Electricians?

I wonder if the guys who did the electrical were really electricians??? They caused the damage previously mentioned as well as some other problems that Shane just discovered today. First of all, we spent about 4 hours cleaning up all the cement and debris out of the ramada and kitchen area. Shane went out and bought a shop vac for the job. Then, he noticed that the electricians must have helped themselves to the contents of our outdoor fridge! Next, Shane decided to hook up the lights and ceiling fan to the newly installed electrical. There are two switches installed on the ramada wall, but they happen to do nothing. Yep! The wires are always hot regardless of whether the switches were in the on or off positions. So, Shane undid the work that the electricians did and just rewired it himself. I'm glad he's an electrical engineer. What a nightmare!

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

It worked! We filed the complaint with the BBB and oila! the electrical has been installed.

However, now, there is significant damage to the ramada structure. I wonder what they used to chisel the block? Perhaps a jackhammer? They left cement and block pieces all over the countertops and deck and the outlet hole is bigger than the outlet! And, take a look at the back side of the ramada. They pushed an entire block out, damaging the wall surface and causing it to crack. In addition, one of the masons stopped by today and was wondering what he has to do in order to get paid for this job. We, of course, have paid the pool company in total. So, they need to pay their subcontractors. Shane talked to Justin today who said that they always pay their subcontractors, but that we didn't understand that the masons are responsible for other jobs and payment is dependent on that. We think that since the masons completed the work on this job, that they should be paid for this job. Now, they'll have to help with additional repairs to the ramada, though.

Just Some New Photos

No, the yard isn't done yet. In fact, I finally wrote a letter to the Better Business Bureau this evening. But, we had a lovely family celebration of Drew's 5th birthday this weekend and so I thought I'd post the latest photos. We just waiting now for the electrical and plumbing to the ramada and we believe there's yet another leak in the buried pipes leading to the pool. If so, this will be the 5th leak.

Fire!

'nough said.

Delays....

Here's the latest photo. Now, there are some details to clean up and they aren't minor. The ramada failed inspection since the roof wasn't built according to the plan. They've had to send the plans back to engineering to be updated before they can shingle and tile the roof.


And, the hot tub has a gigantic leak somewhere. It's likely in the pipes that run under the deck. The newly filled spa and pool are all murky and the spa is draining water into the yard.


Oh--and there are tire tracks through part of the deck and one section of deck is cracked.


Will this job ever be complete? I'm starting to think this wasn't worth it at all.

The Deck

Now, the deck has been poured. What a relief! It's beautiful, but you can't really tell from this picture. The workers had no regard for keeping things even moderately clean. They left stuff EVERYWHERE! They even picked oranges off our tree and left the peels all over the place. Oh well. At least the deck is gorgeous. They've left now and I need to post a new photo of the finished, cleaned up product.

We met with a landscaper today and they were prepping the pool for pebble tec. The wrought iron is here and needs to be installed and the masons were waiting on an inspection in order to begin the ramada roof.

Progress Update

So, Kory hasn't been seen or heard from since I talked with Amy on January 21st.

We've talked with Dulce several times and each time, she has said that forming for the deck and pouring of the deck is about to happen. Well, the deck people were here today and we took time off of work to make sure everything was going as planned. It's a good thing we did that.

Turns out that some of the plumbing for the pool was in the way of the deck. The plumbers came over and cut the pipes and left. Now, plumbing repairs need to be made. And, the fill dirt had been put up close to the house instead of in the ramada where it is needed. And, there wasn't enough fill dirt in the yard. Of course, the masons already put up the exterior block wall, so the deck guys are using a tiny, little tractor to move little piles of dirt into the yard.

And, Shane and I found out that the electrical for the lighting in the stairs has not been run. Nor has the sleeve for the plumbing to the planters. The masons had told us that the deck guys would do this and the deck guys said that they weren't responsible for it. The deck supervisor called Kory and he said he'd take care of it tomorrow. He'd better, because the deck is supposedly being poured on Friday no matter what.

In addition, there are chipped tiles and crumbling or non-existant grout around the edges of the pool.

Who knows what will happen next???

Lies, lies, lies

I knew it. I am totally not surprised. California Pools denies ever having promised us that we wouldn't have to pay the final 10% if they didn't finish the pool by January 20th.

The weird thing is that I called Justin this morning and reminded him of the agreement. He acknowledged the agreement, saying something like: I know. And Kory is aware of the agreement. But, when I talked with the California Pools office, they act as though I'M trying to pull something on them. No way! I wouldn't have even brought it up if they hadn't promised this to us.

The most important thing to us is that the project gets finished. Kory told us that the wrought iron would be installed this weekend or today. (It's not installed.) Kory also told us that the deck would be formed last week or today. (It's not in place.)

The tile guys did, however, install the tile on Saturday and Sunday, so at least that's done.

Here are my detailed notes from today:
Called Justin on his cell phone this morning at 9:00. Explained that we wanted to pay the remaining 30% and that, since it was past the deadline of completion of the pool by January 20th, that we wanted to have our receipt state that the contract was paid in full. Justin said that he knew that and that Kory was aware of the agreement and that I would need to call Kory. 1:15pm Called the pool office and spoke with Lydia. She said that I would need to talk to Dulce or Amy and transferred my call to Amy. I again explained that I wanted to pay the remaining 30% and that, since the deadline was missed, that we wouldn't be required to pay the remaining 10%. She said "OOOOhhh Noooo", that they never would have made such an agreement and that they can't control the approval of permits through Pima county. I asked why Justin would have told me that then and she said she didn't know. She said that I could discuss it with Kory, but that he wouldn't have made such an agreement. I said that I would be waiting until the deck was being poured before I make the final 30% payment and that I would bring it to the office on the day the deck is poured.