Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/13/2024

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  In May 23, 2023, we hired Able Builders & Inspecting to perform work that involved adding an exterior door and constructing steps and a retaining wall. The initial blueprints submitted to the Grove City Building Division were approved, but the work completed by the contractor did not match these blueprints. As a result, the work failed the final inspection on September 5, 2023. The inspection report noted several critical issues, including the improper flashing of the door, the use of untreated lumber, and deviations from the approved plan, particularly with the block used for the retaining wall and the steps. The 2nd inspection report highlighted ongoing issues, including missing rebar in the wall, the wall not being plumb, improperly constructed steps, and the door not being flashed, caulked, or ********* response to the failed inspection, the contractor obtained a revised set of blueprints from the engineer, which were resubmitted to the city. Unfortunately, the work performed still did not meet the necessary standards, leading to a second failed inspection on December 8, 2023.Despite numerous attempts to resolve these issues, including a meeting with the contractor in 12/2023, we have been met with delays and excuses. The contractor, **** from Able Builders & Inspecting, initially agreed to correct the problems, stating that work would commence in the spring of 2024. However, since March 2024, he has been putting us off and has suggested that we bear additional costs for materials and equipment. He has been so difficult to deal with. Saying one thing and coming back and saying something totally different. This situation is entirely unacceptable and unprofessional. The contractor has failed to deliver on the agreed-upon work, resulting in multiple failed inspections due to non-compliance with the approved plans and local building codes. As a result, we have been left with a project that is not only incomplete but also poses potential safety hazards.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 08/25/2024

  I agree that you hired us in May 2023 to perform work that involved constructing steps and a retaining wall. I do not agree with the rest of your statements. We agreed to a set labor cost plus materials as prices were volatile at that time. You sent us a photograph of what you wanted and I forwarded that photo to an architect who chose a similar looking stone specification and drew it up and if we needed to revise it we could. We repeatedly suggested you go to the landscape stone supplier and look at the stone in person rather than choose it by photos. You were limited on choices because you wanted the wall to continue up 36 above grade as a guardrail and most retaining wall stone is only finished one side. You sent me a picture from online of what you wanted. I agreed it was a good choice but you needed time to go look at it. I told you that stone is available at ******** Builders Supply or a similar less expensive stone at Menards. You waited until after the footing was approved to pour to finalize your choice and asked us to pull off the job for a few days while you go look at it. When you finalized choice we called the architect and he agreed it will work and said it appears to be a similar stone to what was drawn but if we need to revise the drawings we could.I asked you if you wanted poured concrete steps or paver steps and you chose paver steps for the speed and cost savings. At that point we did a change order based on your selections. We built the wall and called it up for inspection.The inspector stated that the wall stone did not match the drawings and the steps were not concrete plus a couple other minor easily corrected items. The architect wrote a letter stating the stone was similar and the steps are acceptable in concrete pavers instead of poured concrete. The inspector requested that the drawings be revised to match the work exactly and be specific. The Architect drew the plans exactly as the wall and steps were built and stamped it. I went one step further and took that plan to a highly respected *** degreed structural engineer with expertise in retaining wall construction and he put his engineering stamp on the drawings as well with the request to add 5/8 rebar in the soil adjacent to the wall 24 on center. On November ******* the building department approved that revised engineered plan and we called it up for inspection. You stated that you did not need us there for the inspection and that you wanted to talk to the inspector directly so you met with him. I was not there but it appears pretty clear that you did not show him the work was done as per plans and had him thinking the plans called for vertical wall restraints when it clearly did not. As per your request, I stepped aside so you could to decide what you wanted to do with zero grief from me. You met with the building department directly and went to ******** Builders Supply several months later, March or April **************************** the ********* were appalled at the cost of the stone specified in the original plans, and settled on changing the stone to Versalok stone and requested the steps be built 6 wider, 24 longer, and to just take the stone to grade with a wrought iron railing instead since the versalok stone you chose is only finished on one side. I gave you no grief on the extra work and we agreed to put the extra dirt in the back yard and another contractor would remove it. At that point I specifically warned you that I will not work around a deck or a swimming pool for free. I had the architect revise the plans and I sent them to you before sending them to the engineer. You called Versalok and rejected the new revision because ******** would not guarantee their product in that specific application. You requested split face block instead which is not supported by a geogrid system but requires rebar in a much deeper footing. This option is even more work but I gave you no grief for the added expense. I had the architect revise the drawing for split face block 9 feet deep so it could resist the soil load without the geogrid. You rejected that plan and asked for it to be redrawn with more detail. The architect insisted to submit the plan as drawn. You gave us permission to submit it and the building department approved it quickly. We immediately scheduled that work for our next available day which was only three weeks out.This also allowed you time to order the split faced block which is not a stock item. You waited a week and then informed us you had a partial in ground pool installed and sent me a photo of it. In that photo it appears to be five to six feet away from where we need to dig nine feet deep and the pool is right where we agreed to put the excess dirt. I gave you a price of $3500 to build a wall to protect the pool and rent a skid loader and move the dirt as it is dug to wherever you would like it set out of the way of the pool. That cost is extremely fair as it adds three additional days work to the crew plus rental fees and temporary protection. You rejected that cost and filed this complaint. If you want to go to court stating that engineered as built drawings are somehow not sufficient that is on you. I would rather not try to work with a customer that is indecisive on what they want and refuses to stop video taping us even when told it makes the workers uncomfortable and I certainly do not want to try to dig next to your new swimming pool. Looking at your itemized ***** that you were given on labor and materials you paid us X dollars to underpin your existing foundation etc and $6116.00 labor for the steps, retaining wall, and to cut in the door. I would rather give that back to you, that is in excess of what you paid us for the retaining wall and steps and I wish you well.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/03/2024

