came in contact with in 2011.  BeIow is my story....

 

I grew up every summer from Memorial Day to Labor Day at our family cabin on Pequaywan Lake.  The cabin was an incredible place for me and my family.  It was where I learned to: swim, ride a bike, water-ski, and where my friends and me could just be a kids.   My dad was a construction worker who was always doing a project at the cabin every summer, and took great pride in the work he did.

 

In 2011, due to some health issues, my dad gave me the cabin that our family loves so much.  When I received the property, it was in complete disrepair:  downed power-lines, broken windows, leaking roof, and a number of other issues with the property.  As I was asking around the area for someone that I could trust our family property with, there was a resounding answer:  John Lucia.

 

It was the summer of 2011 that I first met John.  I spoke with him over the phone about the work that needed to be done and arranged a time to meet.  We met on a Saturday as I had to come up from the Twin Cities (180 miles away).  I was thrilled with his flexibility in meeting me on a weekend.  John came out to the cabin and spent about two hours listening to me and the vision I had for the property. 

 

The first order of concern was a downed power line and ripped off fascia.  I had originally talked about just fixing the fascia and re-hanging the power line.  John listened to me and gave me an alternative option of burying the line so I would never have to worry about a tree falling and the power-line ripping off the cabin again.  He bid out both options and we ultimately decided on burying the line.  I appreciated that John gave me alternative options for the work that I hadn?t thought of; this is a theme that has carried on through all of the work I have asked him to do.  The line work was done on-time and was done in such a way that was meticulous and careful.  I was impressed with his work.  So impressed that I asked him to help me with some of the other ideas I had for the cabin.

 

I have spent the last three summers working with John.  Many hours I have been spent with him and his ?iPad? (a yellow legal pad of every note we discuss) to make sure the bids are reflective of the vision I have and the work that John needs to do to bring that vision to life.  To date, I have had John:  re-wire the entire cabin; insulate the attic; install tongue and groove wall board; new ceilings; windows; stone veneer on the foundation; and tongue and groove ceilings in our guest cabin.  He is currently working on siding and new flooring in the cabin, which is anticipated to be done the first week in July.  I couldn?t be more thrilled with his work.

 

John is a craftsman.  He has impeccable attention to detail and really takes pride in making sure the finished product is perfect.  I am a very detailed person and can be a really tough customer.  John and I have checked in all along the way on each project he has done.  He asks multiple questions so we are absolutely on the same page so any things that might come up are quickly rectified.  This is really nice since I live 3 hours away from the lake and always feel like he and I are on the same page.  I am typically impressed above my own expectations on how something turns out.  I have a lot of trust in John.

 

I mentioned my dad and my family early on in this letter.  Dad is now healthier.  I have wanted to create a space where he and mom can come, relax, and be with the family that they are so proud of.  My mom, dad and the rest of the family have been up many times since John has started working with us, and, each time, the entire family is incredibly complementary of the work he has done.  My dad, who is the ultimate critic, is very impressed with everything that John has done.  He often looks at the new tongue and groove wallboard and admires the cuts and the framing of the windows in each room.  This ?inspection? goes on each time he is at the lake and each time he tells me and mom how all of our dreams of what the cabin would look like have come true.  He is right. . . and I thank John Lucia for this.

 

Please consider this a strong vote of my utmost confidence in the work John has done.  I am happy to talk to anyone about his work and the time we have had over the last three years creating memories for my family and me. 

John Lucia of John Lucia Construction assessed our property before the construction project started. We (my wife and I) and Mr. Lucia agreed to and signed a contract on 5-12-2013 for him to construct 2 individual 8'x10' decks to be attached to one side and at each end of our lake home. The contract included a list of materials to be used in the construction of the decks. We also agreed, weather permitting, that Mr. Lucia could construct the decks while my wife and I enjoyed a 2 week vacation away from the area. Beings Mr. Lucia lives very close (2 miles) from us, we (mistakenly) trusted him to do what we had agreed to.         
Shortly after we returned from vacation we realized the 2 decks had been constructed of smaller (inferior) material than we had agreed to. Where 2x10 inch lumber was to be used (rim joist, joists, and framed beams) Mr. Lucia substituted 2x8 inch lumber. He poured 8 inch cement piller footings instead of 10 inch and he also narrowed the width of the 11 step stairway by 6 inches to 42" instead of 48". He did all these changes without our approval or knowledge! When I mentioned these discrepancies to him he said the changes he made were still within codes and he had "made up" for the cost difference by "inhancing" the looks of the decks, then he would quickly change the subject. 
Prior to the start of the project we had paid Mr. Lucia 1/2 the total cost of the project when the contract was signed. After the completion of the project my wife and I decided the best way to address our displeasure and unsatisfaction, again, was in writing. We paid him the final 1/2, after all, he did have his expenses to pay. Along with the final payment we included a letter listing our complaints. At that time we figured Mr. Lucia as a caring businessman and some what close neighbor and would want to contact us to discuss our complaints and/or offer us some sort of agreeable compensation. However, to this day Mr. Lucia has not personally contacted us. He no longer even acknowledges my presence when we see one another within our local area. Guilty conscience?
 My wife and I ordered and paid for something we did not get from this contractor. Yes, we do have 2 decks but they are not built as we specifically ordered. Now, because of the modifications and inferior materials he used, we can no longer consider putting a small 2 person hot tub/spa on either of the decks. A possibility we had discussed with Mr. Lucia before the contract was signed. 
In closing, my wife and I have given Mr. Lucia ample time to correct his wrong doing. We feel cheated and taken advantage of by him because we went on vacation and were not at our home to "watch over" this licensed professional contractor's work. We feel Mr. Lucia should correct his unauthorized modifications or as an alternative, to at least issue us an agreeable partial refund. Until he satisfactorly addresses our complaints, with us, We feel responsible to notify others about him and his business. I will continue to give my facts and voice my opinions through reviews and recommendations in hopes others will not have to deal with this same unfortionate ordeal.