Paumen Innovations

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• By Bruce A.

  March 18, 2019

  Kitchen move/remodel

  $50,000

  Summary: If you use Paumen Innovations, be sure to:
  have the job permitted;
  do not use any subcontractor he recommends (e.g. a counter top provider);
  hire your own inspector; and,
  hold-back at least 20% of the contract payment until any items your inspector finds are corrected.

  My first mistake in dealing with Paumen Innovations was agreeing to not have the job permitted (despite the scope of work requiring it). I subsequently got the job post-permitted and, at significant expense and with significant time and advice of the Fairfax County inspectors, brought up to code and had defects fixed. Do not repeat my mistake or buy into any notion that “a man’s home is his castle” and thus permits need not be obtained.

  In getting my job post-permitted, I found the county’s zoning office and inspectors were helpful and understanding. I would describe their approach as : we are public servants here to ensure safety. (Keep in mind that county inspectors will only inspect for code compliance; they do not comment on non-code items, such as improperly installed cabinets. To protect yourself from non-code work defects, I strongly recommend hiring your own home inspector to check the job before paying the final 20%.)

  Paumen Innovations’ carpenters cut many corners. They:
  - Didn’t install door sweep on front door;
  - left a door strike rubbing against its door frame (something the lead described as “I can’t do anything about that.”)
  - Used dry wall screws to mount cabinets (versus ones provided by the cabinet maker);
  - Installed cabinet spacers asymmetrically; and,
  - Installed upper cabinets without spacers causing the doors and drawers to rub against each other and bind.

  Paumen Innovations cut corners insulating pipes in a wall.
  I was concerned about these pipes potentially freezing, so I advised Paumen Innovations that I wanted to see the insulation of them before they were covered with drywall. I returned home one day and the drywall was up. I reminded the crew chief that I wanted to see the insulation and he replied with a chuckle: “Ops, I forgot. But they are well insulated.” Fairfax County’s building inspector did not think so.

  Paumen Innovations’ appliance installation was of substandard quality. The installers:
  - connected the dishwasher to the cold water line;
  - did not install bracing on the sides of the dishwasher/secure the sides of the dishwasher;
  - did not install an anti-tip device on the stove;
  - used only two of four screws to mount a stainless steel sheet behind the stove; and,
  - did not box in the water line for the refrigerator’s ice maker (i.e. they spakled around the water line which just comes out of the wall).

  Paumen Innovations’ electrical work has issues. The electricians:
  - left three incorrectly labeled breakers (two breakers listed as “range,” two breakers listed as “fridge,” a spare breaker listed as “microwave,”) and left two blanks uncovered; and,
  - did not bond the gas line for the stove.

  Paumen Innovations recommended a particular granite counter top provider, vouching for the company and stating that using it would be a great way to help keep the project on schedule. I naively hired that company. It came back with a ridiculous quote, to which I objected. The company then came in with a more reasonable quote and blamed the issue on the granite wholesaler. Select your own subcontractors competitively; do not hire contractors recommended by Paumen Innovations.

  Prior to making the final payment to Paumen Innovations, its oft reply to the punch list items was: “I can’t do anything about that.” By that point I was so frustrated, I just wanted them out of my house so I made the final payment. I later discovered additional defects that a professional inspector would have found immediately. I wish I had hired a professional inspector to find these and educate me on the standards of the industry to which I could have held Paumen Innovations before I made the final payment. If you hire Paumen Innovations, hire your own inspector to review the work and ensure Paumen Innovations completes any punch list items before you make final payment.

  To recap: if you use Paumen Innovations, be sure to:
  get the work permitted;
  do not use any subcontractor he recommends;
  hire your own inspector; and,
  hold-back at least 20% of the contract payment until any items your inspector finds are corrected.

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