Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  01/09/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  AJ's Steel Buildings, LLC (AJ's Carports)********, ** October-November 2022 ************ walked off and breached their contract halfway through the build. I discussed the plans with the owner, ******* "*****" but the workers either didn't know or didn't care. ***** promised he would be there to supervise, he showed up maybe twice in a month. Workers are non-English speaking and NOT certified welders. I had to call the office to discuss problems. Posts were up over a week in the rain, I asked them to drill holes at bottom to drain, they said No. I drilled holes and took them an hour to drain. They said concrete sheet ledge was not straight, so I called concrete company to come out, if metal company could "tell them how they want it" they only asked for bottom half and continued to complain about vertical part where they set posts back 1" from edge causing more issues when they put base angle upside down and not to the edge. The corner posts (among others) were not ********** corner was a 4" diff. top to bottom. They used (wasted) new purlins to build ladders, damaged new wall sheets and refused to sell me new ones after they left. They left roof sheet metal tacked with only a few screws which could have caused major damage. ******* told me he would charge me separately to finish s******* the roof. new contractor had to rework panels due to misalignment. Found at least a twelve pack of empty beer cans amongst the giant mess they left. They also changed the contract, moving amounts to different contracts, so I would pay more than the agreed deposit and schedule of original contract. I had to pay another contractor not only to finish the job, but also fix all their sloppy poor work. Every question or concern I had was an argument. Above all, the owner would talk bad about me in spanish in front of me (I know enough to know gringo and foul language) They are untrustworthy, argumentative and lack integrity.

  

  Business response

  01/10/2023

  AJs Steel Buildings started the project November 8th, 2022. 
   
  Equipment Rented 
  (2) scissor lifts 
  (1) skid steer
   
  Crew on site 3-5 at a time per day
   
  ************ hired our company after the first company he first hired left the job uncompleted. He wanted ** to assemble a building that was taken down and brought to his property. 
  We started the project on November 7th, 2022.  ************ wanted used materials to be used which were damaged, which he also provided. Existing concrete that was poured was not squared nor level this would also cause water to pool at center floor of building. ************ knew that the integrity of the building would be affected due to these materials, and concrete conditions: but he wished to continue either way. 
  ************ had ** take down what was previously started by a different company which is one of the attachments and we started over again. Contract stated sheet metal that he provided had holes which is stated in the contract, in order for sheet metal to align properly the holes were exposed which is why we also stated in contract that holes would be covered in with silicon. When ************ noticed this and decided he would lock the gates the following day on our crew, they werent allowed on property where all of their tools plus equipment were, resulting in them not able to continue working. He requested another manager to go out there; which we did go out there he explained the holes being noticeable which he knew would be there (on contract). Customer decided he wanted them taken down and replaced with new sheet metal. A new contract was written and he was not charged extra for taking down all the sheet metal that was already installed which you will see in the photos. Our company provided new sheet metal at a discounted rate in exchange for the old sheet metal (we have yet to receive the old sheet metal and new sheet metal that was also exchanged for a different color). Our crew was allowed to return the following day to resume work, but ************ would constantly change things he wanted done and he would yell and say derogatory things to our crew. He would take pictures knowing the crew had not finished yet which would display inaccurate things. He would constantly complain about things he said were done incorrectly but were actually done correctly. He would complain about the workers not knowing English and would laugh at them resulting in our crew feeling uncomfortable. We continued working with him throughout this. ************ would tell our crew that the water that would pool at the center of the slab was also our fault, which like I stated above the concrete was already poured before we were even hired, and another company was hired before ** as well that decided not to continue with this job. 
  On December 13th we decided we could not work this way any longer after he refused to sign the last contract with the new changes, and as a result he didnt pay our crew for all the work they had already done. We completed 60%-70% of the job. Customer paid a deposit of $10,700 which did not even cover the full equipment charge plus the pay for the workers.  Ive attached pictures of all the work that was completed and yet we have not received payment from ************. ************ was asked daily by our crew if he was satisfied with the work that was done day by day since we knew ************ would constantly make changes. Lastly, my crew is being accused of drinking while on the job, which I know is false. We take our work seriously and an accusation like this profoundly hurts our business. Photos will show how the used sheet metal was being installed correctly and it was aligned correctly as well as the new sheet metal that was installed. Photos will also show how much work was completed and yet we only received a deposit to cover equipment charges. 
  

