L PEREIRA CONSTRUCTION & MASONRY

We agreed on a price and he was to deliver a contract describing exactly what work was to be done. We did not set a start date at that time. He called a few days later and set a start date for the next day. That was fine, except I could not be absent from work with such short notice. The work was completed in two days. I contacted him a few days later to discuss the problems. When he returned to discuss the problems his answers and comments were not acceptable. No contract was delivered as he had promised. Even though I could not be home when he started work he could have left the contract in the mailbox for me. The screws are mushroomed. They were not predrilled as per manufacturers instructions. The instructions that came with the screws, state very clearly ?Check for cracking, mushrooming, or bit slippage to see if you need to pre-drill holes prior to installing screws?. He did not address this problem. Some screws are left sticking up out of the deck. This is a tripping hazard. The solution he told me when he returned to answer my complaint was that ?he could hammer them down?. That is not acceptable since it would dimple the decking. The one new handrail he installed is noticeably lower on one end and not level with the other railings. He offered to correct that but he did not indicate how would he address the holes that would then be left visible. Three deck boards stick out by ¼ inch longer along the edge than the rest of the deck. The deck planks that were cut lengthwise to fit are cut crookedly and leave uneven and crooked gaps. The top step is uneven. The top step that meets the deck that he newly installed consists of two deck boards. One board is higher than the other so the step is uneven. This step is also lower than the deck itself by 3/16th of an inch. This is causing a tripping problem and the decking surface is peeling up from that uneven point of contact. The previous stairs did not have this problem. The nosing he installed on each step is a different width. The previous stairs did not have this problem. The back board on each step is uneven. On the previous staircase everything lined up correctly. The lattice is not attached at the bottom and is caving inward. The bottom post on the stairs connected to the hand railing is loose and shakes. Regardless of the fact that he was reinstalling the previous staircase the post that had loosened in the process should have been secured. This contractor said that reinstalling the old steps was what I wanted. Yes, I did wish to use the previous staircase to save money. However, since it clearly was not going to work he could have contacted me at work to inform me of the problems he was facing. I would gladly have discussed options with him. I expected this contractor to inform me of any problems that arose during the installation. He had my cell phone number. I feel that is standard business practice. I have dealt with many contractors in the past and they were always more than willing to discuss issues as they arose. When I met with him to complain I wanted him to correct his errors and the hazards he was responsible in creating. The numerous issues regarding the screws, unevenly cut boards, and uneven railing, have nothing to do with using the previous staircase. This part was his new installation and is just not acceptable workmanship.

I WOULD NOT USE THIS COMPANY AGAIN. THEY WERE THE SUB-CONTRACTOR TO MY ROOFER (NORTH SHORE ROOFING -- THEY WERE WAS GREAT). THEY DID NOT SHOW UP WHEN THEY SAID THEY WOULD, DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL (E.G., DID NOT MEASURE THE ORIGINAL DECK BEFORE TEARING IT DOWN!), DID NOT FOLLOW UP ON COST CHANGES WHEN THE SPEC CHANGED AND HAD VERY POOR COMMUNICATION WITH ME. THE JOB TOOK 4 TIMES LONGER THAN IT NEEDED TO AND I FELT LIKE I WAS BABYSITTING THEM. THEY ALSO CREATED A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR THE ROOFER THAT SUB-CONTRACTED TO THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.