Stone Collection

Description of Work: Deciding to purchase tile and hire their installer was the biggest mistake/nightmare I have ever experienced. When I first went to see what they had as far as tile and bathroom remodels, I spoke with Jennifer. I told her I needed assistance with choosing tile and also asked if they could recommend someone who did bathroom remodels. Jennifer indicated that they had someone they could recommend. A few days later someone by the name of Ivan text me and asked if I still needed an installer. I responded by telling him that I was looking for someone to do a bathroom remodel and asked him if he was associated with Stone Collection. Ivan responded, "yes, when can I come down there." This should have been my first red flag...being contacted via text. Ivan aka Evan aka Elvin came to my home and gave us a quote for two bathroom remodels. He indicated that custom bathroom remodeling was his specialty. A few weeks later we met with Rocio, owner of Stone Collection, and chose the tile for both bathrooms. We told Rocio we preferred porcelain and she showed us a few samples. We chose the ones we liked and paid for everything upfront. Rocio indicated that her installer would pick up the merchandise when we were ready for it. I soon learned that her "installer" is in fact her son. Evan indicated to us that he would be subcontracting a plumber, electrician, and dry wall specialist to complete the remodel. None of that happened. Evan attempted to do the entire job on his own, but had absolutely ZERO experience. He had no clue on how to connect the electrical and even after my fiance guided him through the process, which by the way was also included in the instructions of the exhaust fan, he installed the light switches upside down! My fiance's son, who is a plumber, instructed Evan on how to do the necessary plumbing work to relocate the camode. The dry wall/texture work that Evan did was an absolute NIGHTMARE. The texture was uneven and had several deeply pitted areas that looked like some sort of skin disease. It was an absolute mess! The tile work that he did was shoddy at best. My fiance had to instruct him on how tiles should be cut so they would meet at an angle. Evan at first insisted that the tile used in the soap box would not meet at an angle; According to him it was impossible. My fiance asked him to try the cut anyway, so Evan did. Well, the cut was perfect, but according to Evan it was impossible. The awful tile work he did within the soap box was "the best he could do." He continually asked for money for "supplies" that were never delivered and/or were not fit for the job. He never measured the areas and because of his failure to do so, the cabinets, vanity and sink that were purchased did not fit. Evan told us that he could not return them so we were basically stuck with the product. He indicated that he could cut back the cabinets and vanity to make them fit, but did not take into consideration that the sink would not fit if the cabinets/vanity were cut back. The shower door was also the wrong size, so we had to settle for a different one. We were forced to purchase ceiling tile, because Evan failed to measure the walls of the shower, before applying the tiles. This resulted in a gap at the top of the shower wall. Evan suggested that he could fill it with dry wall...really! We filled it with ceiling tile so that it at least didn't look like a mistake. The mastic he used was in his words, "cheap stuff from Home Depot," so the tile started to separate from the ceiling...it was sagging, literally falling off! It was one issue after another. Evan never showed up to work before 10:00 a.m., then would show up unprepared. He spent most of the time going back and forth to Home Depot or going to "pick up" tools that he didn't bring with him. Evan is also NOT properly licensed, which is a violation of B&P §7028. Stone Collection is equally liable pursuant to B&P §7114 and §7115 for contracting an unlicensed individual who fraudulently represents himself as a contractor. The quote that Evan initially gave doubled, because of "the extra work and hours" he had spent on the job. The truth is that the extra work and hours were due to his lack of knowledge and skill with regard to the job he was hired to do. Evan is an absolute embarrassment to those individuals who pride themselves in the work they do as licensed contractors. When I refused to give Evan additional money for "supplies" he packed up his tools and left indicating, "that's not how it's done in construction." Evan didn't even have the decency and professionalism to face me, before he abandoned the job. He knew what time I would get home, so he rushed his way out of there....coward! Even after this I agreed to meet with him to discuss how were would proceed, but it was never my intention to give him more money. We scheduled a meeting on a Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m. He failed to show...no surprise there, since he never showed up before 10:00 a.m. UPDATE: The only reason this place is getting one star from me is because of the way yelp is set up. I also wanted to let EVERYONE know that the tile I purchased, which I thought was porcelain, turned out to be ceramic. Rocio mislead us by making me believe that what I was purchasing was porcelain tile. I am currently in the process of exercising my legal rights to try and get all of my money back. I filed a dispute with my credit card company for the tile, most of which I never received, because their contractor, Evan, never finished the job. I sent registered letters to Evan and to Stone Collection; The letter to Stone Collection came back marked as "no such person." Really, so they're saying their son does not exist? I have proof that he works directly with them as their employee, because the invoice where the cabinets were purchased has Stone Collection and Evan listed as the contractor. So tell me how do you have the audacity to say Evan does not exist? At this point I bet you're wishing he didn't exist. TAKE NOTICE EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN WRONGED BY THIS COMPANY AND THEIR INSTALLER/CONTRACTOR/ETC., you, as the consumer, have the right to report their practices to the California Contractor's Licensing Board. I have filed a complaint, and although they will not be the ones to help me get my money back, I can at the very least prevent others from being wronged by this company's fraudulent practice. The State Board will issue a warning and/or a fine of up to $15,000 and possible jail time. They will have a log of all the complaints filed against this company. I encourage everyone who has been wronged to file their complaint. I don't usually write reviews, but this company and their installer, Evan, are thieves. They take advantage of individuals, take their money, and don't complete the job they were hired to do. The owners, Rocio and Jose, of Stone Collection think that by not accepting registered correspondence addressed to Stone Collection and Evan Castillo, they will wipe their hands clean of the mess they've created, well they're wrong. I have always been upfront, honest, and caring toward everyone I meet, however, I do not appreciate being taken advantage of and I will not allow myself to be their victim. Stone Collection is aiding and abetting in fraudulent practices, because they knowingly send their son, Evan Castillo to engage in negotiations for home improvement bids. Rocio and Jose, owners of Stone Collection are well aware that their son is not a licensed contractor, yet they continue to recommend him for jobs then they want to wipe their hands clean...not going to happen in my case.