Eric Cantu Construction

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• By Gisselle L.

  December 2, 2022

  Renovate Kitchen and two bathrooms

  $110,000

  Before receiving a deposit for the project he was friendly, responsive, and willing to answer my questions. After I signed the contract is when the deception, lack of transparency, reactive communication, and poor quality of work began. His project manager said it would take 5-6 weeks to complete 2 bathrooms and 1 kitchen remodel. My small kitchen is u shaped and it was supposed to be cosmetic work, repainting the existing cabinets, and adding new appliances. For the primary bathroom it was cosmetic work (new faucets, new cabinets, backsplash, shower tiles, and tub). For the jack and jill bathroom the main goal was to add a toilet and move a toilet in the same structural space along with cosmetic work. My entire project did not require moving walls and no major electrical work.

  I made the mistake of assuming Eric was knowledgeable with the City of University Park (UP) and how to properly get permits. At the start of the project he did not speak with anyone from UP to determine if he would need to submit a residential permit for this project along with a plumbing permit and an unnecessary electrical permit. Based on my conversations with him, his project manager, and a line item that referenced permits cost I falsely had peace of mind that the project would get completed on time. After demolition and some electrical and plumbing work his project manager advised me that the project would take 9 weeks to complete because of the custom cabinet delivery. I went above and beyond to ensure materials/appliances wouldn't be the reason for delays.

  Long story short it turns out the reason my project was delayed was because the electrical wasn't done properly the first time (outlets were unnecessarily created and no actual electrical work was done) and then Eric's team was told to stop work by UP because the plumbing was done incorrectly. The piping materials the plumber installed was not the correct materials. I asked the project manager early on about the condensation drain being properly piped into the plumbing and he assured me it was - when UP checked it was not.

  What frustrated me most about my experience with Eric is the lack of ownership and transparency. He attempted to blame UP for the delay and would not provide me with any information (like copies of permits and the project number filed with UP). I called the city and they gave me access to the project via mygov.us. I copied Eric to an email chain with UP to stop his deceit. Him and his project manager claimed the cabinets were one of the reasons for the delay, I spoke to the cabinet builder and determined based on dates that Eric was lying. When he said it will take 10+ weeks to complete the project and I asked him about adjusting his profit margins to accommodate the inconvenience and amount of work that his company was supposed to be doing that I was taking on he deflected and asked if I wanted to purchase an exterior window.

  This is my fourth renovation (2 apartment remodels in NYC and 1 new build home in Seattle) none of those experiences have been as deceitful as Eric. I got an independent inspector to review Eric's work (before my new contractor started) and it was poor workmanship throughout. For example, they lined the shower floor on top of rotting wood - at no point did they talk to me about that so if they would have actually completed the project it would have caused future issues. UP stopping Eric's company is a blessing in disguise. Also, in my kitchen they unnecessarily removed plantation shutters from my windows; via email Eric acknowledged his team did it, asked me and his project manager questions, I provided Eric with a quote to reinstall it, and he has not responded to my several requests for indemnification.

  If you want quality work with reliable, transparent, and honest people then do not hire Eric.
  As a single mother they definitely took advantage of me and luckily I was able to end the contracted relationship before they finished taking all my funds for work that would have most likely cost structural issues down the line.

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