Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+

 Contractor Alert, A bad case of renovations

views
     
TSmaverickwithagun
post Oct 5 2011, 12:26 AM, updated 15y ago

New Member
*
Junior Member
5 posts

Joined: Oct 2011
I am an extremely dissatisfied customer. Would like to make this known so that others would not fall into this trap. Beware of a contractor named Ability Renovations and Engineering Works.
Terrible quality in the renovation materials. Cracks everywhere on the wall surfaces, leaking problems in roof areas, spots and grease marks on paint job that could never come off, horrible installation of fittings, plaster ceiling that is cracking etc. I regretted using Ability, spent so much from getting the drawing done and approved, buying premium paint, tiles and fittings and in the end, after 3 months of moving in, the house seems to be falling apart. Don't fall for the after-reno services given as well... recurring problems not solved. Ability has an absent site Manager and a good-for-nothing Indon supervisor. Overall spent 350k++ in this renovations and I get an eggshell house

Oh yes...now my second daikin aircond is having problems from the piping installed by them. How dissed am i?
vmad.gif
cicakubin
post Oct 5 2011, 12:39 AM

Getting Started
**
Junior Member
203 posts

Joined: Aug 2010
From: m'sia
i thought they should provide warranty for some period whereby any damage wud be repaired for free
TSmaverickwithagun
post Oct 5 2011, 12:50 AM

New Member
*
Junior Member
5 posts

Joined: Oct 2011
QUOTE(cicakubin @ Oct 5 2011, 12:39 AM)
i thought they should provide warranty for some period whereby any damage wud be repaired for free
*
Yes they do..but then again the how much 'repair' can you tolerate especially when new ones keep popping up?
one roof leak occurs and 'patched' up and another pops up for example. And when you re'plaster' the wall because of the cracks, it really would pretty to your eyes. Your aircond topped working properly and when you called the daikin tech guys and they come and show you how shoddy the installation was done.

I dun mind even being charged for the repairs but once you have spent close to 350k on your home reno and these things keep coming up, I am sure you'd be angry as well.
I particularly liked the way they would come and say ..oh small matter' and then do some shoddy repair work.

I am not meaning any malice, just a precaution to any good fellow out there who is thinking of appointing a contractor. Maybe my mistake was to appoint them as the umbrella contractor and they subbed certain portions of the work to others. All in all it was a gross disappointment
cicakubin
post Oct 5 2011, 12:57 AM

Getting Started
**
Junior Member
203 posts

Joined: Aug 2010
From: m'sia
350k better buy new house la. did u report to police/persatuan pengguna malaysia?
JinXXX
post Oct 5 2011, 01:13 AM

Look at all my stars!!
*******
Senior Member
2,516 posts

Joined: Feb 2007
From: Uarla Umpur



better show some pictures as proof else you can be considered as defaming them

better make a police report and report to persatuaan pengguna
Becabal
post Oct 5 2011, 01:41 AM

Getting Started
**
Validating
194 posts

Joined: Jun 2011
From: MY oh MY
Wow 350k on reno?i bet your house at least is a 'BIG' double storey minimum
TSmaverickwithagun
post Oct 5 2011, 10:06 AM

New Member
*
Junior Member
5 posts

Joined: Oct 2011
QUOTE(JinXXX @ Oct 5 2011, 01:13 AM)
better show some pictures as proof else you can be considered as defaming  them

better make a police report and report to persatuaan pengguna
*
Thank you....would look into it.
gjohn
post Oct 5 2011, 10:13 AM

Casual
***
Junior Member
388 posts

Joined: Oct 2008
better report to KPDNKK...
TSmaverickwithagun
post Oct 5 2011, 10:25 AM

New Member
*
Junior Member
5 posts

Joined: Oct 2011
QUOTE(Becabal @ Oct 5 2011, 01:41 AM)
Wow 350k on reno?i bet your house at least is a 'BIG' double storey minimum
*
yes it is a big house

and to everyone

will do the necessary reporting to the relevant authorities. Thank you for your feedback. I started this topic to forewarn people. It will be shame if anyone else gets into this situation I am in now..especially now as we know...money is hard to come by
tiensong
post Oct 5 2011, 04:20 PM

Look at all my stars!!
*******
Senior Member
2,237 posts

Joined: Jul 2011
A sad case....

