Jk Woodworks

Hired to reface kitchen cabinets and revise kitchen island.

Workmanship was sub par:

1. Cabinet doors, hinges and custom drawer fronts didn't fit. Gaps, shims, nails visible.
2. Cut into cabinet openings when specifically told not to modify
3. Substituted wood and charged for undisclosed drive time
4. Left unlevel surfaces for the stone fabricator
5. Poor attitude when requested fixes
6. Sawdust left in custom clear lacquered drawers adhered to the finish
7. Left different baseboard treatments

JK actually believes his own poor attention on our job was a result of us functioning as our own GC when it was his job to take measurements for cabinet doors/drawers and order them or make them.

We purchased new appliances, fixtures, lighting, counter tops and back splash. Plumbing, electrical, cabinet bases and island base footprints remained the same. All went smoothly with the exception of one appliance delivered late and JK's craftmanship.

Hired 3 main subs for the job:

1. JK for cabinet doors, drawers, revise island

2. Full service stone fabrication company that did excellent work. They pointed out issues requiring JK to revise an unlevel surface.

3. Painter for all woodwork. JK also works with a painter and was adamant that we use him, even though this person told us to get other bids as theirs was high and they didn't appear to need the work. We obtained 3 other bids (all 2x less). We selected the one that was skilled in dealing with existing paint without stripping it. He did an excellent job and pointed out issues with JK's work as he didn't want to be blamed when the painted surfaces highlighted them.

4. We had a great tile guy and plumbing company from previous house fixes, and a friend recommended an electrician. Instead JK pushed to use his contacts. Foolishly we gave in and were left with two chipped floor tiles and unattached electrical outlets spinning around inside the island. Managing a project is out of his depth and the common thread was that anything he touched required revision.

JK states on Houzz he was never paid in full. This is false -- we have the 4/11 deposit invoice (work began 5/1) , the 5/12 final invoice and cashed checks that say otherwise.

After JK said his woodwork was complete and we paid him in full, the painter began his onsite priming and painting. This highlighted the poor workmanship. JK begrudgingly came at our request to redo crowns he had put seams in, and somehow decided to cut the outside of a cabinet while we were in the yard. We noticed and told him to stop. He said he had to in order for the cabinet door to fit. He left and we emailed him not to return, even though he was paid in full. We demanded a $680 refund for the inside drawer clear lacquer and he sent a check. After a week of onsite painting, the painter brought our painted cabinet doors and drawer fronts from offsite. Once he affixed drawer fronts and hung doors all the fit issues could be seen.

The only remedy was to pay the painter/cabinetmaker extra to correct JK's work, however this was preferable to the risk of having a poor performer back on the property which speaks volumes.