Collier Contracting

Terrible from start to finish, would NEVER consider hiring again, even to install a mailbox post ! We hired Collier Contracting ( Fred "Billy" Collier ) on 08/08/17 to remove and replace vinyl siding, deck boards and stairs and install vinyl handrails. Collier required us to pay $10,000.00 for materials which would be ordered the next day. Work to begin in "4 - 5 weeks". Our check was cashed within minutes of leaving our home. First week of September, after having received no materials nor heard from Colliers, we contacted for and update. We were told that the materials were being delayed by hurricane Harvey and a couple of days later, having a similar excuse and being told that Becky Collier would let us know "as soon as the materials hit the road". Suspicious, we contacted materials supplier and were informed that materials had not even been ordered. We called Collier and demanded a full refund or immediate ordering of materials with documented proof as well as documented work start date and complete date. Promised Start date, 10/09/17 Estimated Complete date, 10/23/17 but work did not actually begin until 10/12. Took 1-1/2 weeks to remove siding and wrap ( 1500 sq.ft. ). Billy and his "helpers" ( I would never refer to them as a "crew" ) worked sporadically, showing up and "working" for 4 or 6 hours or not showing up at all ( with a variety of excuses ). Siding was installed with numerous obvious, amateurish installation mistakes which were corrected only after we repeatedly pointing out the mistakes. As of the date of filing this complaint, there are STILL unresolved siding issues. Deck work was started the last week of November 2017 and boards were installed crooked and uneven. Only after complaining about sloppy work, boards were replaced but were crooked in the opposite direction. Decking was replaced a third time and is now even but still crooked and cracked boards from using the incorrect type and size of screws. Stairs and stringers took FOUR attempts to build correctly. Before they quit the job ( in Breach of Contract ) Collier repeatedly asked for additional money or required us to purchase additional materials throughout job. Against or better judgement to not let them install our expensive vinyl handrails, we allowed them to do the work because the installation instructions are SO SIMPLE that anybody would be able to follow them and do a good job -- turns out that "anybody" EXCEPT Collier. The handrails were installed with no concern for correct installation, even with elementary level illustrated instructions present. The vinyl handrails were cut too short, unevenly spaced, not level and uneven heights. Multiple screw holes in our vinyl posts ( as though they assembled everything by "trial and error" ). Some of the mounting brackets have no screws in them at all ! The handrails can not be "repaired" because they were cut too short, Collier insists that they can be "fixed" but, after living through the nightmare past four months with their excuses, lies, "jury-rigging" and scary sloppy work, we knew that it would only be worse after they were done "fixing" it. Simply put, the handrails must be replaced. Collier has repeatedly demonstrated that he does not comprehend simple, illustrated instructions, and displayed incompetence in all work performed for us.