If you would like to have to remodel your new home before you even move inn, then definitely go with Simionescu Construction. If you prefer to pay once to get your new home built, then go elsewhere.
Simionescu claimed that his "team' of subcontractors had been with him for 5 years. What a pack of lies. It was the first time he had used the drywall sub - and it was also the first time that he had used the tile installers, as well as the first time for the painters.
By the time that we were two months past the supposed completion date, we had identified that following issues:
- Highly visible drywall seams in ceilings
- Installation of drywall returns around windows that weren't even close to manufacturer instructions - they were cracking within two months of being completed
- Corner beading for drywall that only had about 1/2 the nails they should have had, and were starting to crack
- three tile showers that looked like it was the first time the tile layer had tried to tile a shower. Turns out from what we found out later, it probably was. Not only did they look horrible, but they wouldn't drain properly
- tile floor in the kitchen that was uneven
- masonry work on the chimney that cracked within a week of completion
When we presented a written list of what we wanted fixed, Simionescu just stalled, not providing any plan as to how he was going to address the issues. Then one day he came by and loaded up his tools, and informed us that he had just submitted a draw. This particular draw would have been 90% of what was remaining on the contract. When I told him that he wasn't getting another cent until the existing issues (which involved things we had already paid for) were addressed, and the house was completed properly, he just shrugged. Turns out that he had put a lien on our property two days before (even though at that point we had not been presented with any billing). And also keep in mind that there was a deposit that had never been applied to any billing.
He finally officially walked off the job (we got that in writing). So we had to finish the house ourselves.in the course of doing so, we decided to take care of some subs who had done their work, and also a couple of suppliers. When we got their billing, we found that he was attempting to overcharge us by about 30%. And once we got a chance to see actual billing for lumber, he charged us on the first draw an amount for rough lumber that was far over what was actually used.
We ended up having to have the showers all demolished and retiled - glad we did, as besides the drainage issues, the liner under the tile had not been applied properly - they would have all leaked. The kitchen backsplash, had to be torn down and redone. We also had to have close to half of the dry wall in the house torn down and redone. And of course then the house had to be repainted again - not only the new drywall, but it turned out we were a coat shy of what we were supposed to have on the rest of the house.
Oh, and before I forget, the enclosed hood over the stove was installed too low for code, and had to be torn out and raised.
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