Q & Sons Construction Inc

The hot water heater, sump and laundry sink were installed, paid for with the promise that they would finish the job of cabling up the electric cords and install sump pit cover, once I purchased them, and as they were working on the deck and door installation . When I hooked up the washing machine hoses, i saw that old pipes were used along with new pipes, 3 types metal used on sink plumbing and hoseswere busted with water spraying all over. Laundry sink not attached to floor or wall. On hot water heater no gas shut off installed, vented downhill and opposing metals used on connections. These guys stated to me that they were licensed plumbers working for Q (Chuck) and Sons, also stated they were independant contractors working for Q. NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY SWEAR TO IT, get a copy of their license BEFORE any work is done. Q told me what a good Christian he is and that I can trust him. Today I told him to cut the Christian stuff. Today he stated that neither he, nor his sons, nor his other worker were licensed plumbers, nor did he have insurance, and produced an expired business license with the promise to Email copy of current license. I told him that he and sons had represented themselves as licensed plumbers, and that he had represented himself on Angie's list as being licensed. Q said that I didn't buy the job through Angie's list, so that doesn't apply. I said never-the-less he still needs to be licensed to do plumbing in Illinois, and his actions were illegal. He just shrugged his shoulders. Q stated today, along with a few choice words about Angies List, that he is no longer a member. I am trying to verify that through Angie's List. The deck work was started and so was the door installation and they wanted to start demolishing my bathroom, which I halted until they finished the deck and doors,( also until I could get proof of insurance, plumbers license, see quality of ongoing work and get permits). The deck demolition was difficult, I even helped out...briefly...it had rained earlier and was very muddy under deck, and all I heard was grousing...well they sold me on it. They left the site strewn with hundreds of splintered boards thrown under old deck, which I cleaned out. Next day they laid deck boards, complained about saw blades shot, but proceeded with cuts, then left site for weekend with deck boards splinted at ends and most boards in middle with slinters sticking up, without top step on both north and south side of deck and with layers of ground in mud and boot marks . Rain just spread mud around, I hosed off deck and scrubbed 3 x's with dawn and brush to get ground in mud off, and can still see boot marks. I asked a homowner rep to look at the work Q and Sons did, so he came to the site Monday morning and pointed out obvious flaws in deck boards, danger of no step (s) and further pointed out other flaws in plumbing and door installation that a typical homeowner would not know about. Homeowner rep offered some remedies, and at one point when son was belligerent to me, told son to stop the bullying. The workers (2 brothers) groused all day and accomplished little in remedying problems and progress on deck. Son stated that they (he and older brother) weren't even going to charge father, Q, since they didn't get anything done. One son admonished me for hiring a homeowner rep, and stated that "ONE MAN DOESN'T LIKE TO BE CRITIQUED BY ANOTHER MAN". Uhhh, me being a women knew something was wrong, thus the need to hire someone who knew the business. Next day,Q on site admonished me for hiring owner rep and for me criticizing his son for being on cell phone all day. Only progress on deck was to put on bottom rail and about 2/3rds of top rail. They did install a top step on both sides, but yanked off both bottom steps and left without replacing either bottom step with old nail ends clearly sticking up. Also Q had not delivered on request for estimate to replace entire deck as promisedrepeatedly. We had discussed starting the deck after Memorial day, but Q and wife stopped that weekend on 5/26/13 to have breakfast locally and pick out boards for deck which wife and I helped unload, so I am pretty sure they started the Tuesday after Memorial Day. They spent 2 days on site to demo deck, and FOUR days to partially replace a 19 x 12 foot basic deck. The workmanship is questionable, problems not remedied andincomplete. Then on Tues 6/4/13 the wife of one son along with daughter of other son stop by, get introduced to me, and go right in to my house without being invited or without asking....very strange. I was loading up the 2nd Bagster of construction material, for which none of the sons placed any of the huge pile of construction material in to, so I stopped and went inside to watch them in my house. Later, the wife, whose father was my door installer, stereotyped her own father who I liked a lot, as being from a long line of Gypsies. Uhhh, what is that supposed to mean ? I asked again for a price on the work and having not received it by 6/4/13, I placed a cease work notice until further notice on morning of 6/5/13. Conversation between owner rep and Q put cease on work until up-to-date cost on deck was provided, and owner rep could inspect work. Received very sketchy E-bill on evening of 6/7/13 after being promised detailed breakdown of material and labor. Q picked up tools today Sat 6/8/13, wanted payment, and angry when I said not until work is completed or remedied, inspected, licenses