Wish you all the best...
joey85
post Oct 5 2011, 04:30 PM

~Yeah~
*****
Senior Member
924 posts

Joined: Dec 2006
From: Kepong
since u pay that much for them to reno for u... just let them repair until u r satisfied... and report as being recommend by others... u deserve the defect liability period... and they have to do it for u... can i know whether u have paid the full amount to them? or still having some balance not yet settle? if still have balance better dont pay them off... >.<
TSmaverickwithagun
post Oct 5 2011, 09:40 PM

New Member
*
Junior Member
5 posts

Joined: Oct 2011
QUOTE(joey85 @ Oct 5 2011, 04:30 PM)
since u pay that much for them to reno for u... just let them repair until u r satisfied... and report as being recommend by others... u deserve the defect liability period... and they have to do it for u... can i know whether u have paid the full amount to them? or still having some balance not yet settle? if still have balance better dont pay them off... >.<
*
Without prejudice or malice aforethought:-

The total cost stated is inclusive of my own purchases of fittings i.e tiles, security and safety doors, grille work and other kitchen and toilet fittings etc. I have not even made issue when they wrongly installed the tiles resulting into hacking the 2x2 tiles off. Not to mention the multiple times i have to go and buy the same tiles because of wrong estimation by them, they have also wrongly installed some of bathroom fittings and bent my retractable Teka kitchen tap...sighs


sadly most of the defects started showing after we have moved in which means yes we have fully paid off the contractor. True to their word though, we did call them several times to rectify these defects..but i dunno-lah...maybe dah takde hati kan...when they repair one defect, new ones will come out until we are jaded and fed up. they do more damage than good. Their supervisor hadari while rectifying one roof leak, dislodged the alarm sensor in the ceiling above our foyer which means we have to rectify separately.

Todate the defects (the ones that i can instantly recall)are:
1/ Cracks on the plaster ceiling in the main kitchen, family room and wet kitchen
2. Cracks on the family room wall, main kitchen walls
3. cracks on the outside retaining wall
4. wiring shorting and crackling sounds in some switches
5. damaged aircond piping (the daikin tech guys confirmed it..at the moment 2 airconds....6 more to go all installed by the contractor's men)
6. recurring wet patches on walls due to undercoat being painted on damp plaster..(has repainted many times..and we use Jotun paint)
7. 1 cctv camera not working
8. water leaks in the roof

all these cracks and such appeared only after we have moved in and now we have resorted to appointing specialist repairmen/contractors to rectify these individual defects. All these defects prevailed even after we had given them the approved drawings from a separate appointed architect.
I have to admit, the finished facade is absolutely fabulous to the naked eye..but all in all as I have said. it was a disappointment.

Will do the necessary as advised but would just caution fellow forum mates of this contractor. Dun fall for lip service.

weikee
post Oct 5 2011, 10:03 PM

10k Club
********
All Stars
12,019 posts

Joined: Jan 2003
Mind if i ask, how long did the renovation take? It sound like a very quick job. Did you do Skim coat?
joey85
post Oct 6 2011, 09:30 AM

~Yeah~
*****
Senior Member
924 posts

Joined: Dec 2006
From: Kepong
QUOTE(maverickwithagun @ Oct 5 2011, 09:40 PM)
Without prejudice or malice aforethought:-

The total cost stated is inclusive of my own purchases of fittings i.e tiles, security and safety doors, grille work and other kitchen and toilet fittings etc. I have not even made issue when they wrongly installed the tiles resulting into hacking the 2x2 tiles off. Not to mention the multiple times i have to go and buy the same tiles because of wrong estimation by them, they have also wrongly installed some of bathroom fittings and bent my retractable Teka kitchen tap...sighs
sadly most of the defects started showing after we have moved in which means yes we have fully paid off the contractor. True to their word though, we did call them several times to rectify these defects..but i dunno-lah...maybe dah takde hati kan...when they repair one defect, new ones will come out until we are jaded and fed up.  they do more damage than good. Their supervisor hadari while rectifying one roof leak, dislodged the alarm sensor in the ceiling above our foyer which means we have to rectify separately.

Todate the defects (the ones that i can instantly recall)are:
1/ Cracks on the plaster ceiling in the main kitchen, family room and wet kitchen
2. Cracks on the family room wall, main kitchen walls
3. cracks on the outside retaining wall
4. wiring shorting and crackling sounds in some switches
5. damaged aircond piping (the daikin tech guys confirmed it..at the moment 2 airconds....6 more to go all installed by the contractor's men)
6. recurring wet patches on walls due to undercoat being painted on damp plaster..(has repainted many times..and we use Jotun paint)
7. 1 cctv camera not working
8. water leaks in the roof

all these cracks and such appeared only after we have moved in and now we have resorted to appointing specialist repairmen/contractors to rectify these individual defects. All these defects prevailed even after we had given them the approved drawings from a separate appointed architect.
I have to admit, the finished facade is absolutely fabulous to the naked eye..but all in all as I have said. it was a disappointment.

