Custom Construction Solutions

Experience started off fine, Jonathan Maashio provided design suggestions and detailed drawings for submitting to city for a building permit. Permit was issued with his construction details along with changes from the city engineer. Posts for the structure were promptly dug and the post set along with the rebar for the new concrete. Once the permit was received the concrete was poured and construction started. One of the posts was to land in an area of the original patio so rather than relocating the post they choose to cut into the concrete causing the original patio concrete to crack in multiple locations. Two downstairs windows were removed for double doors and an upstairs window removed for balcony access. I should have realized there would be a problem when the ledger board was installed and it looked like the balcony railing would connect to the house where one of the remaining windows sits. Jonathan said he knew what he was doing and it would be fine (one of many mistakes). Once the balcony railing post were installed (incorrectly attached to the balcony according to the city inspector) the post did partially block a window. Jonathan's solution was to remove the post and said the railing would be angled in and would not be noticeable. Back to the ledger board, siding was removed and it was nailed to the house. I did not catch this until after I had the city do a courtesey inspection. By Jonathan's plans, this was to be attached using lag screws (and the building plan inspector also marked this as required). metal flashing was not installed between the balcony floor (patio roof) and the side of the house which later resulted in water leaking into the house walls. The header for the patio cover/balcony was not installed and braced correctly. Yet another item discovered by the courtesy inspection. The "sandwiched" boards were not fastened correctly and also not attached to the post correctly. When the windows (up and down stairs) were removed and doors installed (both were hung crooked) electrical wiring in the house had to be cut. The solution from his "electrician" was to run a wire around the new doors and splice it in with electrical tape and hide it in the walls. Also found out this is not allowed and a violation of code and electrical standards, not to mention a fire hazard. after arguing with Jonathan about this he finally had it wired correctly (using junction boxes for the splices and having then in visibly mounted in the wall). We choose to use a composite decking material rather than natural wood. Jonathan said he knew how to install this and it would be done right. After it was installed I noticed in several spots the boards were loose. when i examined the installation I found out they were not installed correctly but he said it was not done and to not bother him with it. After he was fired I removed all the boards and found out just how wrong they were installed and than he could not correct the loose boards because he installed then wrong from the start. More mistakes and problems. After 3 of the 4 installment payments were made (~$11,000 of the ~$13,000 total cost) work slowed down. More and more dates were missed and excuses made. No railing installed and all the safety and incorrect construction methods later he wanted a payment of some of the final payment funds. Several more calls, meetings/discussions passed and he said no more work would be done until I released more money. At a stand-still I contacted other contractors to find out about having someone else finish the project. A replacement contractor was hired to fix the problems and complete the job. $7,000+ over budget and 3 months late the project is done (for the most part, concrete never got stained and lights and fan not installed because of the additional money I had to spend). One, if not the worse experiences I've ever had with any project. This review turned out much longer and later than planned. I waited to write this until I had finished as much as I could afford to, the landscaping was finally done a few weeks ago. I Also recently discovered than when the sprinklers were capped off where the new concrete was poured he missed 2 heads and I had been "watering" the dirt under a part of the new patio.