All Ohio Renovations

On about 11/15/2010 we hired Steve Dickerson a.k.a. All Ohio Renovation to install new windows and doors in our home, to this date the job is unfinished. After the contract was signed, and we gave him approximately half of the estimate ($4000.00), we set a date to start the project. Steve canceled the first two start dates. Finally we got the projected started, the first day he arrived two hours late with three men to assist him. They began ripping out the windows, and I emphasize ripped because while taking out the windows much of the drywall also was ripped out, with numerous cracks that went all the way up to the ceiling. It was obvious that one of the men that came with Steve had never taken out a window before as he didn't even know how to take the bottom part of the window out of the frame; and Steve had told us that this was his first day working in 'the field.' Steve was very loud consistently throughout the job, and made sure everyone knew he was the boss. Very unprofessional, Steve and another worker on the second day got into a verbal disagreement about who was the boss and the worker left. But lets get back to the windows, after ripping out the windows the workers began putting in the new ones. To me they appeared to be in okay, however once the workers left two of the windows literally fell out of the frames; on one window NOT ONE screw went into the frame; on the second window only one screw hit the frame. On the third day (this day also Steve called and had to rescheduled; plus they arrived late every day approximately two hours) we went through the house and two other windows which were not set in right and had to be removed and reinstalled. All the windows had a minimal amount of new insulation around them, each and every window you could see light coming in around the windows, thus when it rained, the rain came in around the frame of the window (my husband had to go out and buy some insulation and complete the insulation of the windows. I would like to add that after the front door was installed they put NO insulation around it, and just left.) At this same time we had the windows put in, we also had a French Door installed, it was suppose to be installed with a screen door; to date there is no screen door. The installation of the French Door was extremely sloppy (as well as the windows and front door). It was off set and Steve used old pieces of wood to wedge into the sides and top to try and make it straight. We were told that Steve would come out the following day and apply plaster around the windows and French Door, and he never showed up. Once again we called and called with no return call for a couple weeks. Finally Steve and another worker showed up, walked in and said they did not have the right plaster so would return the next day; they never showed up. We were told by Steve that the front door would not arrive until January. So we decided to plaster around the windows and paint while we were waiting. After January came and went we repeatedly called Steve, however he did not return our call until mid February. Steve showed up with another worker and took out the front door, and at this time he decided he wanted the remainder of the money and asked my husband for it, which I thought was an unusual time to request money. We paid him half of what was remaining, and told him when the job was finished we would pay him the rest (about $1900.00 owing to Steve). After receiving his money he put the front door in, never put any insulation around the door, and just left. Please bear in mind that we had to plaster around the windows, and no trim work was completed on the inside, and no screen on French Door. Steve had taken our old trim with him. Once again we had begun calling Steve to get this job completed, plus the outside trim on the windows had fallen off on three windows and the remainder of the windows the outside trim was coming apart. Once again we were calling Steve with no return phone calls. Finally in May Steve called my husband leaving a threatening message demanding the remaining monies. Steve came to the house the next day and upon entering the house informed us that his worker would be out the next day to 'redo the entire outside trim as it looked really bad.' (I would say so, it had fallen off and what was still on the windows was just hanging there). At this time we asked to see his contractors license and copy of his insurance. Steve informed us that he did not have his contractors license on him, but he would be coming back the next day to install the screen on the French Door along with his worker to redo the entire outside trim, and would bring it with him at that time. He didn't show again, and we haven't heard from him to this day. We have had three other individuals out to get estimates on how much it would cost to finish the job, and we have been told that all the windows need to be pulled out and reinstalled. This would cost us approximately $8000.00. I would like to add that after the installation of the windows and French Door, they were suppose to clean up. What Steve did was take what wood he wanted, and left a huge mess for us to clean up. Furthermore, Steve was extremely unprofessional. He tried to talk to me about my personal life with my husband, even to the point of telling me his views of our relationship, and my husbands work ethics. Steve was more than willing to share with me his personal life, i.e. about his ex-wife and how she stole money from him; cheated on him; and various aspects of their relationship which I really did not want to hear, so decided to stay in an adjoining room away from him. However he was talking to me more than he was working. The job was HORRIBLE!!! This has been a nightmare for us. When we met Steve, he seemed like a man with good work ethics. However from beginning to end this has been to much drama. Reading this one might think I am exaggerating, however everything in this is the truth. We lead a quiet and simple life; yet this has our lives in a state of upheaval. No one wants to help us because they don't want to be responsible for the disaster Steve has made. I wish I would of asked for his contractors licence before this project started; but as is said you live and you learn. And this is an expensive lesson to be learning. Our home looks horrible, and our lives have been in a state of chaotic stress over this mess. Dramatic, no, who would believe having windows put in your home would make your life so difficult. Honesty, what ever happened to a man is as good as his word?