ComplaintsforR. C. Norman Construction

• Initial Complaint

  06/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We hired RC Norman Construction to design/permit/construct a 2-car attached garage and modify an existing garage on our house. Contract was signed August 2021, work began late October 2021. Final work/clean up occurred May 2022. Our issues stem from the quality of the workmanship/defects in the finished products, and unexpected/unapproved costs present on the final invoice initially presented by the contractor. We sent an email detailing our concerns and offering a reduced final payment to close out the contract. We also requested a lien waiver from the contractor/their subcontractors for the project. The contractor eventually responded back by email with a modified/lowered invoice, with no information/response about our quality concerns, or lien protection. We responded back that this was unacceptable, and reiterated our concerns and offer for reduced payment. The contractor responded back with partial rebuttals to our quality concerns, the amended invoice/amount, and stated that if we paid that amount, we would now be accepting the work 'as-is' without the contractually agreed upon 1 year warranty period. They did mention that a lien waiver would be provided. They stated that if we did not take this option, they would refer to legal counsel. We are uncomfortable allowing the contractor/their representatives onto our property to discuss the work, as they have not been professional/communicative throughout the project, and we are not interested in having them/their subcontractors work on the property further. Several of the issues that remain were brought to their attention earlier in the project, and were not addressed, or are not feasible to address (e.g., concrete sloping/cracking). We believe that since they sent the final invoice and expected final payment, they considered the project completed. We would like to have an independent inspector review the project/contract, and help us determine a mutually agreeable settlement with the contractor.

  

  Business response

  06/17/2022

  Good Afternoon,

  I have attached our response.  

  Thank you for your assistance.

  Respectfully,

  ****** ***** **

  R. C. Norman Construction

  Customer response

  06/20/2022

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  As stated in the initial complaint, we are filing the complaint because we would like to have an independent inspector review the project/contract, and help us determine a mutually agreeable settlement with the contractor.  The response from RC Norman does not address this request.  

  
  

  We would be willing to participate in an on-site meeting with an independent inspector/BBB representative and a representative from RC Norman to review the contract and current state of the project.  Without an independent inspector present, it is our concern that neither side will reach agreement on the issues at hand or a mutually agreeable strategy to close out the project.  
  
  

  The timeline/information presented by RC Norman throughout their emails and response to the BBB complaint is inconsistent with information in previous emails between RC Norman and us.  We believe that reviewing this information with an impartial mediator is necessary to reach an agreement without escalating this issue to legal counsel (which we feel confident would benefit neither side).  Our view of two examples of the disconnect between us and RC Norman on the specifics of this project/contract are provided below:

  
  

  1. Based on the original contract, dated 8/3/21, under WORK CHANGES, 'Work shall be changed and extra costs incurred only as set out in a written change order'.  As neither the additional electrical work ($1577.00) nor the door installation ($257.60) were completed with a written estimate/work authorization in place, or even a verbal explanation of the costs, we do not believe those costs are ours to bear.  

  
  

  We asked multiple times what the additional cost would be for the installation of a 220V electrical line/heater prior to the work being completed, and well before the final invoice was prepared.  We have received a PDF from the electrical sub-contractor detailing their time/costs on the project, but it does nothing more than verify the total amount RC Norman billed in their final invoice ($5257.00).  Based upon a walk-through with a representative from the electrical sub-contractor during rough-in, that RC Norman did not participate in, we were led to believe that the only change to the original scope of work was the 220V electrical/heater install, and that an updated cost for that would be compiled by the sub-contractor, provided to RC Norman, and we presumed, communicated to us by way of a written work authorization.  

  
  

  At no point was it communicated to us, neither verbally nor in writing, that there would be an additional charge for the door installation, or that the final state of either door installation would not include interior trim work/casing, or improperly flashed/weatherproof exterior finishing on the french door.  We found out about the state of the finish when the project was wrapping up and asked about trim, to be informed that it was not, for some unexplained reason, included in the original scope.  The additional cost was not brought to our attention until we received the initial 'final' invoice from RC Norman on 5/17/22.

  
  

  2. One of the tasks included in the original contract under the '24' X 30' ATTACHED GARAGE WITH 8' OVERHANG REAR OF GARAGE' section of the project description was 'trench to septic with conduit and power'.  This was presented under the electric section, but it is unclear if it was to involve other trades (e.g., excavator sub-contractor, RC Norman personnel).  This work was not completed.  The existing electrical line was mortared into the block work of the new garage and, we believe, used as a junction point for an exterior outlet.  No verbal or written explanation of why this work no longer needed to be performed, or the associated reduction in project cost, was provided to us.  It is our opinion that this represents a breach of contract/lack of work completion, which needs addressed prior to considering the project being completed or a final payment being due.

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