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Our Roofing Experience - Good, Bad and Ugly

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by SarasMom, Oct 23, 2006.

  1. SarasMom

    SarasMom Member

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    First the Ugly. Friday, during all the wind, a large section (approx 8ft) of the vented ridge (at the peak of the roof) came off. Luckily a neighbor noticed and called me. I immediately checked this forum for a recommended roofer and called Loudoun Roofing Services. I left a message with the dispatcher and she said she'd have someone get back to me. (this was a NOON.)

    Now the Bad starts. I didn't get a call back. I decided to call them back about 4:30pm. I had to leave a message. I got a call back at 5pm and was told that no one could come out until Saturday. I was told I'd get a call between 8:30am and 11:00am so I could get added to someone's route. At noon, I hadn't gotten a call so I called back and had to leave yet another message. At this point I am pretty irritated. I get online and called several other places. The first was roofer911.com - got a call back within 10 minutes and was told he couldn't come out till Monday. Um...no thanks. So much for "911" service! I then called WGI Roofing (703-260-5023). Tommy called back and said he was on his way to an appt but would do his best to come out that afternoon. (Still no return call from Loudoun Roofing)

    Now, the Good. About 10 minutes later, I got a call from Jack at James Home Improvement Services. Apparently Tommy and Jack are cousins. Since Tommy couldn't come out, he contacted Jack to do so. Jack came by and repaired the vented ridge, resecured and resealed the vents, replaced some flashing and shingles. He informed us that the repair job on the vented ridge was only temporary. He came back yesterday with a new vented ridge and installed it. He was awesome. Polite, called when he said he would, came by in the timeframe he gave us, and we'll definitely call them first next time!

    Here's the info on James Home Improvement Services: 703-593-3383. They are leak and repair specialists - all roofs, chimneys, vents, flashings, etc.
    They also give free estimates.

    Oh - Loudoun Roofing called back this morning. He was stunned silent when I told him I'd gotten the roof fixed on Saturday! heehee
     
  2. mdcrim

    mdcrim Member

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    Thanks for the info. I am always looking to expand my rolodex of good service people.
     
  3. Scott Gammans

    Scott Gammans New Member

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    Hi... I was directed to this thread by maeve at the Brambletonian.net forum. The ridge vent on my Miller & Smith single-family house detached from the roofline during the recent high winds, but I am happy to report that I can heartily recommend James Home Improvement Services (703-593-3383) for roof repair.

    EDIT: I no longer can recommend James Home Improvement Services--please see entry below dated 9/24/07.

    I called them last night around 8:30 PM or so, and less than an hour later they called back and scheduled an appointment for today. They arrived on time, took pictures of the damage so I could see exactly what was broken and needed repair, and fixed it in less than three hours. No muss, no fuss.

    Thanks to SarasMom for pointing me towards James Home Improvement Services. Thanks to you (and them!) I was able to get my roof repaired before this weekend's onslaught of wet weather. :)
     
  4. SarasMom

    SarasMom Member

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    Scott,
    So glad you had a good experience with James Home Improvement!

    These forums are soooo beneficial!!
     
  5. Scott Gammans

    Scott Gammans New Member

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    Yes, they definitely are. I sure wish we'd had forums like brambletonian.net and broadlandshoa.org when I was living downtown in D.C.!
     
  6. LKelly

    LKelly New Member

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    I called both WGI Roofing and James Home Improvement last week, and neither business has returned the call.
     
  7. Scott Gammans

    Scott Gammans New Member

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    They may be shutting down for the holidays, although I am surprised that they don't at least have an answering service or something.
     
  8. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Call Apex Roofing, ask for Kirk, and tell em Cliff sent you.
     
  9. Scott Gammans

    Scott Gammans New Member

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    I've been holding off on posting this, hoping that James Home Improvement Services (703-593-3383) would do the right thing, but after multiple phone calls and no resolution I feel like I'm left with no choice.

    Back in April when we had our fierce Nor'easter that left me sans some siding, I called James to have repairs made. He sent his son Jack over, and when Jack gave me his estimate he also said that he noticed that my garage weather vane was bent and he'd fix that too. He gave me a quote of $400 for all the repairs, and I authorized him to go ahead. All of this happened on April 24TH.

    The siding repairs were completed on Tuesday, May 1ST (the delay was caused by backorders on my home's particular brand of siding), but Jack said that he forgot about the garage weather vane and would take care of it the next day. I trusted his word and paid the full $400.

    Wednesday came and went, but no weather vane repair. The weekend did the same—still no repair. I called that following Monday—no answer, so I left a voice mail message. I called twice more over the course of that week… still no one answering the phones… and no returned phone calls for the three voice mail messages I had left.

    On Monday May 14TH I called again, and this time I was more than a little irate in my voice message. I guess that call did the trick, because five minutes later James calls and informs me that he's down in Florida for his grandfather's funeral, but that his son Jack would be out to my house "today" to fix the vane. He also said that the weather vane fix was a "courtesy" fix being done for free.

