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Remodeled my entire first floor and kitchen with Top Level Construction. Total time – 6 weeks. The quality of work like other reviewers say is excellent. Job also completed on time.
I docked a star because I felt I was being nickel and dimed for the change orders, unforeseen circumstances that occur during the project that require additional work. The contracts come with a detailed itemized list. The detail and itemization can be good or bad. Example: you are having them fabricate the kitchen countertops and you want a bullnose finish, there will be an additional fee because bullnose was not in the initial description of the contract. The original quote included purchasing underlayment and placing it under the vinyl flooring but the flooring I went with was Lifeproof which comes with the underlayment built in. So no underlayment was purchased or installed. I thought the underlayment fee in the original contract would have been reconciled but it was “conveniently” applied to the first change order but had no mention of the reconciliation. Upon completion of the job, I received another change order which was never discussed or approved with me and work already completed. They did say that it was up to me whether I pay it or not but if that’s the case, why present it to me in the first place? It was this final change order I saw the charge for finishing the edge of the countertop along with other services completed that was not listed in the initial contract. I was very clear in speaking to them previously that I did not want to incur any additional charges and to finish the countertop edge as agreed upon. In the end, we called the second change order invoice a wash because the crew did not install an air gap button for a garbage disposal which would have required substantial work to rectify because they put the original switch back into the new backsplash. Lastly, I received a cleaning invoice from Top Level Cleaning for a post construction clean up job. Only after I brought it to their attention did they stop sending me the invoice because the initial contract included the clean-up.
My recommendation is to make sure you know what materials and services you want and it is clearly outlined in the description of the job contract. Finalize your materials. The contract includes the cost of the materials and the way it was explained to me by the sales rep was that I could pick out anything I wanted. Not true. The rep took me to Daltile to pick out a backsplash and I got push back due to the high cost of the tile I choose. The company is not unreasonable, they will work with the majority of the materials even at Home Depot but I feel it is reflected in the cost of the material quote and there is an upcharge to allow buffer for materials the customer wants. But if you are hoping for something like custom cabinets from Home Depot or Cambria countertops, it’s not happening. I was shown materials from wholesale vendors like C&C and Golden Cabinets. If you are hoping for something more upscale or customizable, expect to pay more. That is why I recommend you have the materials picked out before agreeing to the contract. I feel it will help control your costs and ensure you get what you want.
The second star I docked is for my LG sidekick front loader washing machine. Before the job, it was working fine. After the job, not working. It made this horrible grinding noise. A tech came out and inspected it and he said it was a total loss. I asked what could have caused this and he said impossible to tell unless you break apart the machine. I mentioned this to the project manager and his boss’s position on the matter is they are open to discussion if I can provide information that it was damaged because of them or some reasonable evidence. All I know for a fact is the washer was working before the renovation and not after. Using my inability to prove any wrongdoing by Top Level to skirt any accountability for the broken washer is disappointing at best and not very Aloha spirit. I did not know they practiced law too.