E & J Construction Landscape Inc

A word of Caution

First, all was going according to plan. Hugo (owner of E&J construction but NOT a licensed contractor – as I was shocked to later learn) saw our vision after 3 other companies did not. It was quoted in the contract after signing to take 3 months. Well 6 months later, after an ultimatum, per California State law, it was completed, well almost. His crew had to return after the city inspectors had passed the final stage to remove the 8+ foot wooden concrete box form that I found after he “completed” the project. Thank GOD I did not use the patio chimney or the whole chimney would have caught fire. This was the last straw to a number of “human mistakes” as Hugo called them. 1) Double stamped concrete in the patio, 2) “forgotten” glued pool pipes components after install, 3) spraying water from heater pipes - 5 days later threatened to call a plumper, still took 2 more days for his subcontractor to fix it 4) Concrete patio slabs lifting up due to not anchoring to existing concrete patio, 5) installed ILLEGAL 1 HP “main” pool pump that was outlawed since 2010 (research title 20 of the California Energy Commission) http://www.energy.ca.gov/appliances/documents/2017-07-06_Pool_Pumps_Regulatory_Advisory.pdf
6) All the owner’s manuals, warranty cards, instructions to the equipment were misplaced – THROWEN AWAY with the shipping boxes. (I had to go online to find out how my equipment worked!!) Hugo moved valves and drained the spa!
7) Crew urinating on MY property – even after Hugo and his son Josh stated they provided a portable bathroom on every job – LIED
8) The patio did not get quoted with a floor, that is extra. (not in the contract) Hugo’s reasoning is that people use pavers or decomposed granite. (INDUSTRY STANDARD – patios have floors) also said they would round the corners on the existing concrete to blend it in, NOPE, just poured and filled in the gaps.
9) As I rototilled to prep for new grass I came across 6 wheel barrows full of BURIED concrete, rebar, 50/50 mix, wood stakes, screws, cut PVC pipe, cigarette butts (no one in my family smokes).
10) Spa spillway ledge too short, water did not spill into the pool, instead ran under the ledge onto the coping and face of the spa and into the drain on the decking.
11) Assured us that the job would be completed in time for our 20th wedding anniversary – LIED (3+ months later it was completed)
Lack of communication, one sided MINE – until he wanted the next installment on the payment plan.
Numerous weeks where only 1 to 2 workers showed for a day or two all week.
Wanted me to provide him with the accounting, essentially to do his accounting for him.
What I have learned:
Make sure YOU have a penalty clause in the contract that If the job is not completed by the estimated date, every day it is not completed 10% will be deducted from the contract price.
Research the Board of Contractors for their license status; it is changing with “actions” not for the better.
Hugo is NOT a contractor; his son Josh received his “B” license in 2016?????? Prior to that this “family” company was utilizing Hugo’s father’s Contractors license and have been utilizing the history of the E&J name.
Take pictures…LOTS of pictures to document the work (or lack of work) done every day. Stand in the same spot and take several pictures of the project EVERY DAY. The time will come to dispute “Hugo’s version” of what and when things occurred on the job.
GET LIEN RELEASES at the time the subcontractor has been paid. (SEE contractors state board for further information) Hugo failed to provide at time of payment, I had to DEMAND to receive my releases, they were dated I requested them!!!!
Change Orders are when you request a change to something after the contact has been signed. NOT when the contractor low bid the job and now is trying to make up the costs.
Take notes, research, and make sure that the contract is more on a level playing ground and not in the contractors favor. (Penalty clause)

As of this posting the business is suspended with the State Contractors Board under License 925746. There is one open case and one open complaint. The license number also shows DBA as Innovative Design Build.

Do NOT use these guys!

The workmanship is actually good, but dealing with Hugo was terrible.

They have abandoned my project by failing to complete everything to finish it, and we are about to begin the litigation process with them. Hugo is a terrible communicator to his clients and employees.

Pool project started on 10/3/17...we signed a contract agreeing to 90days (Jan 3, 2018)...well here we are, April 25, 2018 with out the entire project completed.

Hugo showed up yesterday (since is was the last day for him to complete the project before he breached it) and it was the first time he has set foot here since November 14th, 2017, coincidentally the last time he collected a check!! Over 5 months ago!!!!!

All the problems we had here were directly from him not being here and having to do his job and make sure his employees he sent did the right thing. perfect set-up for him. He's unapologetic about everything.

Here you are, paying him tens of thousands of dollars for a project he agreed to, and you end up having to hound him and beg him to finish it!

There were only 2-3 inspections that I wasn't here alone to do. That's not what i signed up for! I paid full price, I paid every time I was supposed to, and now I'm the one who has to sit and wait for the inspection?!

Word of advice: Make sure that final payment in the contract is AT LEAST 20% or more...or you wont see your project finished!

DON'T USE THESE GUYS!