After the purchase of our new house, we were looking to freshen up the look, new floors, kitchen layout and master shower. The house was dated and needed some work, which we factored into the purchase. In 2017, we hired Herndon Construction after multiple recommendations.
Things started out well during initial discussions, planning and agreements, but the contractor was over subscribed and once work began, the subs ran wild.
There were quality and process issues, along with work not being done to what was agreed to - especially in the master shower area. Our two biggest issues were with the two most expensive investments, kitchen cabinets and wood flooring. The wood floor was installed before construction was complete and was damaged beyond repair, an issue the contractor refused to deal with.
The kitchen cabinets, which were installed on-top of the floor, imagine that, were horrendous. Even though appliances were purchased before the work was done and brought on-site for planning, measuring and fit - the cabinets did not fait the space, did not fit the appliances, clearance for drawers around things like gas lines and the dishwasher were not taken into account. Even the cabinet above the gas range was not up to code - it is too low for a gas range.
For each of these issues, we found out too late and since the contractor was not managing the work, we were having to do it while working full-time and in the end it was not done.
The contractor and the subs refused to address the problems. An attempt was made to cover up the damage to the wood floors, causing even more damage. The cabinets were never addressed and, of course, everyone thought they had done their job. You will see from the pictures below that they were not even close to completing the work, although, they professed they were "done".
We ended up having to hire contractors to address each issue individually. Replacing complete sections of cabinets, repairing and replacing flooring, completely re-doing walls and tile. A bad situation indeed.
Flooring
After my constant complaining, they still dididn't cover the floors, but they did try and cover up all the scratchesCompare the floor, with the oil they applied to it to cover up all the scratches, to a board from the original order that has not been "covered-up"Compare the floor, with the oil they applied to it to cover up all the scratches, to a board from the original order that has not been "covered-up"Compare the floor, with the oil they applied to it to cover up all the scratches, to a board from the original order that has not been "covered-up"Notice wood floor was installed before the rest of the kitchen remodel. All remaining work was completed with no floor covering. Drywall work, paint was done on bare floor, cabinets were installed on top of floor.Notice the lack of floor protection for the new wood floor during remodel. The floor was the first item done during the remodel, a complete demo of the master bathroom was yet to begin and was done with no floor covering.Notice the lack of floor protection for the new wood floor during remodel. The floor was the first item done during the remodel, a complete demo of the master bathroom was yet to begin and was done with no floor covering.Notice the lack of floor protection for the new wood floor during remodel. The floor was the first item done during the remodel, a complete demo of the master bathroom was yet to begin and was done with no floor covering.Notice the lack of floor protection for the new wood floor during remodel. This area is a major walk way to the master area.Notice the lack of floor protection for the new wood floor during remodel.Notice the lack of floor protection for the new wood floor during remodel. This area is a major walk through the entire house.Notice the lack of floor protection for the new wood floor during remodel. This area is a major walk through the entire house.Does this look brand new to you? Scratches from kitchen cabinet installation. No floor protection was installed anywhere in the house.Scratches from kitchen cabinet installation. No floor protection was installed anywhere in the house.Scratches from kitchen cabinet installation. No floor protection was installed anywhere in the house.Scratches from kitchen cabinet installation. No floor protection was installed anywhere in the house.Scratches from kitchen cabinet installation. No floor protection was installed anywhere in the house.Scratches from kitchen cabinet installation. No floor protection was installed anywhere in the house.Scratches from kitchen cabinet installation. No floor protection was installed anywhere in the house.Scratches from kitchen cabinet installation. No floor protection was installed anywhere in the house.Scratches from kitchen cabinet installation. No floor protection was installed anywhere in the house.Scratches from kitchen cabinet installation. No floor protection was installed anywhere in the house.Scratches from kitchen cabinet installation. No floor protection was installed anywhere in the house.
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Kitchen Cabinets
A couple of things to keep in mind on the kitchen cabinets:
The kitchen was gutted down to studs.
New electric, gas and water lines were run as part of this remodel because the location of the refrigerator, stove, cooktop and sink changed from the previous layout.
ALL appliances were purchased a head of time and were in the garage, available for measuring.