   ********** did not sign off on your companys work because it does not meet code requirements. This issue is not our responsibility. We paid your company to complete the work according to the approved plans and standards.
  
  We will deduct the cost of the door but that is the only concession we are willing to make. The wall and steps must be taken down; there is no question about that. It will cost us a significant amount of money to have them removed and rebuilt correctly.
  
  We are requesting a refund of $13,000. While this amount will not fully cover our losses, we believe it is best to work with a company that takes responsibility for their work and honors their commitments.
  
  
  
  Complaint: 22137749
  
  I am rejecting this response because: 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***** **********

  

  Business Response

  Date: 10/03/2024

  Grove City did not sign off on the work because you chose to request us not to be present during the inspection and furthermore told us that you would talk to the city directly and decide what to do. I honored your wishes and let you have at it. You have paid us for part of the wor but you have nt paid us in full. This issue is 100% your responsibility both from a moral standpoint and a legal one. I have not abandoned you and tried to assist you when you request assistance.
  I do not owe you anything beyond meeting the obligations of our agreement which is easy to do but it does not make sense to do so if you do not like the stone you chose anyway.
  That being said I have taken the liberty of adding up what you paid us less the door as you stated above and less the underpinning which passed inspection and you would have needed to do in any circumstance. You have these numbers on your ***** spreadsheet that you received.
  You paid us $3058.00 in labor, $237.94 for geogrid,$414.28 for drain tile, $256.53 for geogrid, $787.87 for stone, $342.81 for stone, $37.47 for concrete mix, $379.26 for stone, and $49.83 for paver base. So if I return you the cost of the retaining wall and steps labor and materials to be done with it, that totals $5563.99. That is the actual amount and not an amount pulled out of the clear blue sky like $13,000.00. The cost of you choosing to hire someone else if that is your intent is of no consequence to what I offer you to settle this. These choices are yours and not mine. No one is going to dig next to a swimming pool for the same price as digging where there is no pool. My offer stands at the prior amount I offered you to settle this which is a better offer than true cost. I will even add $500 to that offer to not have to deal with it anymore.