Desert King Carpentry

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• By C B.

  May 15, 2013

  We hired Gary Leitz doing business as Desert King Carpentry for the general contracting of our kitchen remodel. We hired separate companies for the installation of the cabinetry, the fabricating and installation of the granite countertops, and the flooring, but Gary was to perform all plumbing, electrical, tile and carpentry services, as well as to install a roof vent for the new exhaust hood.
  
  Initially, we were satisfied with the work that was being done, but we have limited knowledge of the trades. Gary's contract included the installation of the limestone tile backsplashes using tile we purchased directly. He hired a tile subcontractor about whom we knew nothing, but Gary indicated that he had worked with him many times. (See review for Sunset Flooring & Tile).

  The tile installer failed to seal the limestone tiles prior to grouting them, causing the grout to seep into the stone and discolor it unevenly. Several efforts to remove the staining and to restore the tile to the original color failed. Gary tried to persuade us to try any number of things, including installing the new tile that we had to purchase (at a cost of $1,600) over the top of the ruined tile, in order to avoid removing the backsplash and having it reinstalled. He delayed and delayed for about a month. He denied having any experience with any other tile installers, so we had to research alternatives and obtain several recommendations from our cabinetry and tile suppliers. Gary finally talked with them and chose one to work with, but that installer declined to do the removal of the ruined backsplash in close proximity to the new cabinetry and granite countertops, as well as the newly installed polished concrete overlay floors.
  Gary sought to have us sign a waiver of any liability for any damage he might do during removal of the backsplash and preparation of a new surface to receive the tile. We declined to do so, because the tile installer who made the huge mistake and caused all of the problems was his sub-contractor, and not hired by us. We had a contract with him for a professionally installed backsplash and had already largely paid for that job. It was his responsibility to deliver what he contracted to do. After telling us that he would return the next day to begin the demo of the ruined backsplash, Gary failed to appear or to call. Despite several telephone messages left on his phone, he has never returned to the job or called to explain his actions.

  We had to hire a new tile installer to remove the backsplash and to reinstall the new tiles, all at a cost of about $2,000. When they removed the backsplash, it unavoidably destroyed the drywall as Gary had predicted it would, so we are now down to the studs. Once the studs were exposed, the new installer expressed concerns about the electrical wiring for the undercabinet lighting and outlet strips that Gary had installed. They indicated that it was not safe and was improperly done, so we hired a licensed electrician who had worked for us previously to assess the issue and make needed corrections before the tile installation was completed. Wiring had been stapled across studs instead of being run through holes in studs, making the drywall uneven when installed over it. Further, open outlet boxes that we were not going to use were simply buried behind drywall, which we understand to have been against building codes. The new electrician corrected all of this work and then installed the undercabinet and overhead LED lights and the undercabinet outlet strips that Gary was supposed to install. He found that the cans for the overhead lighting had not been recessed as much as required to make the LED lights fit snugly against the ceiling. All of that work cost us another $550.

  Before we could have the new vent hood installed, the ductwork for the vent spontaneously fell out of the ceiling, damaging the new concrete floor. Investigation revealed that it had not been secured properly to the vent leading out of the roof. Duct tape had been wrapped around it, and it was then just wedged into the connecting pipe. That had to be reattached with screws to keep it in place.

  After the new tile installation was complete, we tried to have our new stove installed. The installers were unable to do so, because Gary had installed a dryer plug instead of the appropriate range plug. We had to have the stove standing in the middle of the kitchen for 4 days until we could have our new electrician replace it when he completed the other work required to correct Gary's work and to complete our job.

  Due to Gary's lack of competence and his stringing us along for a month about the removal of the incorrectly-installed backsplash, our kitchen remodel took 4 months, instead of the 4-6 weeks that it should have.

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