Remember how the kitchen was taken down to the studs? A gas line was installed on this side - you know, for the range that goes on top of this cabinet. The gas cut off valve was not taken into account. Not their problem.This is a service area, water lines exit the wall here, sink drains into foundation here, electric service feeds from here. Maybe it should have an access door on the back side?There is a lot wrong here, depth is not right, width is not right, electrical box is too deep for sink. This entire peninsula had to be replacedThe required electrical outlet was installed at the end of the kitchen cabinet. Where it was installed and the depth of the box would not let the sink be installed. (Used a single gang deep box)This was the icing on top. Not deep enough for the dishwasher to install flush, the offset of the peninsula was not enough for the drawers to the left of the dishwasher to open, even when the dishwasher was closed all the way, water lines and sink drain pipe were too high (would not fit below dishwasher tub)Dishwasher was on site, available for measure and fit testing. Needed at least 5" of clearance to allow the drawer that opens next to the dishwasher to clear its handleDishwasher is 4.5" deep from cabinet face - if shut all the way. Drawer has 4" of clearance.Once they realized the screw up, rather than replace the cabinet, they kept trying to add shims. And you guessed it, each time they aded a shim, they had to move the peninsula, which was sitting on top of the wood floor because that was installed underneath the cabinet. So the wood floor in front of the peninsula looks like a family of beavers lived thereRemember, all appliances were in the garage, available for measuring. Not only is this cabinet not deep enough for the dishwasher, the sink drain pipe and water lines are not low enough to fit below the dishwasher service area. This entire peninsula had to be replacedWater lines and drain pipe too high for dishwasher, this entire peninsula had to be replacedWater lines and drain pipe too high for dishwasher, this entire peninsula had to be replacedWater lines and drain pipe too high for dishwasher, this entire peninsula had to be replacedIt was agreed that for the remodel, the vent fan was to be reused. When it's bent like this, how is that possible. Also, this was never installed.Vent fan was never installed, probably because it was bent out of tolerance when removed before remodel. New vent pipe, not connected to cabinet. We learned later, when we tried to have one installed, the cabinet was mounted too low for a gas range. Daniel appliance would not install the fan insert because it would not be up to code.Cut out is horrible, lights never mounted. This is the same across all under-cabinet kitchen lights - also, the switch is live.Cut out is horrible, lights never mounted. This is the same across all under-cabinet kitchen lights - also, the switch is live.Cut out is horrible, lights never mounted. This is the same across all under-cabinet kitchen lights - also, the switch is live.Another picture of the horrible attempt to cover the kick plate with trim. Cut-outs are off, bottom edges of cabinets uneven - worse, the trim is placed on the quarter round making it obvious.Base of fridge cabinet. Loose at bottom, notice uneven bottom edge of cabinet to the right and the piece of unfinished trim nailed over the kick plate - on top of the quarter round. What are we covering?Cut out is horrible, black screw on white cabinet, electrical never completed. This is the same across all under-cabinet kitchen lights - also, the switch is live.The fridge is level, what about the cabinet above itShould new cabinets be level?The reason the cabinet above the fridge is not level is each side is a different height
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Master Bath Shower
This brass fitting was in the wall, but needed an extension to reach the edge of tile.A steel pipe was used to connect brass pipe in wall to shower wand and head.A steel pipe was used to connect brass pipe in wall to shower wand and head.After the master shower was remodeled, the fan was not piped out and no insulation was put in.The top two feet of the bathroom walls were re-done as part of the remodel. The area above the shower was not quite plumb, we ended up having to hire a crew to re-do the wall work and ceiling edges to get everything straight, literally.After we pointed out they did not add the niche as agreed, they decided to add two corner shelves AFTER the tile was in. Notice the tile cuts bigger than the shelves on both sides.After we pointed out they did not add the niche as agreed, they decided to add two corner shelves AFTER the tile was in. Notice the tile cuts bigger than the shelves on both sides.Notice the lack of a niche or shower shelves. It was discussed and agreed that a niche would be installed on the wall to the right of the control.Cracks developing in all joints a week after finishing grout. Shower has not been used.Joint crack a week after grout finished.Cracks developing in all joints a week after finishing grout. Shower has not been used.Cracks developing in all joints a week after finishing grout. Shower has not been used.The shower wand and this bracket were used from the old shower, there is no excuse for this.The shower wand and this bracket were used from the old shower, there is no excuse for this.This is the steel pipe used to connect the brass in the wall to the shower wand. Notice the chemical reaction already taking place between the brass and steel. You can also see the Schluter system was not used.The control valve and cover were reused from the old shower, there is no reason for missing a cut out AND leaving it! (Same issue on bottom of this cut)The control valve and cover were reused from the old shower, there is no reason for missing a cut out AND leaving it! (Same issue on top of this cut)View of the shower head brass feed line and the wall material. The plumber used pipe to go between this and the shower head. Also, this was supposed to be a leak-proof Schluter type shower - not drywall.
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Overall Quality and Attention to Detail
This corner (both walls) were new, there is no reason the light switches shouldn't have lined up. That close together, it is unacceptable they were not even.First switch no longer works after kitchen re-wire. We later found out that it is a three way switch connected to a switch in the kitchen that we though was dead. Both are connected to a wire we found in the insulation above the kitchen - no lights or light boxes were put in during the complete tear down of the kitchen and never noticed.After electrical was done, one switch no longer works after kitchen re-wire.Notice the lack of a niche or shower shelves. It was discussed and agreed that a niche would be installed on the wall to the right of the control.