Will do the necessary as advised but would just caution fellow forum mates of this contractor. Dun fall for lip service.
*
sad to hear that u r actually move in... sad.gif my new house reno also got crack, and i still not yet settle the balance... that why i still can ask the contractor to come fix the crack for me until im satisfy before i settle the balance for him... tongue.gif
Becabal
post Oct 6 2011, 04:45 PM

Getting Started
**
Validating
194 posts

Joined: Jun 2011
From: MY oh MY
Hmmm from what i heard from many contractor they say if wall crack they just use some putty and paste the crack and after sometime the crack will visible back and might get bigger but this is just what i heard la dont know true or not.So what the point to repair? hmm.gif hmm.gif

This post has been edited by Becabal: Oct 6 2011, 04:45 PM
adrianjc
post Oct 8 2011, 11:43 PM

Enthusiast
*****
Senior Member
898 posts

Joined: Jul 2011


QUOTE(Becabal @ Oct 6 2011, 04:45 PM)
Hmmm from what i heard from many contractor they say if wall crack they just use some putty and paste the crack and after sometime the crack will visible back and might get bigger but this is just what i heard la dont know true or not.So what the point to repair? hmm.gif  hmm.gif
*
Usually a cracked wall is the result of an extension that did not use footings and ground beams to avoid wall sinking. Only possible fix is to dig a footing under the wall which even then may not be possible in most cases.
nandayryu
post Oct 8 2011, 11:45 PM

Regular
******
Senior Member
1,072 posts

Joined: Aug 2007
From: Where theres an open-road state


post some of the renovated parts pictures here .
David O'Mahony
post Oct 9 2011, 07:19 AM

New Member
*
Newbie
1 posts

Joined: Oct 2011
QUOTE(maverickwithagun @ Oct 5 2011, 12:26 AM)
I am an extremely dissatisfied customer. Would like to make this known so that others would not fall into this trap. Beware of a contractor named Ability Renovations and Engineering Works.
Terrible quality in the renovation materials. Cracks everywhere on the wall surfaces, leaking problems in roof areas, spots and grease marks on paint job that could never come off, horrible installation of fittings, plaster ceiling that is cracking etc. I regretted using Ability, spent so much from getting the drawing done and approved, buying premium paint, tiles and fittings and in the end, after 3 months of moving in, the house seems to be falling apart. Don't fall for the after-reno services given as well... recurring problems not solved. Ability has an absent site Manager and a good-for-nothing Indon supervisor. Overall spent 350k++ in this renovations and I get an eggshell house

Oh yes...now my second daikin aircond is having problems from the piping installed by them. How dissed am i?
vmad.gif
*
hi, thanks for letting us know - useful. I think this is a great place to share experiences with builders - good and bad - to help each other.
I am considering 2 builders to construct a small bungalow. I will give you all feedback (in a year and a half or two!) re. whomever i choose. Right now, has anybody had experience with:
GABUNGAN REKABINA SDN BHD (Kajang)
or Stewart Teo (Sri Kembangan)
or can anybody recommend one in Ampang area (where the site will be)?

I am not only specifying the design of the house, i am producing the draft bill of materials & suppliers list. Hopefully this will help ensure i get what i expect & pay for.
If anybody has advice, i'd be grateful......
Thanks in advance for feedback & I'll keep you posted.....
jforjean
post Oct 13 2011, 12:54 PM

Casual
***
Junior Member
424 posts

Joined: Mar 2011
From: Selangor
mind to share your renovation photo with us? smile.gif
weikee
post Oct 13 2011, 02:04 PM

10k Club
********
All Stars
12,019 posts

Joined: Jan 2003
We have contractor alert, maybe contractor can make a topic of "House owner alert". Why I say this, because sometime is the house owner problem, and don't want to make payment and try to make things hard for the contractor. I know such things happen.



2 Pages  1 2 >Top
 

Change to:
| Lo-Fi Version
0.0248sec    0.71    5 queries    GZIP Disabled
Time is now: 8th December 2025 - 07:36 PM