Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  06/13/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  *** ******* Construction (JBC) was hired by me to build a pole barn that was purchased from Carter Lumber, Columbus Grove, OH. Half payment was made to JBC in the amount of $6250 on 3/29/22. JBC subcontracted the job to an Amish crew without my knowledge and my finding out when they delivered equipment. This crew was a group of young people who were left unsupervised by JBC & sometimes by their own crew leader. The following are some of the problems with the building: bent ridge cap (replaced 3 times/still bent); roof sheeting is not laying flat in many areas; untreated lumber in the ground; concrete pillars are not centered; some of the poles were not placed according to plans; siding is not tight to the girts in many places (attempts have been made to fix/still not completed); front sliding doors are fabricated incorrectly (sheets came from factory at the correct length & were crudely cut for their fabrication); track brackets are not spaced correctly resulting in the cutting of track cover brackets (which were not to be cut); track cover is scratched completely across in many places, bent, & riveted together; girts are not staggered according to plans; trusses are held on by bent nails; some bracing were not cut at correct angles for support; steel was replaced on 2 sliding doors due to construction errors & now do not match the other steel on building; & attempts were made to fix a sagging overhang without success. The only time *** ******* came to the job site to oversee the workmanship was when I called him about obvious mistakes. His excuse was that he was too busy, & I had to keep after him to come, which he would eventually do. On May 5, *** ******* was informed of all the problems with the building, & he partially fixed some of the problems and some have to be repaired a 4th time. On June 2, he told me he would be back to work on June 8, and today, June 10, he has not shown up. I have not signed off on this project nor have I paid the remaining balance.

  Business response

  06/27/2022

  [BBB Transcription via Email]

  Attn:  ******** ******
  
  Ref: ID# ********
  
  ********, I have attached a response to a complaint filed by a ******* *******, who repeatedly expressed prejudice comments toward the Amish and obsessed in looking for the slightest imperfection
  
  It is typical on a large building to have small corrections to make, and expected.  Although, some of his complaints are due to the steel in the way it was rolled/formed and painted which is a
  
  Manufacturer issue.  Others are due to lack of engineered drawings with exact elevations, and schematics, the nature of wood to bow or warp slightly after erection, and applications of provided hardware for a unique door opening.  I submit this in hopes the claimant seriously considers the settlement offered in my text message to him.   In my 43 years of business, I have never had anyone
  
  Dissatisfied with our end product. 
  
   
  
  Respectfully submitted,
  
  ***** *******

  Customer response

  06/30/2022

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Please see the attached response.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******* *******

  Customer response

  07/18/2022

  [BBB Transcription via Attachment]

  Response from: ******* ******* to *** *******
  
  RE: Althaus barn
  BBB #******** 
  
  My decision to contact the BBB for assistance in this matter was because I could no longer handle *** ********* excuses and the inability of his crew to correct the problems. Texts were exchanged on June 2 with him making a settlement offer on June 7, which was totally unacceptable. Instead of responding to his very low offer, I decided to contact the BBB. After speaking to their representative, I decided to allow the BBB help mediate. 
  
