Today a crew showed up and started work on our house at ** Dudley, MA. There is a major problem already. The contract states that 3/4 inch (R-Max) like insulation be used under the new siding. The crew took off the old siding and is putting new siding over the old 3/8 styrofoam insulation. I want the work to stop now and plans be put in place to take the siding off that was put on and 3/4 inch insulation be placed under any new siding. Also any siding damaged should be discarded during this operation be discarded. I am faxing a copy of the contract in case you don't have one handy. 12/5/01.
History: On 9-29-01, we signed a contract and a siding spec sheet for our home. Not written on the spec sheet but verbalized was the understanding that the siding on the rear of the house would start 1/4 inch above the deck as moving the deck would be impractical. Also not on the spec sheet was the agreement that the 3/4 inch insulation board was to be covered at the bottom of the siding all around the house. I was told by Corey ** that it is normal to cover the insulation board at the bottom. We were told the work would be done in 6-8 weeks. At the time, I asked Corey ** if the work was going to be subcontracted. The reply was we have our own crews.
After 9 weeks had elapsed, I called Home Depot (11-29-01) and was told by Sandy that the project would start Dec 4th and that a dumpster would be brought out Dec 3rd and asked where I wanted it stationed. I told Sandy that the west side of the driveway close to the road would be best so I could get my cars out of the garage. The dumpster arrived on the 3rd and was placed close to the house on the east side which created a severe problem moving the cars out of the garage. The crew arrived on the morning of the 4th, at which time I noticed the vehicles were not marked Home Depot. What was meant by we have our own crews?
When I arrived home on the evening of the 4th, I looked at the project and immediately noticed that % insulation board was not being used under the siding as specified. The siding was being installed over the original aluminum covered 3/8th Styrofoam subsiding. New 3/8 inch insulation board was left unused on the supply pile. All but the back side of the house was finished. A second problem also existed. The fascia and soffit were supposed to be covered in white instead of shale in color.
That evening, I e-mailed and faxed my complaints and copies of the contract and spec sheet to Corey ** and to Sandy at Home Depot. The next morning, I called Sandy at Home Depot and was told I could have the price of the insulation credited to my account. I refused this and told Sandy that I wanted the contract fulfilled no more and no less. Having more insulation installed was a major part of the decision to have new siding put on. I also left a posted message for the work crew and told them of the problem and asked in the note to check with Home Depot before continuing work.
About 10:00 AM, I was told by Sandy that the crew had stopped work and new supplies would arrive on the 10th and work would begin again. This time they would be up to contract specifications. That evening, I noticed that the crew had put 3/8 insulation board over the original Styrofoam subsiding on the back of the house. The back side of the house had a final depth of % inch but was not up to contract specifications.
Supplies arrived Dec 10th, including all materials needed for doing the job properly siding, corners, window moldings, 3/4 inch insulating sheets. The crew finished working on the job on either Dec 19th or 20th. Another guy came by on Dec 24th to put a metal scab between where the electric lines and cable TV lines attach to the house. He put a fastener on one of the two downspouts left unattached. Not any of the corner pieces had been used. Most siding was still left on the pile. Window molding pieces were also on the pile. Half of the 3/4 inch insulation board was left over.
Thursday, December 27, 2001, John ** did a job inspection. He was given a job evaluation which is listed below. Two more things were found during his inspection and added to the list - lose siding and siding not properly put over one window molding. I also requested the dumpster be removed as it had been a serious inconvenience to us. It was agreed by John ** that he would contact me about resolving the problems listed below.
Friday, December 28, 2001, the dumpster was removed. Saturday, December 29, 2001, a crew member did some repairs as noted below under job evaluation. Job Evaluation write-up as of December 20, 2001 with comments on resolution progress:
On the west side of the house by the garage door:1. Siding lines do not line up with siding on garage - 3/8 inch off. Repaired to my satisfaction. I did have to go back and fix my garage light because it was removed for siding repair and wire was left unconnected. Circuit breaker was set off. Does this guy have an electrician's license? A fire could have started.
2. Hole left in siding by cable wires. Portal for water leakage. Hole filled, but doesn't look good. Siding should have been replaced.
3. Fascia was scabbed around electric wires and TV cables instead of having electric company come and remove lines before installation. Result looks sloppy and has potential of water leakage. I was told by repairman that the grey fascia under it would protect from water. Nothing done. On close inspection, looks sloppy. Gray fascia should have been removed before white put on.
4. Cable TV wires left dangling instead of being put back into retainers. Still dangling.
5. Nails left on driveway for cars to run over. I picked them up.
6. Insulation board (% inch) not all the way to bottom of siding and no bottom cover. Nothing done to bring up to contract specification.
7. Insulation board (3/4 inch) does not go all the way to corners of house. Nothing done to bring up to contract specification.
8. One piece of siding not snapped together. Nothing done.
Front of house-north:1. Insulation board (3/4 inch) not all the way to bottom of siding and no bottom cover. Nothing done.
2. Water faucet outlet not caulked. Repaired to my satisfaction.
3. Insulation board (3/4 inch) doesn't go all the way to corners of house. Nothing done.
4. Two downspouts need fasteners.Both repaired.
Side of house-east:1. Water meter cable not caulked. Portal for water leakage. Repaired to my satisfaction.
