America Homes

We have two issues. Background: 1) Credits not given for tile flooring that I purchased for the bath (~$200) and credit not given/shown for countertop which was a remnant. The allotment was $825 but It came in much cheaper with the subcontractor because I picked a remanant. He did not disclose the pricing/credit on the final invoice and I honestly missed this because of how he bulked everything together. (We had numerous issues with him switching to cheaper product than what was in the contract. (i.e. flooring, cabinets) I understand if something is out of stock but you talk to the client and verify the substitute as well as the price. 2) Our main issue now is the laminate floor which is PEAKING. We are suppose to have a warranty on craftsmanship for 1 year. He installed this and select the flooring so it is all on him. I had another contractor looked at it and he felt the install was not correct. (i.e. no spacers, etc.) There is significant amounts of "peaking". The floor is bubbling up. Also there are some gaps that are visible. Also he took short cuts and did not even put thresholds in place on the door jams. I asked about this and he said they didn't need them. Basically he is being cheap and does not want to spend the money to finish the job right. Some of the laminate on the edges has damaged surface from poor cutting. We paid $1940 upgrade for this floor. It was suppose to be a product call Souther Oak 7mm and a price sheet showed it cost around ~$3.50 a square foot. He did not provide this and swapped for it for a cheap Lowe's product that retails for $.68 a square foot. http://www.lowes.com/pd_103553-30029-D2765_0__?Ntt=103553&UserSearch=103553&productId=3689430&rpp=32 I called this out to him and he was surprised that I even knew the price of the product. He claimed to need to switch because the swatches we selected were not available from his supplier. He basically ordered this and was not transparent. I asked about it because I saw the cheap home source packaging in the basement. I shared that we did not select this product. He said I would need to pay restocking, etc. and treated me like I was stupid for even bringing up this case of contract and switch because it was 7mm so I should not be concerned. (I would not pay a upcharge at the amount for something that is $.68! Almost $3 cheaper a square foot.) He also tried to swap the cabinets and when I called this out as unacceptable he ended up doing the cabinets per the contract. I had to refuse to give him the check and told him to stop work because I did not want the other cabinets. Basically it would be the cabinets I selected or he could stop the kitchen part of the project. (To be clear, he tried to stick us with a builders grade in a similar finish to the maple cabinets we paid/selected. He even gave me this switch in a sample and I kept saying something wasn't right because it did not match the pottery barn table that I matched up previously. I took it to another show room and they informed me that it was not the item that I selected. He was trying to get me to get the builders grade installed vs. the maple java cabinet I selected in a similar but much browner stain. He tried very hard to stick us with the wrong cabinets and complained that he would need to restock, etc. I told him to look at his contract on the selection because I know what I picked and that the cabinets are a large part of the project.) Many things are basically done poorly and to increase his profit. We paid $585 for a baluster upgrade and he purchased the wrong size then modified them to "fit". I noticed this later but it would need ripped out to redo. The two things I am asking for that are simple, clear and fair and I believe Angie's list could drive closure on: 1) Credit for the tile that I purchased ($~100) This was not removed from the final invoice. I was not to purchase the floor but did this as he was trying to finish quickly and needed the floor before we left for vacation. I did not want him to buy something I did not like or swap so I purchased it. He likely just billed the original quote because he was not very organized. 2) Repair of the peaking laminate floor. Floor to be finished properly and damaged boards removed/replaced. Also thresholds/jams to be installed so it is properly "finished". He actually put chalk on the edges that I pointed out needed jams and said this is how it is done. Another contractor looked at it and said that it is this way if you are cutting corners. There are 4 doorways impacted. These should be finished in matching oak laminate. If he is going to pick something cheap (obviously he thought not finishing was ok) then I do not want it installed. I realize the other issues are impossible to discuss as he believes his own self talk to drive his profits and the way he did the invoicing does not make credits simple for materials. (i.e. granite, floor swapping, etc.) Thanks in advance for your help. I am just sick of trying to get this guy to do the right thing. We went with him because we thought he had a good angies list rating but apparently another company uses the name that he has on the Cincy Basements website or possibly he removed another id? Please let me know if you would like a picture or video of the how the floor is peaking. Thanks again.