Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/12/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  He did not honor the contract as per as his promises. ****** *** *** ***** ******** *********

  I am writing to express my profound dissatisfaction with the construction and renovation work performed at my property ******* ** ** ****** ******* ******** I entrusted your company
  with the task of transforming my home into a safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing space. Regrettably, I have encountered a myriad of issues that have not only compromised my trust but also put my family's safety at risk. To begin with, the front stairs exhibit significant defects, including air bubbles in the structure and the absence of a handrail, rendering them unsafe for use. Additionally, the main sewage clean-out at the front of the property is both covered and blocked, hindering necessary access and maintenance. Furthermore, the placement of the air conditioner does not align with our prior agreement. The 250-volt line for the air conditioner is left dangerously loose on the floor under the porch, posing a clear safety hazard. The crawl space beneath the porch, near the side door, does not open or close properly, and the basement window under the porch remains unfinished, both inside and on the exterior wall. Similarly, the deck at the rear of the house is poorly constructed, with unstable supports and a lack of a proper foundation for the support legs. The issues extend to the interior of the house, where the patio screen door at the back does not slide properly and the glass door handle is damaged. The spotlights are misaligned, some kitchen cabinets fail to close properly, and the kitchen spice rack's bottom shelf is missing.
  Electrical problems abound, with receptacles inside and outside the kitchen lacking power, and the heating outlet situated under the kitchen cabinet and stove. Additionally, missing hardware
  on doors and jams raises concerns about security. The basement entrance door is problematic during winter months as it becomes tight and gets stuck. The sump pump's cover is not securely in place, posing a hazard, and the newly built basement extension lacks proper squareness and coverage for the inside window. The choice of wooden flooring in the basement entrance foyer deviated from the agreed-upon ceramic tiles. Furthermore, the basement main drain clean-out is blocked and inaccessible, affecting plumbing maintenance.

  
  In the basement kitchen closet, plasterboard blocks access, and the basement floor is uneven, with some parts floating. The hallway leading to the bedroom is excessively narrow, causing inconvenience and safety concerns. The basement sewage non-return valve is not level with the floor. Beside the main electrical panel, the receptacle outlet is obstructed by drywall. The main water meter access door is improperly sized, creating further issues. Both the French doors on the main and second floors have gaps at the bottom and lack draft guards. Additionally, the second floor has missing window opening handles in one room, a damaged screen, and improperly installed air return vents. The glass handrail on the second floor lacks proper wood casing on top and bottom, and the faceplate has come off, while one heating outlet is positioned too high on the main floor. The second-floor front bathroom sink is too small, and the light fixture above the mirror lacks an on/off switch. The ***cony face board above the window is improperly installed, creating issues. In the furnace room, the drain cover is missing, posing safety concerns. The pin inside the pipe support is not installed correctly, compromising structural integrity. Holes in the I-beam above the main entrance remain uncovered.
  

  The garage door lacks proper covering, and the north side roof of the garage exhibits water damage and mold. The east side of the garage wall becomes soaking wet during and after rainfall, and the garage entrance door does not close properly. Moreover, essential components such as the garage numerical pad door opener and push switch to open the garage door are missing. The garage's dimensions do not adhere to our agreed-upon specifications. The ground between ** ****** and the garage wall has not been cemented, and the power supply line to the garage should have been routed from inside, not outside. Additionally, a communication box for telephone and internet wires is missing. On the west side of the dwelling, bricks are missing, compromising the property's integrity. The hand railing between the first and second floors is loose and produces noise. Furthermore, I am deeply disappointed by your failure to provide the necessary GST/HST
  information for my taxes and manufacturer rebates related to insulation, windows, doors, walls, roof, and sump pump.

  Additionally, I have noticed several instances of ****** material, including steel pipes, steel plates, steel steps, railing, bathroom fixtures, copper pipes, floor support jacks, interlocking
  bricks, a large ceiling fan, a bicycle, and aluminum bike rims. The workmanship regarding drywall sanding and painting has been incomplete and improper. You promised to complete the construction work within six months, but it took over one and a half years, causing us to incur additional expenses for alternate residence, storage, travel inconvenience and frustration. Construction quote was inflated by 27% more from the original fixed quote. Later he threatened me if I do not pay, he will stop the work and project will be
  delayed until you pay.
  