  
  

  Customer response

  01/15/2023

  Complaint: 18699821
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

   

  Contracts and Invoices All payments are current according to invoices provided and contract payment schedule, (ex 1A) Total payments made to AJs Steel Buildings is $26,348.77. All invoices submitted were paid in full.The statement didnt pay our crew as stated by ***************************** is fraudulent.Contract stated $10,700 initial payment was due up front, it was paid, then 2nd and 3rd payments were due after completion of building. Building was not completed, it had several small and large negligent issues that were not fixed, damaged material and ******* quit the job, telling me his crew would not return. Also, both 1st and 2nd contract both stated that roll up doors were included, although invoice **** (ex 1A) invoiced me for doors, which I paid in full. Only 2 contracts were presented to me, the original, 11/1/2022 and 2nd contract 12/7/2022, which was price adjusted because all new roof and wall sheeting was purchased at request of *******, to eliminate possibility of issues that we had with used roof metal (See sheeting and materials section). This is proof that all payments were completed,and I did not refuse payment or acceptance of new contract.
  Sheeting and Materials - The original contract (ex 1A) was created after ******* inspected all materials and concrete on site and agreed to build complete.  ******* promised me when quoting that the crew would measure distance between hole lines and weld purlins (beams) to line up, using existing holes in sheeting.The caveat listed on original contract of holes that will be covered with silicone were explained to cover the company in case of stray holes. As you can see in picture (ex 2A), holes in sheeting were in line, crew attempted to align purlins (beams) with holes and measured incorrectly by 2 inches. Instead of stopping to correct the issue, they continued to install roof sheeting misaligned and adding another set of holes to mount to Purlins. I believe this is negligence and incompetence on behalf of *******, who was not supervising the job as promised. It was this morning 12/1/2022, that I immediately notified **** at AJs, at 7:50am (ex 3A, B), that I was not happy with work, work to stop until ******* arrived. After a few minutes for the company to contact crew (Language barrier), while I was unlocking gate at 8am they entered and waited for *******. When he arrived, he stated that they were not capable of doing as he promised, since they mismeasured and created double holes (ruined sheeting),so they could fill holes with silicone or buy all new sheeting. I was very disappointed but agreed to buy new sheeting and paid in full for materials (ex 1A).
  Concrete The concrete was inspected by ******* and measured square by cross measurement (this can still be proven today, base is square). His misunderstanding of the word square was in reference to Tin ledge on perimeter of concrete which was wavy. On 12/6/2022, a concrete company was hired by me to correct the issue under guidance from AJs Steel buildings (ex 4A,B,C), who claimed it should work, although 12/12/2022, I realized they did not ask for the vertical portion to be fixed and continued to perform negligent and incompetent work by placing base angle upside down and not to the edge, which was not trimmed back by concrete company as it should have been (ex 5A). I immediately contacted ******* and he said it was because of the concrete, which they were supposed to supervise when concrete company was hired to repair. I believe this is negligence and incompetence. After ******* quit, I paid again for concrete repair, which was completed in only a few hours.My water complaint was request for holes to drain water in upright posts, I did not complain about puddling on open concrete when it rained.

  I want a refund of labor paid $10,700 to cover repair costs and future repairs and expenses.

  Continuation of explanation shown in attached document (AJ's Steel BBB Response). Due to limited uploads available, all referenced photos and documents are available upon request.
  
  Regards,
  
  *******************

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