D&S General Contractor

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• By Private

  January 7, 2016

  Home improvement

  12 days

  I hired Raul Sr. to do a very Large extensive Job at my house. I received a great estimate, he was a friendly man, and it was done in the time frame I was told. Overall my experience with these contractors was great and would definitely hire them for any future projects.

• By Anonymous

  September 4, 2014

  Retainng wall

  $10,000

  14 days

  Here is the thing... "I need more money"

  Requested an existing retaining wall replacement estimate. Raul Sr. provided me an estimate which I accepted. When he brought the contract he already added 10% because he said he forgot to add the demo of the old one. I agreed reluctantly and gave him a deposit. Then, few days prior to start date when I called to confirm the start date, he said the material we agreed on is too expensive and he wanted to add another 30% which I refused this time and requested my deposit back. He knew from the beginning what particular manufacturer's product to use. I even gave him the stones and caps circled in the manufacturer's product catalog. But to make things move forward, I suggested he brings me samples of the cap stones from other manufacturers, if they match I would approve. I approved one of the samples he brought. He wanted to start the next morning and he did. He estimated to complete the job in four days. He started to ask more money as soon as they demolished the existing wall. There was only one person working at a time and on/off others including his son Raul Jr. I had to correct so many things throughout the process which were vital for the structural integrity of the wall. He did not follow manufacturer's instructions; no fabric under the base foundation, foundation thickness not consistent sometime to zero becasue they started digging with no planning, did not compact the foundation stone, started with the stone dust to level the pieces but tried to switch to beach sand (he argued that it is just a different color), did not want to put drain behind the wall, said he will put drain on top if I wanted one but it would be extra although it was part of the contract, as they placed the pieces they did not fill neither the inside hollow compartments of the stones with gravel or even behind them (he said they will fill it later - which cannot be done because the purpose of doing it at every level to lock them together and push the stones forward so they lock to each other), they were not checking the level and firm placement of each which was causing uneven lining of the stones, they buried so much under the ground level that consumed so many extra stones becasue of lack of proper planning and measuring the desired height at the end, fourth day they did not want to show up for the rest of the week, they brought larger than what's required crushed stone to fill which did not fit into the holes of the wall pieces to lock them. He complained it was taking too long becasue he did not estimate the inspection of his work, slowing him down. I told him that the reason I am inspecting is becasue he is acting like he has never done this type of job before or he is cutting corners in a manner that compromising the structural integrity of the wall. By the end of the second week, I asked them them to clean up and leave when he asked another 40%. I paid him the entire original contract amount although he has not completed the work. I wanted them to get out. I do not recommend them at any cost unless you don;t care what you get and willing to pay more as you go.

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