
Serving Daisetta, TX and surrounding areas
Approved
Super Service Award Winner
In business since 2015
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
"Tell-Projects Kitchen Renovation - Feedback The theme of this feedback would be a "Tale of Two Contractors" or The Good (Tell-Projects), The Bad (Krystle Kitchen & Bath Design Studio), and The Ugly (factors). We embarked on what would we hoped would be a fun, or at least rewarding, kitchen remodeling project April 2018. From various bids, Krystle's Kitchen & Bath Design Studio (KK&BDS) and Tell-Projects (both Angie’s List Members) were the most competitive. However, the winner KK&DBS, had a closer showroom for visits and sample viewing. The Bad -- Krystle Kitchen & Bath Design Studio (KK&DBS) KK&DBS started demolition the last week of April 2018. Although otherwise assured by Krystle, the project manager never actually showed up to our job site. Beginning May, electrical/wiring work was started but not completed. Same for drywall installation and texturing. Then, cabinet products were delivered and the cabinet installer worked a few days, only to be taken off our job to service another KK&BDS customer. Never to return. Granted, smaller contractors require diverting some resources to other projects, but temporarily. However, the only trade work in June resulted from an electrician to install a highly-sought outlet. Suspicion, and a hunch, prompted a visit to KK&BDS office on June 30. The result was a jolting, but not surprising, discovery. The Krystle's Kitchen & Bath Design Studio operation was locked out by the strip center landlord for lack rent payment back on April 30. The timing adversely affected our project. Obtaining legal consequently ended any further contractual dealing with KK&BDS. After much deliberation, we turned back to Tell-Projects. Despite having passed on them previously, any concern about any residual offense proved unfounded. Ellie was quite gracious and understanding because they have seen this way too many times. The Good – Tell-Projects In July, Zach's second bid version was reasonable and they were available to start the project within a short time. Zach found the floor-cabinetry foundations, installed by KK&BDS, lacking in many ways. So, the Tell crew set them aside to install the flooring first. A level foundation would effectively anchor the floor cabinets and ensure substantial support for a heavy quartz countertop. Otherwise, over time, the cabinetry would have sunk or collapsed from improper construction by KK&BDS. Several trades came into build the rest of the kitchen in prompt order. The countertop specialist and assistant showed noteworthy artistry in the way he was able match the seams of the quartz countertop with the same quartz backsplash. There were some dings and defects that also had to be addressed. But ultimately, Albert provided the right - almost magical - touch in finishing some potentially troublesome nicks on the countertop surface. Next, the electrical trade crew displayed impressive acumen in correcting the unwieldy mess left by the previous electrical contractor. Observing their troubleshooting reminded me of scientists researching complex problems and reasoning workable solutions for them. They were able to implement the necessary breakers and fabricate plugs to make the new oven/range work. These same electricians were able to adequately finish the under-cabinet lighting and plugs/light switches. My spouse appreciated the Tell-Project carpenters’ cabinetry and trim work, despite missing some materials from the previous job. Their deft improvisational skills might have made for a better cabinetry presentation than what the missing original materials might have provided. The Ugly.... That KK&BDS contractor quality control was laughable was evidenced by what Tell-Projects had to correct to finish the kitchen project. This was typified by the aforementioned lack of proper anchoring for the floor cabinets and the challenging Rubick's cube of wiring left for the electricians to decipher. Lack of finishing materials in sheetrock, cabinetry and trim temporarily added to the problem. Additional plumbing work had to be performed to meet the standards of Tell-Project management. KK&BDS left gaping holes in the ceiling upon abandonment. The lack of sheetrock replacement and constantly falling insulation caused undue strain on our air conditioning system. This resulted in having to repair the AC condenser. For our part, a person was always present at the house site to support the whole project, negating any no-show excuses by KK&BDS project management. For their part, the only time an actual project manager, KK&BDS-owner Paul Barboza in this case, turned up, was to obtain the initial check, with the designer and partner, Krystle Barboza. Furthermore, lack of returned phone calls and test messages by Krystle, who took this responsibility was all too frustrating. So, the realization and confirmation that the contractor abandoned our project with little, or actually, no warning did not surprise but disappointed. It was little consolation there were other known victims of KK&BDS project abandonment other than us. Consulting legal counsel revealed that the business entity, Krystle's Kitchen & Bath Design Studio, was dissolved only to take a new entity. The good thing is this new business is not in the home remodeling/design niche as old KK&BDS, luckily for others. Tell-Projects commitment to quality and detail helped complete what turned out to be over three months of remodeling. Had we gone with Tell-Projects originally, the project would have been done in less than 3 weeks. And, there might have been a little providence because, had KK&BDS completed the project, the floor cabinetry would have collapsed from the sheer weight of the quartz counters. For quality assurance and reasonable price, Tell-Projects should be a great choice."





+177


















































