Shortcut, shortcut, shortcut. I rarely ever use the word hate, but I hate the shower that was put in.
Keyword for the day: shortcut. “Contract”, tile job, floor, insulation, closing the contract. All done with shortcuts.
It all started with a one on one consultation with Mr. Hicks and we discussed the shower I wanted. It was one of those step down showers about 18 inches below the rest of the bathroom. Remember, it’s a hole. The existing shower is below the bathroom floor. So I make it very clear that I want a shower floor even with the bathroom floor with as little or no threshold as possible, and a bench seat. Mr. Hicks says no problem. I said there are code rules in Virginia, where I used to live, that required a threshold. He said there are no codes like that here.
He sends a contract for me to sign and this is the whole thing: Hicks to remove existing ceramic tile on walls, floor, ceiling and extend shower drain approx 9” up to new height of the shower floor. Install new subway tile with mosaic on shower floor and ceiling. Install new fixures(sic), faucet and valve. Install new transition to tile in bathroom. Remove existing shower door and dispose.
I responded “what about the bench/seat? Also, I see new vavle, head, etc but not “extending” the supply lines to the new appropriate height.”
His response: It is all included in the price. Can you call me with the deposit.
Well, at least I have it in writing, right? The estimated time to complete? A week. I know it can’t be done in a week and I tell him he has 4 weeks, until a specific date when my mother is coming to live with me. This is a shower for her and she has some handicap issues.
They finally get started ripping everything out. A week later they start to put new concrete in the base/floor. Here’s where it all starts going wrong. They fill in the hole to the same level of the bathroom floor before even starting the tile. I complain and remind Mr. Hicks of our discussion.
Why did they fill the hole all the way to the top? The workers said because it was too hard to chisel out a 6 inch wide by 24 inch wide strip of concrete. No one said anything to me. They just decided on their own to raise the shower floor up instead of mention they were not doing what I asked. The show me how it is going to be completed. It’s going to be ABOVE the bathroom floor by about 4 inches. A hole in the ground became a shower floor 4 inches above the rest of the bathroom.
He tells his guys to rip out the concrete. I feel bad about the extra work and offer a compromise. As long as there is absolutely no water running out of the shower onto the bathroom floor, I will accept it. If there is water on the bathroom floor, they are ripping it all out.
They promise there won’t be.
The start working the walls and the workers ask me: Can we use the old insulation? The insulation that is all torn, old, previously wet and not any good. I say no. A shortcut.
I asked if they are putting in the blocking for the handicap bars. The worker says he doesn’t know anything about it. I call the general contractor who is “managing” the project. I never saw him working the bathroom and saw him only about 6 times over the 5 weeks of the project for a total of maybe 2 hours. He tells the guys about the blocking and they put it in. If I hadn’t said anything, who knows what would have happened.
The finish the floor and start doing the tiling. I’ve attached a picture of the tiling.
They put in the tile and lay the last tile in midair! I ask about this and he says he’ll attach something behind it later. I have never ever seen or heard of anything like this before. Another shortcut.
Unfortunately I had to go travel to get my mom to bring her to San Antonio. When I get back, 4 weeks after they started the project, the shower is not done. I call and write and ask. There is brown protection paper on the floor, the bathroom is dirty and no bench seat.
I finally get an email from Carlton about a day or two later and he tells me: You can buy the bench seat at Bed Bath and Beyond. I send the original email back where he said it was included in the price. He said he will take care of it and he will be at the house tomorrow to get the check for the work.
He walks into the house and says: I bought this at Bed Bath and Beyond. I have the receipt if you want to return it and get a new one.
Soooooo glad I paid for it in the contract.
Lastly, the shower doors and metal tracks for it are still on my back patio. So were some tile pieces (the waste from cutting). There are now cut marks in my concrete patio from the angle grinder they used. More shortcuts.
If I had the money I would have it completely ripped out. It’s been a month and I still absolutely hate the shower they have provided me for a LOT of money. $10,000 for a simple shower.
After 21 years in the military and moving about 12 times, I am retiring and bought this house as MY house. I picked a house I wanted thinking I can live here for many years to come and will only move if I want to.
I also bought this house and put in a new shower specifically for my mom who has some mobility issues and uses a walker. This shower is for her.
And I hate it. In my house.
Mr Hicks owns the business and I don’t expect him to be personally involved in the project. I get that. He has a general contractor who is in charge of the project. His general contractor tells me Mr. Hicks told him to just fill in the hole. Well, that’s an issue for me.
Also, the general contractor was never around to check on his workers. They were left alone to do whatever they wanted, however they wanted. So I don’t blame the general contractor for the quality of the work. I blame him for not supervising and ensuring the work is done to his, and Mr. Hick’s standards.
That’s a problem.
There were numerous shortcuts I noticed throughout the process. An extremely lack of supervision and sharing of information about the project. The estimate itself was incredibly broad and it was used as the contract.
Did I mention I absolutely hate the shower? Still. After 6 months of trying to get over it. I held off on this review thinking maybe it’s just me and I’ll get over it.
I haven’t.
1 comentario