Silver Plume Co

I contracted with Silver Plume in January 2011 and the project got off to a good start. But it stalled in the late spring and little work was done through the fall. The contractor, David, offered a range of explanations, including delays in ordering materials, problems with crew availability, weather issues, mechanical failures, health problems, and other personal troubles. I became deeply frustrated with the pace and concerned that David had much of my money without completing the work for which he had been paid. I set several deadlines through that fall and into the winter?none of which he made. In January 2012, I negotiated a new contract with David. In it, I set a firm deadline for completion that included a hefty fine for each day that he was late and ending in the forfeiture of the final payment and other monies owed. David signed the contract. He successfully met the deadline, although predictably working late into the night of the last day. The overall quality of the work was excellent. I am extremely pleased with the basement. But the 15 months I endured to get there was a nightmare. I ultimately had to assume the role of contractor as David proved that he was not capable of fulfilling the function. He is however a talented carpenter. But there are other talented carpenters out there who can do remodeling work with far less drama. I would never work with David again.

Floors installed in August, railing and banister in September - very dissatisfied with subcontractor, and our contractor seemed incapable of achieving the promised result. Rather than asserting authority over the subs, he let them control job. Floors not finished properly - left with sanding circles visible, large tool dropped on finished floor causing huge dent. Weatherproofing projects were supposed to be done concurrently, but he kept making excuses about why they would be delayed until kitchen project. Kitchen demo in mid October, job was supposed to take 2 weeks start to finish and we fired him after almost 6 weeks with not even half the kitchen done. He worked from about 10-3 each day, would not put in full day, kept asking for more money outside terms of contract, complained he couldn't pay his employees, starting failing to show up once money demands were rejected. Weatherproofing projects not completed during kitchen phase - again excuse after excuse about why they were not finished. Contractor has withheld replacement cabinet items (for those damaged) and has failed to pay the cabinet supplier, though he took our payment in full for these items in July 2010. Since December 2010, he has refused to communicate or provide receipts for services, to provide items we paid for, or to respond in any way. Cabinet company reports that he did not seek replacement for items we reported as damaged in November 2010 though he advised us that these items were being delivered. He presents himself as a sympathetic (sometimes pathetic), eager, and dedicated professional and will say whatever it takes to win your approval. Yet, when faced with actually finishing the job, he is completely incapable of doing so and will find every excuse as to why he needs more money. We fired him because we knew he would continue dragging out the project, making our lives miserable, until we paid him more, and by that time, we had zero faith in any word that he uttered. We had to pay another contractor twice what we had left to pay Silver Plume to come in and finish the project. This was a complete disaster!