G A C Construction Inc

GAC  Construction estimated the job at $800 for chimney repair (grind out mortar and replace with new mortar) and stated that we could add work at $45/hr (payable at the end of each day that he worked) if he found additional areas to be repaired.  GAC did point out additional areas to be repaired to which I agreed; however, the job grew to $2,302.25 an increase of 288% above the estimate.  The next lowest bid was $1,300 which was probably an honest bid.  There are only two explanations for this overrun, either GAC is incompetent at estimating or he offered a lowball bid to get the job with anticipation of adding work.  After paying $2,302.25 I attempted to get a commitment of the time needed to compete the job and GAC responded, "However long it take, it takes" and asked to be paid for the day.  I felt that he could complete the job the following day; however, and he would not commit.  I asked if he considered his lengthy telephone call that day of which there were many telephone calls over 10 days on site.  He said that I "Disrespected" him by questioning his telephone calls, and said that he quit and loaded his tools.  I repeatedly asked him to complete the job and he told me to keep the last $139 (including deposit) and find another contractor to complete the job and drove away.  To me this was at best, bizarre behavior.  Everyone knows that it would be difficult at best, if not impossible to get a contractor to finish another contractor's unfinished effort.  The next day I completed the remaining grinding and mortar replacement myself.  Two days later GAC called and asked if I found another contractor to finish the job.  In my opinion that telephone call from GAC indicates that his bizarre behavior was all part of a plan to place me in a situation where in my desperation to patch leaking chimney before the next rain, I would accept the completion of the job at any cost!  GAC said that he would be happy to do the power washing and seal the chimney, to which I responded, "No Thank You!"  A few facts are as follows: GAC promised to complete the job in one week and he left 16 calendar days later (10 working days) working an average of only 5.4 hrs/day and his average starting time was after 1 PM in the afternoon.  GAC provided only two invoices/receipts for the first five days and did not provide any invoices/receipts for the last $1,080.00. 
In retrospect, the best thing GAC did was quit.  I am displeased with the workmanship (e.g., placing mortar over heavily dusted brick) and quality of work (e.g., inconsistent mortar finish); however GAC did repeatedly ask if I was satisfied, but I fully understood that if I pointed areas of dissatisfaction, he would appease me and add even more cost growth.  Also, GAC did not cleanup the last day and left at my home 10 days worth of trash (including water bottles and molding scraps not from my job).

My wife found Glen, the company president, when she needed an emergency repair when some plaster needed to be replaced in the middle of a room painting.  Glen came and did a great job.  Since then he installed a new tile floor in our bathroom and a new sink, and ensured the job was done right.  Since then he's also applied new weather stripping on our front doors and patched cracks in the walls in a couple rooms in our house. We have been so happy with his services with the interior of the house with handyman type stuff, we plan to use him for his company's carpentry and masonry specialties this summer with our exterior renovation plans.   Working with Glen is like working with a friend.  I never feel like he is trying to take advantage of the situation.  He does good work to ensure he can continue to work more more with you in the future and benefit from recommendations. In addition, he won't accept work outside his specialties (although I'm confident he'd do a quality job in anything, it's good to know he won't take something just for the job).  He gives honest assessments and is always a pleasure to work with.