J&D Construction

Jack told me the job would only take 2-3 days and that he would require me to pay for materials and he would ask for no money until the job was done. Also I would have to pull the permit from the county. He put together a materials list and called it in. I contacted the lumber yard and had the materials delivered to my address I also pulled the permit. Jack was suppose to start the job on May 16th he never showed up until May 23 he worked for a few hours and said he got rained out and that he also need me to order more lumber because the order was short. He had several excuses for being over a week late on starting the project. I called in the order and he picked it up and continued work on the 24th. He completed the legs and the deck that day. I was not home at the time he finished for the day and he told my wife he needed 300 dollars for that day and was upset when she gave him a check instead of cash. He came back on Monday the 27th and finished the stairs and the railing. Visually the deck looked very nice he said that he did not wrap the bottom of the deck with lattice because the inspector would need to inspect under the deck and that he would come back after the inspection and cut and hang the lattice and that would only take an hour. He also requested the rest of the money when he finished. The deck looked so good I didn't think I would have a problem so I paid him the money and contacted the inspector. The deck failed inspection on several points (non major) the Gate was to small and didn't self close, he never supported the stairs (which is kinda a big deal) there was not handrail which Is required and he never covered the rise on the steps which is apparently code for all out door stairs. (and anyone who claims to be a deck specialist should have known that.) When I tired to call him back I found that he had changed his phone number's (both numbers listed on the card he gave me) I waited 3 days for him to call me back then I searched craigs list for his add and called his new number. He was very surprised that I found him and claimed he was about to call me. he said he was sorry and that was going to come back and fix the problems. He actually changed his phone number again but gave me the number that time. He said he would be out on the 30th of the 31 but never showed so I texted him again and he said he would be out on Sunday and actually texted me several times saying he was on his way, but never showed up. I texted him 3 more times after that day to ask if he was coming back and he has yet to respond almost 20 days later. I have since been trying to fix the problems myself with the help of a friend of mine. the deck is still not completed and I have had to purchase atleast 400.00 more in materials not to mention the 300 dollars of unused materials that he was suppose to take back to the lumber yard for a credit. Also he left a giant pile of trash and wood scrap in my yard along with nails ever where. I would not recommend hiring this person he is not reliable or punctual it has cost several hundred dollars and a lot of time to attempt to fix the code violations. The deck still has not met Chesterfield county Code.