This company, "Touch of Grace" is not licensed or insured and is not legally allowed to make bids in Rhode Island. You may become a victum of embezlement, vandalism, fraud, deception, larceny, identity theft and check fraud if you have any home improvement activities with them.
A Proposal to remove and replace footing and two porch decks was drawn up. They indicate their work is code compliant.insurance is available for an addional cost. They will take care of the building permit when required.
They were paid 2/3 of the proposal price ($5,000 / $7,500). The original estimate was $6,000, but with insurance it became $7,500.
They removed three of four concrete footings and installed two. They stated that they had removed four footings. They demolitioned the two decks.
After two footings are poured and the first deck frame is incomplete I am informed that the 2/3 down payment I made was used to pay for work on his vehicle and to pay off employees on another job and there is no money left to pay for materials.
I submitted $1,500 for materials and then realized they were not honoring the original proposal and had switched to time and materials without notification. I was asked to pay for labor. They would show up only if I had more money.
I received a letter from the building inspector and responded. It was found that the contractor did not pull a permit and is not insured. Repeated attemps to get the contractor to respond yielded no significant response. I was told by the contractor to get the permit myself. This yoyo went on for weeks.
The first deck is incomplete and they started on the second deck.
After realizing I can be fined $500/day I told them to get off the decks. Get the insurance and submit the permit. You cannot work without a permit. They removed their tools and indicated they were looking into the insurance.
I receive a phone call from the contractor stating the cost of insurance. And that the building inspector will not like the condition of the second deck ceiling so... The proposal has to be rewritten. I said no, get your ins. And put it on the permit.
Two weeks go by and no valid response from Touch of Grace. During this time the property was inspected by two independent contractors and the local building inspector. There are numerous code violations.
"Touch of Grace" abandoned the project when they declined to be involved with the building inspector. They had been paid 86% ($6,500) of the contract price ($7,500).
I contacted them and asked that the return some money, submit a tax ID and address. Their response was "you will never get any money back", "tax ID forget about it", "address not happening" and "this is the deal you got so eat the cost". He also indicated that he was willing to finish the job because he does code compliant work. (I don't think so.)
Disaster Recovery, The following code discrepencies were found and are being corrected.
1. Footing: were 35 inches below grade and corrected to 48 inches below grade, install two additional missing footing.
2.1st Deck: lag bolts, 5 bolts 5/16 in., 3 - 5FT OC, (install 1/2in lag bolts 16in OC); flashing not installed, (remove deck planks, install flashing); deck planks screws protruding, (remove deck planks, install with nails); frame not level, length is too short, (level frame, add beam to fix length); joist hangers missing, (install missing joist hangers); joist hangers missing nails, (install missing nails); huricane straps not installed, (install huricane straps); 4x4 columns not to code, (install 6x6 columns).
3.2nd Deck: lag bolts not installed, flashing not installed, ledger joist not replaced, frame is skewed, joist hangers not installed (replace 2nd deck)
4. Roof ceiling vandalized un-necessary repair. The contractor removed a vynil ceiling to create more work for himself at my cost. Estimated cost for repairs: $1200.
"Touch of Grace" operated by Roy Bardsley and Grace Rudolf is a scam.
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