  Furthermore, the ground between ** ****** and the new extension remains uncemented, posing safety concerns. Both the front and back yards have not been adequately cleaned of construction debris, leaving us with a hazardous and unsightly environment. I trust that you will take these grievances seriously and promptly address each of the issues outlined above. I expect a comprehensive plan for rectifying these concerns within a reasonable timeframe. ******* ** ** ** *** *********** ***** ****** ** ******* ** ****** ** * ********** I look forward to your prompt response and a swift resolution to these pressing matters.

  Business Response

  Date: 26/12/2023

  To Whom it May Concern;
  
  Regarding work at ** ****** completed for Mr. ************ ***** *** and Mrs. *** our team (2827907 Ontario Inc.) was engaged to complete work started and abandoned by another contractor. Groundbreaking Foundations Inc. was not involved in this project. ******** ******* (2827907) was engaged by Mr. ***’s lawyer to see if he could help him with the project after the relationship with another contractor fell apart and Mr. *** claimed that he paid and lost $20,000 deposit on work that never started.
  
  Mr. ******* helped Mr. and Mrs. *** establish a budget and agreed on a scope of work to be carried out by our team. ***** ****** of 282 worked with Inspector ***** ******, ****** ****** and the examiner ******* **** and ****** **** to ensure the house met the standard of the Ontario Building Code, and the expectations outlined in permit #** ****** *** ** **. This included the increased scrutiny needed to qualify the basement for a legal apartment suite.
  
  Mr. and Mrs. *** communicated that budget was an important factor to them, our team as a result worked to maximize value to try and provide as many scope items as possible. During construction Mr. and Mrs. *** expanded scope several times. Our team did our best to accommodate all scope changes despite establishing the expectation that all scope be confirmed during preconstruction. This became increasingly difficult when Mr. and Mrs. *** would arrive on site to ************ ********** trade workers to complete extra work during construction. Mr. ******* and Mrs. ****** would communicate that extra work would result in increased timelines, increased cost to scope and relationship issues with contractors. Mr. and Mrs. *** continued to demand additional scope while refusing to pay additional costs associated.
  
  Throughout the course of the project Mr. ******* had to speak to Mr. and Mrs. *** as well as their son ******** *** and daughter-in-law **** ********** to inform them that yelling at employees would not be tolerated. *** **** ****** ******* *** ********** ********* *** **** Mr. and Mrs. *** demanded an additional scope item or upgrade be added but would be upset with the incurring costs and impact to timeline these additional items would incur. Their ********** approach to talking to trades as well as Mrs. ****** was ongoing throughout the project and resulted in firm communication plans being established to maintain a safe work environment for all employees.
  
  Despite very difficult working conditions Mr. ******* and Mrs. ****** continued to try to close out the work at ** ******. They completed and passed all inspections. They completed a finishes walk through, creating and completing a deficiencies list, and documented work completed. Discussions continued to deteriorate and Mr. and Mrs. *** refused to pay the remaining ***ance. This is after Mr. ******* attempted to compromise and wave some costs to accommodate their situation. During the final walk through with Mr. ******** ***, Mr. ***, Mrs. *** and Mrs. ******, Mr. ******** *** began escalating, ******** ******** ********** **** **** ******. This resulted in Mrs. ****** terminating the meeting and leaving the property *** ** ******* *******

  
  Mr. ******* continued to try to resolve any concerns Mr. *** had by sending additional workers at company cost to try and go above and beyond in costumer service bringing drywall finishes to a level 5 finish which is above and beyond the scope of work. During this time we were informed by workers onsite that Mr. and Mrs. *** brought in another contractor to site without any communication with our team. When asked Mrs. **** ********** confirmed they were bringing in additional workers to work alongside our team. This was an unacceptable scenario where we could not take on liability for work performed on our contracted site. Besides it being against OHSA standards, If other workers were working on the same project as our team, we could no longer document what standard 282 established vs what work was completed by others.
  
  At this time work was already completed and our ongoing interaction was to try and finish final touch ups and close out final payment. As the client indicated they would not pay the remaining owed and had enlisted other workers Mr. ******* communicated to Mr. and Mrs. *** that work was complete and not to contact our team going forward. As they had failed to make final payment and engaged another contractor, all warranties were no longer valid.
  
  Mrs. ****** documented all work completed and condition of finishes as they were left when final inspection was completed – prior to additional workers being on site. These images confirm the standard of care and effort put into this project. The letter from Mr. *** continues to draw out conversations we have already addressed. This letter feels like a continued attempt to escalate conflict with our team while we have repeatedly attempted to come to a resolution.
  
