Preston Trail Contractors

We regret hiring Preston Trail Contractors (PTC) for this project, in spite of the fact that we checked their references ahead of time & even saw some of their work up in Plano & Frisco. We will never work with them again. Here are most of the specific issues we had with our project: Took Michael Warner (project manager) about 3 days to obtain permit from city of Dallas to start work ? 1st early project delay. Demolition couldn?t start because Michael didn?t know about EPA lead testing/remediation requirements for houses built before 1978 ? 2nd early project delay Necessitated hiring a lead-based paint consultant @ $150 to test lead levels in existing paint Homeowner had to point out to Michael that exterior bathroom walls had not been insulated per contract; PTC had to remove backer board from wall, install insulation & reinstall backer board. Homeowners had to point out multiple times both to Michael & to plumber that valve was to be plumbed in stub wall for shower; plumbers had to move plumbing to stub wall later because this wasn?t communicated to them, despite being on plan homeowner furnished to PTC. Hardibacker board in bathroom/closet only screwed down approx. every 16-18?, despite instructions from Hardibacker company (readily available online, homeowner obtained) saying product is to be screwed down every 6-8? at or near marks indicated on product. Homeowner requested removal of hardibacker, application of thinset under product (matter of homeowner preference) & proper reinstallation of backer board. In spite of homeowner repeatedly asking when jamb lights would be installed (which were specified in contract) in reach-in closets, by the time electrician was told about the request, closets were framed & finished out & it wasn?t possible to do jamb lights; had to go with switched lights. Tiny corner bench/toe hold in shower (which was on plan homeowner provided and discussed w/ Michael) was not framed in and had to be foregone, much to dismay of Mrs. Homeowner. Michael offered to fix at end, but homeowner had no confidence in proposed solution. Glass installers pointed out to homeowner that stub wall on which glass was to be installed is approx. one inch out of plumb. Despite contract language stating that hardwood floors installed are ?to match existing in home,? & despite homeowners? attempts to verify the product installed, #1 common white oak floors installed when rest of house has select white oak Floor transition between bedroom & bathroom poorly executed, does not match other location in house that homeowner pointed out to PTC. On day plumbers installed faucets & fixtures, Michael didn?t have materials on hand when they arrived. One product Michael returned with was a shower head/slide bar combination from Jaclo, because he told homeowners that Kohler doesn?t make a shower head/slide bar combo in brushed nickel. Homeowner called plumbing supply houses, researched online & found that Kohler does indeed make them (albeit not in the Bancroft suite), contractor just had to plan ahead & order them, but didn?t. Plumber installed main shower head too low, so after-market solution necessary. Michael told homeowner that the hardwoods would be finished on 4/23, however the hardwood contractor was in the middle of another job & had told Michael that he wasn?t available. Michael called homeowner on 4/23 and said that the contractor had something drop off his truck and couldn?t make it that day. PTC?s primary sub-contractor that did framing, drywall, trim work, painting, etc. did not have the appropriate tools for the job?poor nailing work on trim (used framing nailer for hanging trim/molding), no miter box saw for cutting crown molding, apparently no levels. Would have failed 4/28 plumbing inspection had homeowner not reminded Michael that we still didn?t have one of the shower heads installed. Michael didn?t communicate w/ the cabinet maker on design issues that homeowner provided for final feet selection; cabinets delivered w/ wrong feet three weeks after homeowner provided comments. Primary pocket door to the bathroom is out of plumb & surrounding trim work is not level; poor work product. Reach-in closet doors were not pre-hung, and sub-contractor?s crew had no business hanging doors from scratch; poor work product. Multiple city inspections were failed because Michael & subs weren?t knowledgeable on the relevant codes. Confusion over wood selection for cabinetry. Excessive paint, drywall compound & other material on wood floor presented problems when hardwood contractors came to finish floor. Homeowner & Michael discussed a possible floor tile pattern that would have required some tile to be cut to new dimensions. Michael said he would check on it, then said it couldn?t be done in a satisfactory manner (guaranteed square) when homeowner asked. Homeowner called American Bullnose (which several tile stores recommended), & learned that it could be done, just would require a week or two of lead time. Homeowners opted for different pattern for sake of speed & ease. Michael never found people to install 2 boots, grills & ducts that had to be moved. Homeowners hired HVAC people directly to get the job done. Workers on job site broke a cabinet door, new cabinet door installed didn?t close right & was removed & cut down at homeowners? request, but still squeaks when opening & closing. Poor tape & bed job on one joint in bathroom ceiling had to be redone in last week of work, at homeowner?s request. Homeowner requested decorative trim over vanity to be painted with a brush, but contractors rolled it. Michael said that for purposes of doing the trim carpentry around window & mirrors over vanity, it was not possible to obtain 12? lengths of poplar or select pine. Homeowner made a few phone calls to lumber yards & obtained the needed 12? lengths of wood himself the following day (a holiday weekend, no less). Homeowner spent 2 days of Easter weekend with one of PTC?s subs installing trim over vanity & performing various other functions PTC was having difficulty getting to Homeowner routed & installed his own door pulls on pocket doors A PTC sub repaired & insulated exterior soffit at homeowner?s direction Same PTC sub installed ball catches on reach-in closet doors at homeowner?s direction Homeowner put in a great deal of labor hours personally to oversee or actually perform work that was PTC?s responsibility. Reach-in closet doors poorly installed (pre-hung doors not used, homeowner doesn?t know why). Doors for bedroom & bathroom originally delivered from door company were hollow-core, despite homeowner request multiple times for solid-core to match elsewhere in home. Homeowner was the one to point out the error. Homeowner identified mis-measurement in framing reach-in closet; framing had to be moved. Final city inspection failed because of absence of a smoke detector, had to re-inspect another day to pass. Michael?s communication of job specifications with sub-contractors & others on the job was poor to non-existent. Project manager generally lacked attention to detail, infrequently on job site, homeowner never saw him carrying a clipboard or anything with which to take notes, or a level or tape measure. Very little quality control except what homeowners did themselves.