Infinity Contractors LLC

So far, I have not paid the contractor anything, and am considering my legal options before I pay him at all. This contractor has a basic business license in WA State, but is not bonded and does not carry a Washington State Contractors license. Additional work contracted was for weeding, trimming shrubbery, replacing bed mulch materials along with the thatching, soil for lawn, fertilizer and grass seed would have been an additional $1,750.00 to the original rock wall bid of $4,500.00. This was all verbal, and the total would have been approximately $6,250.00. Rock wall was constructed, then had to be rebuilt by contractor, when worker built it incorrectly. Original verbal bid was $4,500.00 for rock wall, ($2,000.00 for materials, $2,500.00 for labor) but upon completion the contractor verbally discounted the project because the actual materials needed were significantly less than first estimated. NEW price, never verbalized, so I just presumed materials would be cut at least in half by $1,000.00. Labor costs reduction was an unknown. Rock wall result looks acceptable, but has a few stability flaws. Thankfully it is only 2 feet high. Lawn (3 separate lawn areas for a total of 6,000 to 6,500 sq. ft.) was a complete failure! I am sure we are the laughing stock of the neighborhood. Contractor did not offer to replace and repair the botched lawn project, UNLESS I was willing to pay them an additional $1,000.00!. My 5 weeks of watering the newly seeded lawn twice a day, cost me an additional $350.00 on my monthly water bill already. Bare spots up to 5 feet in diameter were all over the main yard, and 4 months later, still no lawn in those spots. Weeds were growing in in 2 separate lawn locations, 2 feet high, like corn stalks or bird seed! We also had other weeds that reminded me of pasture land weeds. Others I could not identify. In 1974 through 1977 I personally worked in landscaping and lawn installation during my college years, and I have never seen a failure like this! I have cared for my parents yard and my yards for 45 years, so I do have some knowledge and credibility. Contractors explanation for the botched job - bad grass seed! Or, it was my fault for not following his watering instructions! Never was his fault or problem, although his brother whom he employed to do the job was said to have been extremely upset about the results and directed it at the contractor for the outcome....did someone cut some corners on the quality of the materials? Hummm. 2nd opinion from a different landscaping professional, whom also provided me a bid to replace this ruined lawn, supported my thought that sub-standard soil mixture was used, and the fertilizer was likely not correctly balanced either. Bid to remove 4 inches of soil, bring in new soil, re-seed, and fertilizer is $2,900.00. My sense is that I will spend $3,000.00 to $4,500.00 to replace my lawn this spring using an Angie's List contractor. My experience with a non-Angie's List contactor is a horror story that I have read about, never thinking I would live it out.