Eastex Pools & Landscaping

In April 2013, we requested bids from several contractors, including Angie's List A-rated companies, for the above job. All bids were competitive and in approximately the same price range. We proceeded with Eastex because they offered the shortest timeline (9 days from start to finish according to their bid, while others at the time projected a mid-June completion). On June 3, 2013, we officially engaged Eastex. Not until September 4 did demolition of our front walkway take place and, on September 5, concrete was poured. On September 25, tile installation commenced, taking 2 more months to complete (!). The delays might have been tolerable had things otherwise have gone smoothly; but there was virtually no oversight of the subcontractors during the installation. This resulted not only in inconveniences imparted by Eastex's trades repeatedly ringing our doorbell seeking instruction, but numerous issues, many of which were never resolved. We thought that we were paying for general contractor services (i.e., responsibility for day-to-day oversight, management of trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of the building project), but perhaps we were mistaken. On December 3, the final acid wash was scheduled to take place, but by then we had taken matters into our own hands and completed it ourselves because we wanted the walkway finished, once and for all. Approximately 6 months from engagement to "completion" was a far cry from the 9 days outlined in the bid. Having our front walkway and home entrance under construction for many months was problematic for many reasons. Even worse, though, were the constant issues and excuses for them, when all could have been avoided with simple supervision. There was absolutely no accountability on Eastex's part, although even they termed the situation a "fiasco.? The attached photographs depict the end product (which Eastex never formally reviewed with us despite our requests for them to do so), indisputably a poorly installed walkway. We expected and asked for an adjustment to our remaining balance, considering all of the aforementioned, and they subtracted a mere $100 for having completed the acid wash ourselves. They refused to discuss or negotiate a fair and agreeable adjusted price. While we wholly disagreed with the amount invoiced, quite frankly we wanted to put this incredibly painful process behind us, so we fulfilled our commitment (despite the fact that there was no contract in place) and made final payment, minus an additional $100 for installation of expansion joints due to worsening cracks. (Of note, the original bid amount was $5805 and we paid a total of $5605--entirely too much, in our opinion.) We intend to hire a capable and attentive contractor (after consulting Angie?s List and using one of its highly-rated companies this time!) to make the necessary repairs to our new, but unfortunately defective, walkway.