2. Insulation board (3/4inch) not all the way to bottom of siding and no bottom cover. Nothing done.
3. Insulation board (3/4inch) does not go all the way to corners of house. Nothing done.
Back of House-south1. Pipes into house not caulked (gas, air conditioner). Potential for water leakage. Repaired to my satisfaction.
2. Water faucet outlet not caulked. Potential for water leakage. Repaired to my satisfaction.
3. Vents for dryer, hot water heater, furnace, lower bath vent, kitchen exhaust poorly fitted. Some need caulking. Potential for water leakage. Repaired
by putting piece of siding in worst vent. Visual ok. Water potential still there? Sloppy work.
4. Upstairs bath vent gone. Apparently not vented through soffit. Nothing done.
5. Lower bath vent does not have flapper on it. Great way for energy loss and water entry not to mention birds nesting. Repaired to my satisfaction.
6. Insulation board (3/4 inch) not all the way to bottom of siding and no bottom cover.Nothing done.
7. Bottom of siding above deck tight with deck. Water might get under and cause problems. Nothing done.
8. Top row of siding not attached properly.Repaired to my satisfaction, but repairman left strips of siding on ground for me to pick up.
9. Kitchen exhaust was improperly put back together so there was no way to exhaust. While I was fixing the kitchen exhaust. I noticed white Styrofoam around the vent. Is the 3/8 inch Styrofoam covered with 3/8 inch insulation board on the back wall still there? Repairman says % insulation installed under siding. I am going to open vent area to look again. 12-30-011 have only his word as white Styrofoam still by periphery of kitchen exhaust.
10. Insulation board (3/4 inch) does not go all the way to corners of house. Nothing done.
11. Siding lines do not match up with those on garage very well. Nothing done, but close enough. I will drop issue.
12. One piece of siding under window molding for about two inches. Repaired by cutting Vee and caulking. Very sub par work. On second thought should be done properly by replacing piece of siding.
Clean up:The salesman told us that the site would be almost the same as before construction started. The site is still very messy -nails everywhere, pieces of metal behind bushes, rocks on the lawn, sod torn up, and pieces of foam all over the place. Who gave permission for these guys to throw cigarette buts all over my property? I ended up picking up nails and small pieces of metal and insulation and putting rocks back. Pile of left over supplies still on front yard (12-30-01)
Conclusion:As of December 29,2001, John ** had not gotten back to me to discuss how Home Depot was going to resolve the issues. Instead a crew member shows up unannounced asking me to show him what had to be done at a time that was very inconvenient to me. He obviously did not have the inspection report from John **. I hurriedly pointed out the issues which he argued or downplayed with me on virtually everyone. He proceeded to work on the repairs but I was unable to stay and discuss it with him further because of other commitments. When I returned, he asked me to sign off on the form. I felt pressured and hurried to sign without reviewing in depth the work that had taken place.
I included on the form my reservations about the following areas:1. The 3/4" insulation does not cover all of the walls.
2. I have great concerns of water penetrating where the deck meets the house. This does not meet the agreement we had had with Corey **.
3. The fascia work on west side of house by lines does not look professional and there is a concern of water penetration. Is it normal to put aluminum fascia over another layer of aluminum fascia. Was this done on the other side of the house also? I later looked the job over and realized not all issues were addressed which are referred to in the above job evaluation section.
It is unfortunate that a simple two or three day residing job on a single family home has turned into such a fiasco because of a supply ordering error. It has turned into a fiasco because:1. There has been a lack of communication between administration, crew and us.
2. An initial error was made. Siding was put in place over the original Styrofoam subsiding.
3. We were then told by Sandy, Home Depot would tear off the siding and fully insulate with % inch board, completing the job per contract.
4. Home Depot and its subcontractor has tried to rectify the situation by doing the minimum and cutting corners which has resulted in poor quality of workmanship as stated above in the job evaluation section and still not fully insulated.
5. I have had to spend time and energy following up on everything because of lack of confidence with Home Depot and the subcontractor.
6. More time has been wasted on taking shortcuts to rectify the problems than what it would have taken to redo the job properly.
We feel Home Depot has not taken us seriously in fulfilling the contract we signed. All we have been asking is that the job be completed as specified with quality workmanship. We would have been extremely satisfied if you had redone the job properly without taking shortcuts resulting in a nonprofessional job. We feel the remaining balance due should not be charged to our Home Depot account until all issues have been resolved satisfactorily by all parties.
Follow up spring 2002 = Job was signed off just to get rid of Home Depot. Discussion was heated and fists almost flew.
Follow up Spring 2011 = Repair work was done to find missing second floor bath external during re-roofing job. It was thought that vent had been left in soffit dangling. On inspection vent was found to be covered up by new soffit making vent next to useless. Totally unprofessional job. Although I will shop at Home Depot, I will never have Home Depot do any work on my house and advise the same to all others.
Follow up summer 2011 = Siding was replaced because Certainteed/Wolverine Encore siding used by Home Depot failed. During re-siding it was discovered that many of my worst fears were true. Not all of insulating base was new 3/4 inch as in contract. Work was sloppy with many large gaps with some insulating boards placed on upside down. None of insulating seams were taped. Because of inadequate workmanship a large area of sheathing had to be replaced because of rot beneath one window. The job was unprofessional from the start to the final ending.