  *** ********* texted settlement offer of a $1150 credit on the bill is still unacceptable for the following reasons:
  
  - His 18-item checklist of issues needing attention was never completed. He did make an attempt by only fixing minor issues.
  - The biggest and costliest issue is that the doors were not made to the original specifications drawn up. If *** ******* did not receive plans as he claims, he should have asked for them instead of allowing his crew to “fabricate & modify” what they thought would work. Hence, the doors are four inches shorter than designed, and now, there are pieces of farm equipment that barely clear these shorter doors. I paid for the doors, track, & hardware as designed, and his crew took it upon themselves to change how they were hung without asking my opinion or Carter Lumber’s. *** Shawn Fuller of Carter Lumber has assured me on numerous occasions that it was his opinion that his door design would work. It was not up to *** ********* crew to decide that it wouldn’t and make unacceptable and damaging changes. Since this occurred, I have had several independent contractors look at the building and its doors, and their opinions were that these doors would have worked as designed.
  - *** ******* could easily find the many loose screws without my assistance if he would just look. They are easy to spot when your fingers can slide behind the metal & sunlight shines through into the dark building.
  - Regarding the roof screws, the building kit from Carter Lumber provided the number of screws needed to screw the roof every two feet. *** ******* proceeded to screw the roof every four feet instead, using only half the screws provided. After raising my concerns about this, he would not take any action. After questioning Carter Lumber, they assured me that the screws were to be placed every two feet, and they had to come out and tell that to *** ******* before he would do it.
  - Regarding the roof metal being a roll form issue from the manufacturer, I have contacted Carter Lumber who will be contacting their manufacturer’s representative about taking a look to see if it is defective, as *** ******* claims, or if it is incorrectly installed.
  - The supplier dropped off ten sheets too many of roofing. Carter Lumber gave them to me for my personal use on other projects. *** ******* took these sheets to fix roofing mistakes made by his crew and left me with eight damaged sheets that I cannot use.
  - *** ********* claim that the girts were installed properly to acceptable industry standards did not meet Carter Lumber’s building design.
  - At least two of the five concrete pillars *** ******* claims are placed properly have guides that are hanging over the concrete. These guides should have been centered on the concrete. (Please look at the photos.) This results in the door guides not being stable when heavy equipment is driven over the top of them.
  - The ridge cap was installed three separate times. After the third attempt and being told that the job was completed, I had to send a ridge cap photo to *** *******. *** ******* replied stating in a text, “We will personally take care of it..not having that crew back after strick instructions..I agree it’s not right again.” This proves his acknowledgement of the crew’s poor workmanship.
  
  After consulting with my attorney on May 5 about these issues, he advised me not to pay the remaining balance until there was satisfactory resolution and completion. He also advised me that a lien could be potentially issued and not to worry about it. 
  
  Below is the cost of damaged materials:
  
  17 Sheets of Metal Used for Doors (Incorrectly Fabricated – Cut Too Short) $    947.14
   6 Side Rails (Incorrectly Fabricated – Cut Too Short)       477.29
   2 Double Coupler Rails (Incorrectly Fabricated – Cut Too Short)       176.19
    5 Pieces of Cannonball Track Cover (Notched, Cut, & Riveted Due to Improper 
       Location of the Cover Bracket)       700.00
  10 Extra Sheets of Metal Given to Randy Althaus by Carter Lumber – Used by ******* Construction for Roofing Mistakes       954.70
  Concrete Pillars – Improperly Placed       598.91
  Gable Roof Trim Was Paid for by Carter Lumber – I do not owe this amount.       150.00
  Damaged 14-Inch Universal Ridge Cap 187.43
  Total for Damaged Materials Only $4,191.66
  
  I propose that the above amount of $4,191.66 be subtracted from *** ********* final bill of $6998.91, which would result in my paying the balance of $2,807.25. He would not have to return to fix the problems. I will take care of that at my own expense.
  
  If this proposal is unacceptable, he is expected to make the proper corrections to Carter Lumber’s specifications (including the girts) without any expenses paid by me for his additional labor and materials.
  

  
  

  Business response

  07/18/2022

  [BBB Transcription via Attachment]

