November I entered into a contract with Mr. Lee Bartnik of Viet-Vet, Inc. Located at 18134 Gunpowder Road, Hampstead, Maryland 21074 for the purpose of home improvements (MHIC #6205). Contracted services included:
Knock down and removal of old deck.
Removal of existing roof and installation of new shingles.
Construction of a new living space (e.G., walls, sheetrock, floors, duct work, plumbing, windows, doors, vinyl siding, gutter & downspout).
Installation of new windows in an existing living room and bathroom.
Knock down of the existing deck was quoted at $90 per hour; however, I was charged $90 per hour per person (e.G., 2.5 hours x 3 men x $90/hr. = $675.
As construction progressed there were visible construction errors. Subcontractors brought additional construction errors to my attention:
The subfloor was not level. When I questioned Mr. Bartnik about this he informed me that no home additions are ever level, that it is just the way things are, and that I should not be concerned. He further added that the reason the addition is out of square is because the original home was out of square.
The new exit door and sliding glass door are neither square nor flush. Neither door closes properly nor locks. When I suggested that these problems were due to improper installation Mr. Bartnik informed me that this was the case because the items were cheap. Both doors are Anderson brand.
The new windows are replacement windows and not new construction windows. They are not square, nor flush, nor level, nor close properly. Additionally there is water entering behind the corner post side window. I have been advised that this problem is a result of the J-channel having been pieced together. Mr. Bartnik's response is that there is nothing wrong with the windows.
The new bathroom area contains a whirlpool tub. The plumbing subcontractor pointed out that the knee wall, which is suppose to support the outer edge, is on the lip of the tub. It is not recessed to support the fiberglass rim. The inside corners of the wall are neither square nor flush on the edge of the tub. I have been advised that Green Board is customarily used in this area to prevent mold and mildew growth that could damage the walls. When I brought these items to Mr. Bartnik's attention he stated that sheetrock is acceptable. A subcontractor not affiliated with Viet-Vets, Inc., made repairs to correct the tub issues. Upon removing the sheetrock he found that the 2x4 beams were not installed vertically, but ran parallel to the floor.
A heating and air conditioning subcontractor, also not affiliated with Viet-Vets, Inc., was shocked when he saw that the vents were all installed on the inside walls. Upon further inspection he also found that the supply lines were teed off from one run, not two runs as called for in the contract and held together with duct tape. He explained that installation by Viet-Vets did not include a return and was in no way sufficient for heating purposes. Mr. Bartnik's solution was to offer to cut a large hole in the wall for return purposes.
The window that was replaced in the existing bathroom was removed using a saws-all resulting in damage to the adjacent wall and a much larger hole that has had to be filled with wood and spray foam. The window is now too large for the existing shutters and the spray foam has leaked onto the exterior vinyl siding causing discoloration. Mr. Bartnik will not discuss these issues, but has offered to give me a, good deal if I decided to put new siding on the entire house.
The window that was replace in the existing living room is not square, nor level, not flush. As a result the interior trim cannot be installed where it should.instead, it was installed outside the rough edge of the window. Mr. Bartnik has offered to attempt to improve the appearance by installing lattice strips.
I have also complained to Mr. Bartnik about water leaking into the basement area due to a lack of gutters and downspouts. Mr. Bartnik claims that these items have been ordered, but that they have not yet arrived (it has been approximately five months).
The above items and several others were reviewed with Mr. Bartnik on a hand written Punch List. Mr. Bartnik disputed every item and took the only copy of my Punch List with him. Viet-Vets, Inc. Has performed no work since February 28. No workers showed up on March 1, but Mr. Bartnik did call at 3 P.M. To advise that they would not be there that day. He stated that they would be back out on March 2nd or 3rd to finish, but no one showed nor called. On March 7 I called and left a message on an answering machine but have had no response. I have made additional calls hoping to contact an actual person, but to no avail.
On a side note, don't be fooled by the name, only Mr. Lee Bartnik is a veteran. Dennis Bartnik, his son, is not nor are the day workers he uses.
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