Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/30/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore 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.

  I Hired Silvas Remodeling to perform structural repairs to the floor system, specifically sistering floor joists. The contractor failed to pull the required permits and performed work that was later deemed unsafe and not code-compliant by multiple third-party professionals. The new joists do not meet any proper supports and are instead floating, attached to rotted wood, creating a serious structural risk.Despite claims that the original joists were unlevel, the actual issuethe failing support structurewas ignored. I am now forced to consult a structural engineer and pay for full corrective work, which has created significant financial hardship.When I attempted to seek a refund through the payment platform, Silvas Remodeling responded with threats, including mention of placing a lien on the property if I pursued a complaint. I have already reported the permit violation to local code enforcement. This business should be held accountable for unsafe practices, permit violations, and intimidation of customers. 

  Business Response

  Date: 07/15/2025

  Mr. ******** hired Silvas Remodeling to level flooring in specific roomsnot to perform a structural rebuild. We provided both options, including full structural repair, but the customer chose a budget-friendly option. The work was completed in March and included additional support beyond our contract, at no charge, when concerns were raised two months later.
  At no time has Mr. ******** shared inspection reports or contractor details despite repeated requests to validate what he is claiming. Our work was completed properly, and the floors remain level. We also offered a generous 50% refund with a standard release, which was declined. We are disappointed in the customers misrepresentation and will defend our business and integrity accordingly. 
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/16/2025

   
  Complaint: 23535524
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  
  Silvas Remodeling is only telling part of the story. While I did hire them to level floors in specific rooms, they are omitting critical facts. I was never clearly informed that their budget-friendly option would bypass necessary structural repairs. At no point were the long-term risks of that approach properly explained to me.
  The additional support they reference was only added months after I raised concernsand it still failed to correct the underlying problems. These issues were serious enough that I contacted local code enforcement, who reviewed the evidence I provided, including photos and documentation, and shared many of the same concerns I raised. Their findings confirmed that there were legitimate issues with the quality and compliance of the project.
  Critically, Silvas Remodeling failed to pull the required permits for the work performed, nor did they inform me that permits were necessary. Local authorities have since confirmed that this omission rendered the build non-compliant and potentially illegal.
  Silvas claim that I withheld inspection reports is also misleading. I recently paid over $600 out of pocket for a licensed engineering report. Due to the financial strain caused by this situation, it took time to save for the assessmentbut I moved forward with it after code enforcement strongly advised that I obtain a professional evaluation. I have only just received the final report, which supports the concerns Ive raised from the beginning.
  I am also currently obtaining a professional estimate for the cost to properly repair the damage caused by their substandard work. In which multiple professionals also have confirmed that the work is neglectful. This will clarify the financial impact I now face due to their negligence.
  To make matters worse, Silvas attempted to pressure me into signing a gag order and liability waiver by threatening to place a lien on my home. That tactic was promptly shut down by local code enforcement, who confirmed they had no legal basis for such a threat.
  While Silvas offered a partial refund, it was conditioned on my silence and the forfeiture of my rights. I declinednot because I am unwilling to resolve the issue, but because transparency and accountability must come first. Between the lack of permits, the professional findings, the financial burden Ive endured, and the ongoing misrepresentation of facts, I stand firmly by my position and will continue seeking appropriate remedies.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** ********

  Business Response

  Date: 07/21/2025

  To Whom It May Concern,
  We appreciate Mr. ********* continued engagement and respectfully respond to the updated claims.
  Mr. ******** hired Silvas Remodeling specifically to level the floors in designated rooms of his home, which exhibited a noticeable dip of approximately two inches. During our consultation, we presented two clear options:
  A full structural rebuild to address the underlying foundation issues
  A budget-friendly solution focused solely on leveling the floors via joist sistering
  Mr. ******** chose the second option due to financial limitations. At no point were we contracted to perform a full structural rebuild, and this distinction was clearly communicated. We were transparent that option two would not address foundational deficiencies, only provide a level floor surfacean outcome we delivered.
  After the project was completed in March 2025, the customer confirmed he was satisfied. He did not raise concerns during or immediately after the project. Two months later, in May, Mr. ******** reached out with safety concerns. In an effort to resolve the matter in good faitheven though it was outside the original scopewe returned and added a beam with two footing posts at no extra charge. After this work, Mr. ******** verbally confirmed it met his expectations.
  Mr. ******** alleges that we demanded a gag order and threatened a lien on his home. To clarify:
  The refund offer we made included a standard Settlement & Release Agreement, which is common in service industries and designed to close out disputes mutually.
  Regarding the lien: this was not a threat. Filing a mechanics lien is a legal right available to contractors under Illinois law when payment disputes arise. It was mentioned in a professional context only because the project had been fully completed and paid for. No lien was filed, and no further action was taken.
  We have repeatedly requested supporting documentation for Mr. ********* claims, such as the alleged engineering report and details from professionals he referenced. To date, none of these materials have been shared with us, which has prevented us from fairly reviewing or addressing the concerns.
  Furthermore, the photos provided in the original complaint depict the transition area where our work meets the existing home structurean area we specifically identified in our assessment as problematic and excluded from the contract. Mr. ******** declined additional repairs in that area due to budget constraints.
  Our team takes safety and craftsmanship seriously. We completed the agreed-upon scope, added extra reinforcement at no cost, and offered a significant refund to close out the matter respectfully. We remain open to resolution but also believe this situation has been misrepresented.
  Sincerely,
  ********* Silva
  Owner, Silvas Remodeling
  *******************************************************************
  **************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/22/2025

   
  Complaint: 23535524
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  *********,
  Your response is filled with misleading claims, omissions, and deflection.
  Lets begin with the facts: your team failed to pull the required permits, making your work non-compliant and in violation of local building codes. That directly contradicts your claim that you take safety and craftsmanship seriously. You also attempted to have me sign a liability waiver and gag ordersomething no reputable contractor should ever request from a client raising legitimate concerns.
  You claim I havent provided documentation. While I have not yet shared the engineering report, thats only because I recently obtained it out-of-pocket, as it was strongly recommended by local code enforcement due to structural concerns with your work. I received a text from you last night and made it clear that I was willing to share the report if you responded through proper, professional channels.
  Lets also be clear about why these concerns were raised in the first place: it was discovered that the joists were not properly sistered, and that failure is what prompted further investigation. Your own ******* admitted they should have checked the project before it was completedand they did not. Thats a direct acknowledgment of negligence, not a difference in interpretation or scope.
  You also claim the issues shown in the photos are outside your scope. That is false. The images clearly show failures in the areas your team worked on, including joists and supports that you claimed were reinforced. The engineering report confirms these deficiencies are due to poor workmanship. Furthermore, I have a text from one of your own crew members confirming that the joists could be savedwhich directly contradicts your current attempt to shift blame.
  Additionally, local code enforcement confirmed that sistering joists is considered structural work, which means permits and inspections were required. Your failure to pull permits was not a simple oversightit was a major violation of basic building standards.
  Lastly, you claim to have offered a significant refund. In reality, you only offered a small refundand only if I signed a gag order after I requested a refund through *******  When I exercised my right to dispute the charge, you responded by threatening a lien on my property, not because of unpaid work, but as retaliation.
  If youre truly interested in resolving this matter, start by taking accountability. *** submitted documentation to my bank, am cooperating with code enforcement, and am obtaining repair estimates. I remain open to a fair and honest resolutionbut I will not tolerate further misrepresentation, intimidation, or blame-shifting.
  

  NOTE: Image 1 does not represent any work done by Silvas remodeling as it was an already existing structure installed by another party. 
  Sincerely,
  
  **** ********