BEWARE OF Ontario 1 Construction & Renovation Group Inc. They have abandoned my basement renovation and taken my money leaving the work incomplete, done incorrectly, without proper inspections requiring us to open up walls.+++
I was referred to John B and his partner Frank D of Ontario 1 Construction and Renovation Group Inc. From the moment we met, John was quite a talker, bragging about how amazing he was. We overlooked his lack of modesty and inability to listen due to the trusted source of his referral. Should have checked Homestars first etc....
We paid extra for John to work with the town, separate a previous single permit into 2 permits which he claimed he had done. Not true. He informed me regularly that he was working with the Town to correct permits issues and get all required inspections. Bragging he was licensed with the Town and that they knew him well. Not true. He said he talked them into splitting the project into 2 permits so we could complete the 1st phase right away. He did not. On many occasions we asked for paper updates, and an accounting of expenses/ costs to date, and promised we'd get them, but nothing given. Our long list of problems and deficiencies which make it clear John B is not the pro he claims to be.
Each contractor he hired also talked directly to us concerned that he was not coordinating things properly, not doing the work well, asking them to take short cuts etc. His onsite guy, who had never worked with previously, was very concerned every step of the way, and had threatened John that he would quit.
To date the Town has never spoken to him about splitting the permit, and don't know him other than a couple of inspections ordered. John said the work would be completed in a professional timely manner (2 months) and that he would take extra care of us due to our previous GC mess. Months have gone by. I have given $6k to a qualified licenced electrician and $24k to John Burke for about $12 k of work to date.
He understood my circumstances and knew that I had just taken out this final line of credit available to me to complete the basement apartment. In order to live here I need to have income from rent.
John B walked off the job a week ago after pushing and yelling at me saying he was done and keeping the money, go ahead and sue. He didn't even give us a reason why! I did call the police and asked that they go and get my permits, proof of inspection approvals etc. from him. He told them his job was done and everything was in a file in the basement. Not true. Now we find out his cheque to the drywaller bounced.
I have pictures if interested. We notified the Town of Oakville and they have informed me that the predrywall inspection had not been completed, yet he had it drywalled!!. John B had the basement drywalled before passing inspection for insulation/ hvac/ plumbing, and without all the proper framing being done, or preparation for the work behind the wall that is required for our outside enclosure. I now have to open drywall costing me even more money.
I have a signed contract and proof of payment. John B refuses to show us an accounting of all my money. They have now changed their email addresses. I now have to pay back a LOC that was to complete my basement yet it is not near finished.
John B did at best $12,000 worth of work, and poorly, yet ran with $24,000 of my money!
I know that he is quoting other jobs and I don't want anyone else to suffer at his incompetence. He had NO trades of his own and every trade that worked at our house informed us that John B was a fast talker and we should not trust him. That he didn't know what he was doing and indeed that was proven. One even forewarned us that he's contractors like John before, and that he believed John B would walk from the job leaving us high and dry.......Arrrggghh.
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