  We ask that Mr. *** and his family no longer contact our team or involve us in these matters. We have completed our work, maintained the standards dictated by the OBC and have done so at a significant cost to our company. They continue to owe us our final payment *** **** ******** ** ****** *** *****

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/02/2024

  I have reviewed the response provided by Mr. ******* and his attempts to deflect from taking ownership and accountability *** *** **** ** *************** *** ******* ** *********** ** ************* *** *** *********** 

  We have texts and emails to support that there was no yelling and only complete disbelief of the accusations. We would stop by frequently to check on progress at ** ****** Ave and the interactions with the trades were also polite, only asking questions when things weren’t in line with our understanding or selections as provided to ***** ******. I will say that these accusations of yelling only started after the project failed the structural inspection and took months to remediate. We had asked on numerous occasions for the inspection report, but Mr. ******* did not provide it. Similarly, we would ask for revised timelines with a project plan and when we finally received one attempt at it, we found the dates factually inaccurate and both himself and ***** ****** acknowledged it on a call. The one-time ***** ****** claimed in an email that Mrs. ********* *** **** ** ** ** *** ***** was yelling at the workers, we went back to the house to ask them what she was talking about and they were just as confused as we were. ** ***** ******* **** *** ** ******* ** *** *** ****** *** ************ ****** ** **** ******* ******* ** **** ********* *** *********** ****** ********** * ******** ** *** ***** ** **** **** **** ********* ** **** ** ***** ** ******* **** ***** **** ** *** **** ** **** **** ******* **** *** ******* *** *** ** ******* *********** *** ************ **** **** **** ********** ** ** ****** *** ** *** *** ** ****** ** ***** **** *********** ******* ****** 

  *** ******* *** ******** ** ** ** * ****** **** * ******* ******* ** *** ******* ********** ** ****** *** **** * **** ******* *** ************ ******** * ******* ****** **** *** ***** ****** **** *** ******** ********* ** * ******* ** ********** *** ******** *** ********* ****** *** **** **** ** ******** ** *** ** *** ***** **** *** ********* ******** ** ******** ** ** ******* ** **** ******* **** *** ******** * **** ******** *** ***** ******* **** **** ********* *** **** *** ** **** ** **** ******* ** *** *** ** **** ********* ** ******* **** ***** **** ****** ** *** *** ******* ** ****** *** * ** ***** ************ ******* ***** ** ********** ********** As in any construction project, once the demolition is complete, new information is revealed that changes initial plans. These scope changes were discussed **** ******** * ** *** **** ** *** **** and pricing was agreed and paid. In fact, these scope changes were often because of recommendations from both Mr. ******* and ***** ******. The only reason we have not paid the final amount owing is because Mr. ******* refused to 

  complete the deficiency list. For example, he speaks of level 5 finish for the drywall. I had 2 independent contractors provide estimates for the drywall refinish and both were appalled commenting this was barely a level 1. I will also point out that I have a letter from Mr. ******* dated Oct 6,2022, where he tried to ****** an additional $97,083 from us for increased labour and material costs as the project took longer than anticipated. This was specifically excluded as an allowable charge under our signed contract.

  On the final walk through, the only person that was completing this with ***** ****** was my son ******** *** and it was my son who left the inspection ** ******* ********* ** *** ************ **** ******** **** ****** *************** 

  Finally, to the point of bringing in other workers to complete the mess that Mr. ******* left, here is the context. After moving in finally in mid Feb 2023 (the project was to be completed in June 2022) and living through trades/handymen coming in for an hour or less a day over the course of another few months, I confirmed with both Mr. ******* and his handyman that it was his last day and he had completed all he was authorized to do. We then spent another 6 months, and far more than is still owing to Mr. *******, having the deficiencies corrected with only a few minor items outstanding. There was never any overlap in trades as Mr. ******* implies, ***** ******* ****

  ******** ** **** ********* ** **** **** ********* ** ** ***** **** ****** ** ** ******* **** ** ************ *** ******** **** ** *************** *** ******** *** ** **** ******* ** ******* *** ******** *********** ****** ******* ** ***** ** *** **** *** *** *** **** ****** ***** ** ******* ** ****** ** *** ******* *********** ************ *********

  Extras 

  6,500 sump pump 

   2,500 electrical 

   6,750 eaves/ soffitt 

   2,650 add'l insulation for porches 

   7,200 clay pipe repair 

   3,300 absestos removal 

   24,000 scope identified after demo 

   21,300 porch foundation and cantilever stairs 

   19,100 upgrades/changes to both kitchens 

   19,850 garage Height increase, Deck, AC and sidewalk  

  113,150

    

  Sincerely, 

  *********** ***** ***