    First of all, it's not a "courtesy" when it's work that is included as part of an overall estimate. If Jack was going to do that work for free, he shouldn't have even mentioned the "courtesy" work while we were discussing how much it would cost to repair the siding… that should have been clearly spelled out as something completely separate. As far as I'm concerned, I paid $400 for the siding and weather vane repairs.

    Second, it's not "courteous" to promise to do something and then not do it—not to mention neglecting to return multiple phone voice mail messages. I'm sorry that James's grandfather died, but does that mean that all work comes to a screeching halt? No phone calls or business was conducted between May 1ST and May 14TH? Obviously Jack was here in town—why didn't he respond to any of the phone messages I left?

    Oh and by the way—Jack never showed up after that last phone call.

    So, that's my gripe. I'll never use James Home Improvement Services again, that's for sure.
     
  10. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Did your written agreement state anything about the Weather Vane? If not, then I would agree with Jack that it was a 'courtesy' fix with lower priority.

    When we used James Home Improvement Services, I got everything in writing, including the dates. Service was prompt, of very high quality, and Jack went above and beyond what was in the agreement, even going as far as repainting all the exposed 'pipes' sticking out of my roof.

    If the Vane *was* in the written agreement, then I agre with you that they did not live up to their end of the contract.

    So, was the Vane in the written agreement?
     
  11. Scott Gammans

    Scott Gammans New Member

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    Was it in the written contract? No. Did he promise to fix it? YES!

    The problem is that the contract was very vaguely worded, so when Jack said he'd fix the vane, I assumed it was part of the "fix storm damage" wording on the contract.

    When someone makes a promise to do something, I take them at their word. I'll certainly never do THAT again (nor will I ever call James Roofing, either.)
     
  12. whitney1125

    whitney1125 New Member

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    I have had a much different experience with James Home Improvement. In May, they replaced a section of our roof due to wind damage. They gave us an excellent price and did a great job. After the job, we had a horrible storm and lost shingles, and they came right out and repaired the damage for free, even though it wasn't something they were responsible for. We recently had questions about doing the rest of the roof and they came out right away, even though we told them we probably wouldn't be doing the rest because we were moving. (And they put out my neighbor's infamous lawn fire!)They have been nothing but wonderful to us.

    Now, I cannot give a reason for Jack not calling you back, but I believe James was recently diagnosed with colon cancer and is not doing well. I think he has been in and out of the hospital, and Jack is young enough that this is probably affecting him quite a bit. I would give them the benefit of doubt and give them a call again.
     
  13. Scott Gammans

    Scott Gammans New Member

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    I'm sorry to hear James isn't doing well, but no thanks.
     
  14. whitney1125

    whitney1125 New Member

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    OK, so I take back everything good I said about this company! I had them come out to repair items on our home inspection list when we sold our home. We paid them over $1400 to do things like caulking, minor deck repairs, replace one shingle, and put on the vent caps that they never put on in the last repair that I raved over. I am now paying the buyer another $700 for the things they did not fix and said they did. The buyer brought their home inspector back for the walk through and went up on the roof and discovered the items. Now I look like an a** and I am out a lot of money. I would never recommend this company to anyone! Oh, and they are always going out of town for a "funeral", so they can't be reached or complete the job on time. These people are con artists.....

    BEWARE!!!!:mad:
     
  15. Scott Gammans

    Scott Gammans New Member

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    Yeesh. I'm very sorry to hear about your bad experience, Whitney.

    I suppose I should also follow up on my story: Some of the siding pieces that Jack installed back in May are already starting to bow outwards again, a sign that the siding wasn't properly installed the first time. The siding is also fading a bit--I can't help but wonder if Jack installed an inferior grade of siding up there.

    I'm really appalled that they appear to be using a funeral excuse over and over again. Either that family is experiencing a REALLY bad streak of luck, or they're a bunch of crooks and liars. Who did they say died lately, Whitney?
     
  16. SarasMom

    SarasMom Member

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    Yikes. I am sorry I ever praised these people. I hate that several of you have had such awful experiences. I guess maybe I just caught them on a good day. :(
     
  17. whitney1125

    whitney1125 New Member

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    So far they have lost a Grandfather, a cousin, and then the cousins father died at that funeral. Give me a break! I am sure they told me about another one that died as well. Either the worlds worst streak of luck or they are a family of liars. I feel icky talking that way about anyone, but people need to know to pass on this company. I was blindsided by how nice they were and always saying "God Bless" whenever you spoke to them.

    God Bless, indeed.

    Scott, your complaint makes me wonder if the repairs they made are going to be going bad soon. From now on, I am using an actual company, not a family of self taught contractors that make their money taking people for whatever money they can squeeze out of them.
     
  18. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Maybe they're members of the Irish Travelers!
     
  19. DanAngie

    DanAngie New Member

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    We contacted Kirk at Apex Roofing a few days ago about a minor roof repair. He and his crew were out first thing this morning, as promised. He gave us a fair price and was able to complete the repair today as well. Their website is www.apexroofinginc.net and their contact number is 703.361.4483. They also handle siding, gutters and windows.
     
  20. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Glad you were be happy. I'll be sure to let him know next time I see him at work.
     

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