CR started a day or two ahead of schedule, and then it took a month to get a permit on the post holes for the deck. Once we finally had the permit, work seemed to proceed quickly. Towards the end of the build, Bryan asked if we wanted the deck stained, and I came back to him with a yes. He told me to go pick out some stain, at least 5 gallons, and they'll put it on. I asked him if Home Depot would be fine, and what brand (Behr Premium). We got just that, and had the stain ready to go when they needed it. It took a while to start applying the stain, due to wet weather once the deck was complete, but as it was going on, it was obvious that it wasn't being applied evenly. I assumed Bryan would come out and do a final walk through of the deck when it was done. He even showed up before the workers were still not done applying the first coat of the stain, and demanded payment. He showed up on a Friday morning at 8am, no notice, stating he needed to be paid, even though the work wasn't done. Well, shame on me, the work had gone so well up to this point, I assumed he would follow through. After the deck stain cured over the weekend, we noticed it was still very sticky and very mottled in application. We had a thunderstorm come through, and the parks where the transparent stain was applied heavily, water beaded on top and didn't absorb, but in the sections of the deck where the stain wasn't applied well, or at all in some cases, you could tell the water was being absorbed by the wood. I've emailed and requested Bryan come out to the house to view the finished product multiple times, while we're at home, or to tell us when he'll be out so we can address the issues with the cosmetic structure issues that need to be resolved. In addition to the deck stain looking awful, there were already bowed railing issues, the stairs weren't even, resulting in trips, and the gate we had built is less square and more trapezoid in shape now. Multiple times I asked him politely to come out, and he ignored my requests. I finally stated that I really didn't want to rehash this via email any longer, that it needs to be in person. Bryan had the nerve to call someone from Sherwin Williams to come to our house without permission and write an email on the deck, and then he forwarded the email to us. Why couldn't he come out himself? Did they not read the packaging? We bought exactly what he told us to buy. He showed up one morning apparently last week while we were home but he didn't ring the doorbell or knock loudly at the door, and without notice, so we didn't know he was coming or he was even here until today when he emailed me (a week later.) We both work, and have a toddler, so we need notice when someone is coming to the house so we can be available. Seems to make sense to some people. Right now, we're very frustrated with these unresolved issues. Carpentry Repairs is great, until you pay them. So make sure you don't pay them until you have everything you want done on the job the way it needs to be done right. The workers left a huge pile of dirt in a section of our yard, and didn't even stain the footers of the deck... and it's not like we don't have stain left. The 5 gallons we needed at least for the entire project... there are 2 gallons of very expensive stain left in the bucket. Overall, we love having the deck, and they weren't the cheapest or most expensive option for the project, but we are so frustrated by this total cut and run by Bryan that we won't be using him again, or recommending him. He came very highly recommended by a family member, so I feel awful about this situation. The family member had nothing but high praise for Bryan... but when they saw the work that Carpentry Repairs did for us, they said it was sloppy work. Update 7.13.12- I finally heard back from Bryan about finishing the stain job on the deck supports, and fixing the gate. He said that on the first 3 dry days this crew will be out to finish the work, and apply another coat of stain to the deck boards. I'll believe it when I see it. Update 7.22.12- Well, we had a week of dry weather and a no show of the contractor to make the repairs and complete the project as they promised.