ECO Solutions LLC

During my initial meetings with Todd Holm of EcoSolutions, I was impressed with his knowledge and the detailed explanations he gave regarding the estimates and scope of work to be done. Todd communicated well and was personable. The ceiling replacement project was completed to my satisfaction. The work was completed within the time frame and cost I was given in the estimate, and the work was good. At the time the ceiling repair began (early September) Todd told me the windows for the window replacement/repair project had been ordered. He assured me that the windows would be in within 4-6 weeks as I was concerned about having exterior windows replaced too late in the fall. Approximately 6 weeks later (mid-October) I contacted Todd to check the status of the windows. I left several messages for him over the next 3-4 weeks. I finally heard back from him the first week of December; I expressed my disappointment and he apologized and claimed the order was lost (or maybe incorrect). He told me he would place the order immediately and offered to do the job with no labor charges because of the errors. I agreed because I thought this was fair. Although I was disappointed, I thought Todd's crew did good work and I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. A week or so later I called to confirm that the order was placed and did not hear back from him. It has now been a full six months and I still have not heard anything from Todd or EcoSolutions. There was no follow through and I will not use the company again or recommend them to anyone.

For this I would refer you to the previous section, describing what was done in detail. I think I combined the two stories. However, overall it went extremely well. We have worked with many contractors in small and large projects on our 121 year old home. Eco Solutions stands out among these contractors as the easiest to work with, with the best outcome, best communication, most professional workmen, and best longevity of the work done.

Todd Holm is a great salesman, but does a very poor job organizing and managing the project after the contract is signed. Todd is also very, very terrible at estimating costs and the time required to complete the job. Todd does a horrible job with returning calls and responding to emails in a timely manner. He also regularly showed up for appointments with me, his customer, several hours late. Todd's partner, Dave Senkus, who is in charge of 'operations," does a great job with rough carpentry and framing, but a horrible job with organizing materials, managing several things at once, managing his time and his crew's time, and customer interactions. Dave works extraordinarily slowly and spends a ton of time talking and on the phone. His knowledge and work on finishes - understanding the painting process, installing built-ins, re-conditioning old surfaces, tiling, finish carpentry - is well below average. Part of the problem that I had working with Dave is that he is what I call "a know it all." I will never recommend hiring or working with this pair. The following explains why. The two main objectives in this project were to insulate a 90 year old cottage and to make usable the space in a very small home. One bath was gutted, enlarged and replaced. The upstairs was reconfigured. The entire home was insulated and resided. The front entry was reconfigured, and several areas of custom built-ins were done. I added some things to the original plan - new wood floors upstairs, more built-ins than originally planned, a built in loft bed and a few other smaller items. When Todd was "selling" his insulation ideas to me, he walked around upstairs verbally promising that it would be cooler during the summer. When it was not, I sought the opinion of another HVAC installer than the one used by Eco Solutions, and I was shown where an air return could/should have been installed during the early stages of construction. The problem was created by very, very poor planning, design and experience by Eco-Solutions and their HVAC sub-contractor. Retroactively, this problem can not be solved without extensive expense and inconvenience to me. Todd hired an incompetent painter who worked very, very slowly and didn't do a professional looking job. When I complained, he hired a very good painter who spent a ton of time removing excessive caulk that the first guy had put in and then repairing, re-priming and re-painting the first painter's work. I told Todd that the first guy had not been properly supervised and had done horrid work and that I would not pay for his work as well as the repair. Todd's response was that the first guy was "a $30 an hour painter, and what did I expect?!!" In my opinion this is a very telling response about Todd's lack of respect for a customer's money. I have received a call from the good painter complaining that he has not been paid in full. Part of the ongoing problem that I had throughout the project was with Todd forgetting details, conversations, and appointment times. The last appointment at which we were scheduled to settle up, Todd at first had the date incorrect and then showed up an hour and a half late. As of the end of October, I am still working to get a list of several items taken care of. I have to keep reminding Todd to get me paperwork verifying replacement window installation for tax purposes. He keeps forgetting and claiming that I have already been provided the materials. I have not yet received them. He claims it is in the process of getting done. Because the electrical sub-contractor made several mistakes installing the correct lighting to pass inspection in a closet, my wall and ceiling were re-opened twice. It still is not yet finish painted. I am working to get this completed. Todd has agreed to do it. The finish carpenter, Jeff Simpson, did outstanding work. He also ran the siding crew. He no longer works for the company. When the siding (cedar shakes) was replaced, I instructed the crew and Dave not to remove the siding on the lake side until right before the new shakes were put on. This is due to the probability of driving rains on that side and therefore leaking. They went ahead and removed it around one window anyway, and we got a huge storm and a ton of leaking inside. I called Todd at 10:30pm with water pouring into my house and never received a call back. The next day, the crew forgot to take care of it, and we got more rain. Todd never did return my call. There was extensive damage in one wall, part of which was repaired. However, I had to have them remove more damaged wall, and it is still not repaired. I am working to get this done, and Todd has agreed to do it. The siding, does, however, look great. When the upstairs shower was installed, the plumber did not test the shower after installing the finish fixtures and before he left because the shower door was not yet installed. As soon as I started using the shower, a clog appeared. It took two days for the plumber to remove the clog. It reappeared several weeks later, lower in the main drain line, and the plumber called it "construction debris." Todd refused to pay for the removal of these clogs. Dave did the tiling in my front hall. The grout is failing, and he has been back to repair it. His repair was incomplete and more repair is needed. I requested a professional tile installer because Dave is doing such a poor job, and Todd refused to hire one. All in all, my recommendation is never to hire Eco Solutions. They talk a great line and are knowledgeable , but are poor on the follow through and worse with communication during the project.