  Statement of : *** *******
  
  RE: ******* ****
         BBB #********
  
  
  I was requested to submit a proposal in early March by *** ******, Manager of Carter Lumber Columbus Grove, for a 50 x 72 x 15 post frame barn.  I advised *** I would check with an Amish 
  Crew I have sub-contracted with in the past for various projects, for timing and pricing.
  The claimant, Randy Althaus, was given a proposal for the erection of said building based on
  Limited General design information provided by Carter Lumber.  The proposal was severely reduced in pricing due to the claimant paying for all materials to carter Lumber, and he was
  to do all excavating and moving the underground electrical.  
  On March 11, 2022, myself and 2 of my crew met with the claimant to discuss the project and the proposed site, as well as his desire to build over top of another building.  He was informed by *** ****** of my intent to use an Amish crew and I discussed this also on the 11th.
  The claimant expressed his dis-likes at this time about the Amish people relating back to another project in which he employed a Amish crew.  
  On March 25th, myself along with my employee **** *****, came to the project site to assist in 
  getting the building laid out and squared to begin construction.  The claimant again expressed his prejudice feeling of the Amish as they were on site at this time to begin work.  Adequate notice was given of their presence.  Holes were dug and posts were set with partial framing.
  I was called the following day by the claimant to brace the poles better as the claimant feared windy conditions..I did so in a timely manner.
  Also on the 25th is when the claimant shared his mental health concerns with me and **** about his OCD issues and asked not to be offended if he says or does certain acts .  I assured him we would work through it.
  On March 29th, I visited the site to check the progress, and the claimant did provide a check for half the proposed price.
  I was on the job site April 12, 13, and 14th.  Again on the 18th to pour concrete for door track guides.
  On April 21, I met with *** ****** on site and went over a long punch list of items the claimant wanted changed or corrected.  
  The last week of April, I was out of town, and upon returning, on May 2, myself and 2 other of my crew returned to complete the list of 18 items.  I reviewed this with the claimant to show we completed his list and asked he sign off on my document .  The claimant refused to sign off
  on these items.  
  On May 4th, I presented the claimant with an invoice for the balance due but refused to pay stating he was not satisfied as he found more irregularities demanded 12 roof panels be replaced due to missed or crooked screws. On May 31, at a nearly $2000.00 expense, I paid to have these panels replaced along with the ridge vent, rake trim and fascia which was not straight and was on site with my crew to accomplish this along with the Amish.  
  On 2 different occasions, the claimant expressed interest in making a settlement and move on.
  I asked what he thought it would take to settle after corrections had been made and material replaced at my expense but would never respond.       
  On June 2, the claimant sent a text message saying the ridge cap was still not right and there were loose screws but refused to show me where the screws were located stating that was my job to find.  An intense overview had been done by myself and **** to locate any loose screws and tighten without wrinkling the metal.  I advised him I would get back, but was busy on another job.  On June 7th, I sent a text with an offer to settle by giving him a $1150.00 credit with NO response.  On June 12, I sent another text message asking what he would rather do, settle this or have me come back again and also asked he share his thoughts and let me know.
  Once again No response. 
  Specific issues:
  The claimant states that roof sheating not laying flat:  We doubled the amount of screws normally used just to please .  The overlap of a few panels not being as tight as others is a Roll form issue from the manufacturer and NOT an error on installation.  Strictly a cosmetic issue and not a performance problem. Not unusual for roll formed steel.
  All concrete pillars were placed accordingly to accept guides for a door track system and custom sized doors.  All doors are operable and cover sheets had to be fabricated to fit the opening allowances.  Two panels were replaced at his demand but claims they don’t match.
  If so, this would be a manufactures issue or issue with Carters.  Track brackets were spaced 
  correctly for modifications to achieve the right length.  Track cover does have some cosmetic scratches from ladders, but offered to spray paint it.  The laps of the cover were riveted together to avoid any wind issues. 
  The girts are installed properly according to acceptable industry standards and not to be a structural issue.  Just Not His way
  There are bent nails at the heals of the trusses as they were driven thru steel plating.  Adequate
  fasteners and bracing were installed to prevent wind lift.  
  Cross bracing for the rafters were installed with adequate fasteners overhead.  The ends are not always mitered and necessary as the claimant argues.
  Not sure on the sagging overhang other than a piece of trim was replaced and set straight with a string.
  I was on the job many times as he was not there to know my presence.  Times are documented.
  I was never too busy to address his concerns, and have offered to settle this twice with a credit as mentioned earlier.  A balance is still due and I have recently sent the claimant a notice of intent to file a lien for non-settlement.
  I believe I have been very patient and prudent on trying to resolve his issues with little success.
  The claimant states he has had other contractors on and around this building which could have caused the acclaimed damage and scratches.  
  There were NO blue prints provided by Carters other than a post lay out sheet.  We installed what they provided.  
  
  *** *******
  Dba *** ******* Construction
  

  
  

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