McGee Fence

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The sales rep came out and gave me the estimate and told me that the guy that does porches was not available for four weeks but that he would come out as soon as he got back. It was almost nine weeks before the work began on my porch. I talked to the guy that was there to do the work telling him about the water leaking into my basement from the porch whenever it rained. He told me that he would slant the porch so that the water would run off. They said that it would take two days to complete the job but it took almost a week. Then less than a week after the porch was finished it started raining and I was awoke in the middle of the night to water coming into the basement through a light fixture and it was not just a trickle of water this was water pouring like a garden hose full blast. I called them and emailed them pictures of the water pouring in. For about two weeks I was calling everyday and emailing them everyday but nobody was contacting me back until I started threatening them. Then the owner called me and he sent his brother out to take a look at the porch. I must admit that the brother of the owned did fix the problems. And the problems were that the porch guy that did the porch did not slant the porch for the water to drain off he slanted it for the water to pool to the back of the porch against the house; I had them screen in the porch and he sealed up the bottom of the screen panels so there was nowhere for the rain water to drain off the porch. After the owners brother was done with the porch it looks very pretty and he even threw in really pretty tiles for the floor I guess to try to make up for my bad experience. However, I have had constant trouble with the screen door not clearing the porch floor when it opens and closes but I have not called them back because I just don't want to deal with them any more.

In March 2010, we signed the contract and I made a deposit of $11,220. After weeks of trying to find when the project would start - estimated at 3-4 weeks post signing the contract, I was unable to get in touch with Mr. McGee. I left messages on his phone and with his book keeper. I occassionally got a return call that advised that they were having trouble obtaining the permits, that McGee's wife would go back and try again on Thursday, that the hitch in getting the permits was that they didn't have an engineer stamp, etc. Finally, after five months, the permit was issued... I learned this by checking the Charles County Planning and Growth Management website because by August/September, McGee really couldn't be reached. I tried to be patient and waited a few more weeks, by November I resignd myself to the fact that something was not right with this situation. In November, I sent a letter requesting a full refund of my deposit. McGee contacted me in December and told me he would be sending a check in a week. Well, a week came and went... I contacted McGee in January and he told me that the book keeper didn't send the check before she went on holiday break but he would take care of it within a week. Well, another week came and went. McGee finally called and said he had spent the money and this was his slow season and he couldn't pay me back. Long story short, I contacted the Better Business Bureau, the Maryland Consumer Protection Division (CPD), the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC) and obtained a lawyer. McGee finally entered into a written agreement through the work of the attorney at the CPD. He was subsequently served with suit papers just in case he decided he was not going to pay again... He has refunded 75% of my deposit. Buyer beware - review the Maryland Judicial Case Search for the company and individual. Check BBB although the information is scant and can be misleading. I was so disillusioned to find that BBB administratively closes cases after 60 days if the company says they are working out a plan to make restitution. CPD came through big and held McGee accountable. They also advised me to file a complaint with MHIC. MHIC hasn't finished their investigation yet. I was surprised that in most of the responses to the state agencies, McGee's concern has been that information related to my complaint not be made public. My suit is still pending - holding out for the last 25%. Again, buyer beware... I would not recommend this company. If you choose to use McGee Fence and Deck, I strongly advise that you DO NOT PAY BY CHECK OR CASH and only make a minimal upfront deposit.

I received an in-home estimate for a wraparound deck for my townhome. Went with a different company as their price was much lower. Also didn't go with them because they didn't have a financing option (full amount due by time of completion) which made them less flexible.

They were good and did a real good job. They covered up my old porch ceiling and all the framing lumber. They put on composite lumber and surrounded all the lumber that I had. They put up new screens and a new screen door. The screen porch was built as an extension of the roof. They took a while to get the work started, but once they got the work scheduled, it was completed within four days; once I got the work going, there was very little turn-around time from start to finish. The price was good. From what I was looking for versus the various estimates I received, their estimate was a little higher than other estimates, but then again I got more for my money than what I was getting from the other providers. I would use them again in the future if necessary.

I liked that they responded quickly and gave me an estimate. The price was the mid range one. I had confidence his experience. Once the material arrived, I was not happy with the appearance of the wood. I wanted them to take it back. They did return it and brought better material, that day. He responded immediately and had the fence in in one day. He told me that he was going be at the job, but he was not. I wasn't always sure that he had me scheduled for the day wa agreed on, but it did happen.

Mr. McGee responded to my call for an estimate the same day and arranged to come meet me on a Saturday. He said once he started a job he finished within a week usually barring bad weather. He said he visited each job site each day. None of this turned out to be true. Once I paid Mr. McGee the $3200 first payment he no longer returned calls. He did not start the job when he said he would even though the weather was clear. I called repeatedly and left messages, but he didn't return calls. I was home the day they finally started and was not happy with the way the fence was being made. I called Mr. McGee and wrote a detailed explanation of what was not being done well. I had written in the contract that all pickets were to be 2 in. off the ground. Many were 4-5 inches from the ground. They also nailed nails into a large tree which I had specifically asked them not to. The fence was not completed in a workmanlike manner and much of it had to be redone while I was there to supervise.

They came on time. Performed everything above my highest expectations. Honest, fast, and hard working. I had 7 estimates for this work-- not only was their work top notch--but they had the lowest price too.