In January of My wife and I purchased a house. Upon the first heavy rain, we were flooded. We discovered their were serious issues with our basement.
After several months of searching for a waterproofing company, we came upon Skiotes Masonry, which is owned and operated by Mike Skiotes. I found out he was a full service contractor. He wasn't the lowest bid, his bid fell right in the middle. We decided to hire him to do the work, since he was a full service contractor, and had a roofer on staff. We also needed a roof. He gave me a written guarantee that I would have a dry basement. He also gave me a fair estimate for the roof. One which I passed on at the time, since I was investing in the basement.
Upon gutting of the basement, it was discovered there were further foundation issues. Mold had also become an issue. Due to this, he had to increase his original bid. This was reasonable, considering the work that needed to be done. He again promised I would have a dry basement.
Upon completion of the demolition work, he began to repair and waterproof Late August. Under the contract, we had agreed that he would not be paid the full amount, until we knew the basement was waterproof.
The first big rainfall came in October of and the basement again flooded. After numerous phone calls, I was able to get him out. He decide he would dig a deeper sump pit, and put a larger sump pump in. We would again await the next big rainfall.
Finally it rained again, and the basement again flooded. Due to Inclement weather, and with winter setting in, we would have to wait for spring for outside digging to be done.
Upon the arrival of spring of Outside work began. This included some digging, patching, and a putting some sidewalk around the outside of the house. This was intended to stop the water, but it was not pitched properly, so it caused more water to come in the basement then ever before.
I began to call other area waterproof companies. No one would touch my basement when they found out what was going on. So after numerous calls, and broken appointments, I again got Mike Skiotes to come back out. He claimed he had some waterproof sealant that would help. He spent several hours in the basement applying this sealant, and doing other things. There were no major rainfall during this time, so it appeared there may have been some progress. Though Mike was a "I am going to do this" guy who didn't always live up to his promises, he was trying to make an effort, or so I thought.
During the winter, we did get some water in the basement. Mostly seepage. The next big rainfall came in the early part of and again we were flooded. We got so much water in the basement, it burned up the sump pump. Since I was unable to get a hold of Mike Skiotes I had to have a plumber come out and install a new sump pump.
Mike Skiotes claimed he had injured his thumb, and it grew to three times it's normal size. He claimed he also had some sort of lung infection which had caused several months of hospitalization.
He explained to me that we had to correct the outside concrete issue. This was something I truly agreed with. So in May of Skiotes contracted for new side walk was put around a large portion of the house. I had to pay additional money for this. At this same time, My roof issue took a turn for the worse. So Mike Skiotes, put his roof guy on the roof to do a temp. Repair.
Alot Excavating, the boards had to be set for the concrete, and so forth. Work was completed on the side walk late that summer.
There were minor rainfalls, causing seepage in the basement but no major rain until the following spring. When I say major, I mean a usual heavy spring or fall rain.
In The spring of we were again hit with rain. My basement again flooded. I had a time trying to get Skiotes to hold true to his word and come out. When he finally did, he told me he needed to do some block work in the basement, and he had some different sealant he wanted to use. He also stated he wanted to bring another waterproofing company into it. Since I was unable to get any other waterproofing companies to come out, I was very open to this idea.
In July of The Temp repair work on my roof was starting to give, so I ask My to bring in his roofing guy. So work on my roof began, and Mike continued to work in the basement.
A storm was coming into the area, so they put a tarp over me roof, and I put much of my stuff in the basement up on block, in case I might get any bit of water.
When the storm hit, I had water coming in from above and below. I called Skiotes, only to get his answering machine numerous times. My Father and close friend came out and re-tarped the roof. Unfortunately my sealing in my master bedroom caved in.
The next day, I contacted another roofing company. They came out and pulled the tarp off my roof, and discovered that none of the rotten boards had been replaced. They also discovered that the tarp Skiotes had used, had holes in it.
I called my homeowers insurance, who put me in contact with a restoration company. They came out, and had to rip all the walls an sealing out. I had to move out of my house. I lost $4000 in personal property. There was $45,000 worth of property damage.
My insurance company put me in contact with a waterproofing company they used. Upon inspection, it was discovered that Skiotes had used sub-standard material. It was also discovered that the concrete person he had contracted, was a close friend of his. They had used sub-standard material for it. It was also discovered that the other waterproofing company that Skiotes wanted to bring in, had been working with Skiotes on other so called projects.
So, I had $6500 in the basement, $2500 in the sidewalk. I recieved $4000 worth of property damage, and $45,000 dollard in property damage, because of a scam artist who uses shady material, and milks his customers for all they are worth. Beware!!!
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