Menu
Login
Paul Davis claimed they would handle everything associated with our house fire. They installed windows crooked, and did not install windows to manufactures spec's. windows leaked. The windows was also a lot smaller than the original. All the doors are unlevel, and are crooked. The framing was also crooked and created wavy, lean look to the inside of the home. Also they would subcontract the work a lot less than what was allowed by the insurance company and kept the difference, They tore my yard up, and did no clean up. We had to prepare the house for the thermal cap, they left large amount of debris, that would prevent the seal to properly lock out the fire smell. Everytime we addressed these issues with the company they always had a million and one excuses, when they did attempt to fix these issues, they created bigger problems as they would try to repair in the wrong way. All the framing failed inspection 3 times. I would advise not ever using this company, they already have numerous complaints againist them
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
We have had the exact same problems with PDR Tampa East. They were a preferred service provider by our insurance company.
We also have the added problem of having our home forclosed in a lien lawsuit, because we refused to pay the final payments.
In addition to the issues you state we have discovered numerous code violations to include cut trusses, improper bracing, and hurricane straps that fail to meet code requirements or the specification in the engineering drawings.
We have also discovered hidden code violations. For ecample, the code requires 5/8" sheetrock in the ceilings. They charged us for 5/8" sheetrock but installed 1/2" instead.
I the process of the lawsuit we have discovered other discrepancies. They estimated our roof at 5900 sf. It is actually only 5400 sf. They also charged for 40 year shingles but only installed 30 shingles. Nice little hidden profit fot them. Not to mention they eshausted our insurance limit so we had to pay out of pocket for additional items that would have been covered under our policy.
I recommend you hire an attorney, specialing in construction. Also get an engineer or another "respectable" general contractor to go over all the work. You will probaly find more code violations and oversharges.
Next contact your state licensing board and insurance regulators.
Holy Cow!
This is us! We live in Hendersonville, TN (Nashville area) and you can just change your name and put ours in its place!
Lary Burns especially has made this along with Paul Davis Restoration as a whole the worst experience I have ever been through. We are still not done and it has been 9 months. Our super, Larry Burns actually told us that if he had anything to do with it we would NEVER receive our certificat of occupancy! We are now living in only the upstairs of our house with no C/O for the downstairs.
We had a gas leak that was found on the day we moved back into the upstairs and he actually told us it was not that bad and that we could stay in our house with the gas leak! Coming right out of a fire, I don't think so! They are the most unethical, incompetent people I have ever dealt with. The stories go on and on and on.
I totally understand how you feel and plan on sending this message out to whom ever will listen. I have already lost them 1 job in our area and will do my best to educate our area.
I am so sorry you had to go through this too!
I have been going through the same horror with Paul Davis since January 2007. Over promised and under delivered on everything! We have a trial date for early November and I am interested in talking with anyone who is willing to share their experience as I prepare for court.
We live about an hour outside Toronto, Ontario Canada. We had a house fire in July 2010.
Paul Davis Systems were the prefered contractor as recommended by our insurance company. Having absolutely no knowledge in the restoration game, we signed with them off the bat...With your insurance company behind us, what could possibly go wrong...RIGHT?
Well, its 7 months later, Paul Davis Systems has half the restoration money, for a job less than half completed...Due to failed confidence in the project management, I have since put a stop work order into the owner of the company.
Out original on-site project manager was fired approx 2 weeks ago for reasons unknown. The new project manager is the same guy that we originally signed the emergency house board-up and secure contract with. Since that date, 7 months ago, we have not seen this particular individual...Interesting yes?
We did not receive an estimate of the build until last week - 7 months after the fire. Who knew that a booklet like this existed! We've been making decisions here and there, when they actually come and ask based on a moderate lifestyle...Eho knew that there was an actual guideline! PDS would always just say 'just choose something...'
Here are some items that anyone currently having Paul Davis Systems should look into:
- No deck lighting or switch for the lighting installed.
Lighting did exist prior to the fire. Why we were not consulted for this? PDS Crews would have been on site, and seen/removed the old fixtures.
- The pot lights in the kitchen on the back-yard wall are not in the correct location for the cupboards. How did the location for the lights occur? We were not asked for location, nor did we approve the current locations. Who made this decision? Who designed or approved or designed the kitchen layout?