and insurance provided, and labor break down provided. That is when he admitted to no licenses.He did not know the status of deck and didn't ask to see it. Q Said $2,000 on E-bill for labor was for 10 days labor at $200 per day at $25 per hour per deck worker. Uhh.... 2 days demo + 4 days partial replacing - 1 day grousing (son stated they weren't charging for Mon) = 5 days. Was pressured by Q and wife for payment, but I stated that work was incomplete, uinspected, and bill inadequate. Again Q promised labor breakdown and copies of material invoices. Except for nail fill in and touch up paint, they consider doors to be done. Without getting in to great detail, there are issues, pointed out by homeowner rep with interior door installation (6 of them). Plus the new front and back entry doors have not been painted as quoted and billed for. The area above both exterior doors have sizeable gaps, with no seal, no caulking what-so-ever. I am hoping to avoid an insect infestation before we can get this resolved. Front door foot plate gives about 1/2 to 3/4 inch, can see light of day under door when stepped on and lets out big screech. Strike plate for new door lock is split. I do have about 120 photos of the incomplete work, showing in great detail the workmanship and defficiencies. Photos to be held until Owner Rep reviews work and writes report. Also, I had them demolish an old light above the front door and install new sconce type light by side of front door. They did caulk the sides of the front door, don't understand why they didn't fill and caulk above door. They drilled a hole for new light, which permeated the new caulk with brown saw dust, and no, the saw dust does not come out of the new caulk. One can easily see that there is no cap or weatherproofing of any kind behind the lamp, so the wiring box and house are completely exposed. Charged $200 for installation and $22 for material...uhh, I provided the plywood to patch hole in soffet. The hole in interior wall they just slopped over with plaster (I didn't have any drywall mesh, so rather than go to Home DePot @ 1.5 miles away and get some) they just globbed a bunch of plaster in the hole, which was not sanded or painted, neither was the exterior patch from old light. Interior switch plate not even installed. So, I am wondering what materials do I owe them for ? I am told that everyone goes through this once while remodeling, not to feel bad, it will all get fixed. Perhaps I will feel better once these problems are fixed, the trim is replaced and the plaster around the doors is patched and painted, but now I cry. Here are my tips, we have all heard them before but. 1) Demand appropriate copy of licenses BEFORE work is started. 2) When a person repeatedly professes to be a Christian and is compelled to show you the Cross, ask yourself why. 3) Consider hiring someone in your town or near by 4) When a contractor insists that "you go back to work, you can trust them", set your radar on high alert, don't leave a stranger alone without their bond unless you know them well (nothing missing here that I can determine, but I did stay home) 5) Do not hire a contractor who does not give you a detailed "scope of work", if they start "throwing things in" or say " don't worry about that", that is your que to WORRY. Get everything in writing. 6) If your painter claims he doesn't use or need a drop cloth, make him use it anyway, or it's "the paints fault". 7) If you have something that you value, such as your beloved immaculately maintained vehicle, DON'T let them near it, put it in storage. 8) If your contractor shows up with no food or water and/or don't stop for lunch, expect slow work and grousing, and after a couple hours of that go ahead and feed them or they won't get anything done. 9) Trust your instincts 10) DON'T make final payment until work is complete and inspected, unless you signed a stupid agreement to do so. 11) Don't get taken advantage of because you are nice. Based on the level of incompleteness and quality, I am unsure of contractor remedies, plumbing will have to be redone with licensed plumber.

yi called Q- and- sons- construction on the 7th of sept they came out promptly on the 8th and gave me a written estimate, that was definitely to my liking! they came out on the 10th and got right to work.work was executed promptly and efficiently,the gentlemen performing the work were very clean cut and professional.I would highly recommend Q and sons constuction to anybody in need of any work needed done.Not only was the job done to and above my satisfaction,the job was also done for about 2000 less then any other company i called!

wOur plan at first was to have our deck painted with a couple of worn boards replaced. But after Chuck explained our current deck was in very poor condition that investing in just a fix up would be like putting a bandaid on our problem, we decided to have most of the deck replaced. In the middle of the work, I decided I no longer wanted the bench seating. This created a significant amount of additional work. Chuck and his son were very responsive to my request and changed the plans. They spent extra time picking out each piece of wood so it would be of the highest quality. They came every day they said they would and got done right on schedule, even with my changes. They cleaned up each day and were very respectful to our property. No cigarette butts lying around like I have found from other contractors. I would recommend them and plan on using them again.