Craftsmen Decks and Structures

Terrible and stressful experience! Craftsmen Decks/John Stephens was hired to place a pergola over an existing deck. He Damaged deck and siding Left mess all over yard. Cut fully through two adjacent deck joists causing deck to sag. cut over 50% notches into LVL supporting beams diminishing the integrity of beams. Pergola post were not plumb. Also Mr. Stephens said LVL beams were placed on a header in wall when there actually was no header. Had heavy Lvl beams secured to house with screws going through siding and into 2 by 4’s. Siding was pulling away from house. Poor staining, boards were getting glued together from stacking them while wet and leaving them. Dirt and leaves stuck to stain. Mr. Stephens would not repair issues and would not return money. Many other issues. We lost over $26000 in damaged lumber and $10000 on money paid to him. lawyer said we were a sure win in the courts but legal fees would be high and he would likely never get pay. Do not work with this guy.

It went BAD. John Stephens is the owner, and carpenter. He is a lousy carpenter. Finish cuts were angled, some decks were cut short of joists and had to get blocked from below (not kidding). Installed railing is an instant hazard; posts wobbly, rails not fastened to posts, only 'set in place'. Stairway railing is uneven height, uneven width (and none at the code-required minimum 36"). This person is NOT FIT to do Deck work, and especially not finish-carpentry level work you'd expect. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY as we've done. DO NOT CONTRACT WITH THIS PERSON.