- Are the plugs in the kitchen in the right locations considering there was no kitchen design approved or discussed? Who made this decision? Not us
- Are the plugs in the kitchen in accordance with current electrical code? Separate circuits where required and proper gauges of wire used?
- Has the plumbing in the island been installed correctly, in accordance with an approved kitchen design diagram? Who made this decision? Not us.
- The kitchen exhaust hood venting has not been roughed in. Did someone forget to guestimate this installation when they were guesstimating the rest of the kitchen peripherals?
- *** Are the fire alarms interconnected? Because only having one wire in the rough-in box would suggest not…This is against the electrical code as well… Would you be able to sleep at night knowing that the bloody fire alarms are incorrectly installed after going through what we have?
- There is a plug missing in the back of the living room…presumably covered in by the drywall? I know the plug was there last week!
- The drywall under the missing plug has been installed directly on a concrete wall, sans vapour barrier or insulation…This wall is backed by an un-insulated space – the garage. This piece of drywall has also been wedged into position and held by two other pieces without screws. What happens if someone bumps into this drywall in the future?
- The stairs leading to the second level are chipped on the top step.
- The hot air register at the front door is in a poor location. The center of the register is at the hinge point of the door. who would do this?! Poor decision...
- The front window, on the left side requires a crank out, as discussed time and time again with multiple persons
- The patio door has been installed incorrectly. We were never consulted with this decision. The original patio door opened from left to right, not right to left.
- The drywall going down the stairs into the basement, strip on the ceiling is completely crooked. Literally measuring 2" on the left side, to 3.5" on the right side. Would you be happy walking into your house and seeing this? Every time you walk in?
- The bulkhead in the basement, going into the bedroom. How is this to be finished? What kind of decision is to be made for us in this area? How is one supposed to ‘close the door’ and isolate yourself from the main area? There is literally a 6"x6" opening above the door space into the bedroom in the basement where the bulkhead is and the bedroom wall begins.
- Why is the drywall in the basement shower there? We were charged for cement board in the quote! Plus, why is there regular drywall used on the ceiling? Should this not be green or blue mouldproof as per building code? Is regular drywall actually Mould resistant?
- The dryer vent is missing! How much drywall will have to come down now to install this item? Amateur mistakes! What were we supposed to do in the future upon occupancy?!?!
- The ductwork in the garage will have to be insulated as it passes through an unconditioned space and will sweat in the summer and lose heat in the winter. Does efficiency not matter to PDS?
- The plumbing in the garage is incorrect. The garage area is unconditioned. Plumbing in an unconditioned area is a code violation, no? Would you allow this in your own home? Knowing full well that the chance of a pipe bursting due to the cold space is immenant…
- The ductwork run for the front room actually runs outside! This also will sweat and rot out in the summer, and be a major inefficiency in the winter. Personally, as an HVAC Journeyman, this practice is unacceptable.
- The garage door coming into the house, hinge side, has some holes in the frame showing the lack of insulation and vapour barrier on the wall. Once again, the garage is an unconditioned space. Should this wall not be insulated all the way across? Does it not feel cold to you when you put your hand in the hole?
- Basement bathroom. Should this window not be frosted for privacy reasons? For a $15000 charge in windows alone (Home Depot cost is approx half), we should have at least been consulted for something like this! Once again, someone made this decision for us...
- There are 2 soft spots in the floor area between the kitchen and the living room. These spots are unacceptable considering the hardwood will make a noise and/or shift over time. The repair would consist of removing the drywall ceiling in the basement.
- Who chose the front door? Not us. We were never consulted on any door decisions.
- Ensuite closet - why no pot lights? Typical fixture going to hang low and someone could get injured no? Why were we never consulted on this decision? Something else decided for us.
- Garage Door opener brand new? We have been charged for one yet we still have the existing previous opener?
These are just a few of the things that will be on the table when I meet with the owner of PDS tmrw.
Who is going to pay for the repairs of the inadequate or absent items throughout the build?
I am not even a little bit happy with this build. This company inflates the trades quotes, and then, when it comes to the final tally, they add 20% for profit and then 20% for overhead...This equates to approximately a 60% margin!
Good luck to all whom have the misfortune of working with this comapny!
Pay close attention in all aspects of the job!
Respectfully,
Unlucky Near Toronto