Complaint Review: Kanler Kanler Inc

Kanler is a fictitious name and is represented by Stephen Peebles, whose personal name is not shown with the CSLB as being associated with this company. Kanler has changed their contractor’s license number multiple times within the last 7 years of operation. Looks suspicious.

Mr. Peebles claims he is a structural engineer, but if asked for his business card, he has none to offer. Nor is his name registered with the engineering licensing board.

This contractor Kanler is violating the Current California Building Code Requirements by using Douglas Fir in the construction of a two story high deck, instead of the required Pressure Treated wood or redwood. 
Before demolishing the old deck they removed the ceiling below it, which they are not willing to reinstall. Douglas Fir cannot be exposed to the weather and needs to be enclosed. Thus the construction will not pass inspection.

Kanler Inc. used discounted wood for the framing supporting our deck: mostly split or otherwise damaged unwanted posts and beams, and joists cut from the outer edge of the trees. At places the ridge of a beveled 2x8 joist would only measure less than half inch wide, not sturdy enough to support weight of the deck floor or any guardrail posts. Upon my demand to replace them, they only replaced a few, three of those compromised joists remained. The balcony is now mostly completed and waterproofed, and those faulty joists have fractured under the weight.

The S.E. plans demanded 1 1/8" (9/8") plywood (tongue & groove) to be used for flooring, Kanler planned to install 3/4" plywood, stating that the previously existing deck used that grade too.

The structural engineer called out for U28 joist hangers, but Kanler installed the shorter U26, which needed to be replaced. Ripping out nails and making new holes does not benefit the ledger’s integrity. The framing inspector demanded joist hangers to be installed at the tail end of the joists as well. Again they installed the shorter U26 joist hangers to attach to the inferior girder beam. This girder beam got installed in spite of me rejecting the inferior quality of this wood member while it was still in my driveway. Two members of the girder beam are misaligned and not even attached to the beam.

The engineering plans require one thru-bolt between each joist attaching the balcony ledger to the house, but Kanler chose to use two lag screws that were too short, attaching the balcony to only the particle board of my home. Upon my complaint, the unlicensed subcontractor told his carpenter to not pay attention to me and wanted me to delete the photo I took of the length of that lag screw reaching only into the particle sound board.

The subcontractor stated that this was the only short lag screw among all the long lag screws they used. What a coincidence! The week before that incidence the carpenter already complained that the lag screws were too short, but the subcontractor stated he could not find the longer ones.

Upon inspection by the engineer we tested a few of the easier accessible lag screws. Apparently they ripped the shorter ones out and put in longer lag screws. Installing and reinstalling screws weakens the wood, and screws are not as secure as thru required thru bolts. The girder beam of my home is now perforated with the double number of (by now stripped) holes and I do not feel it is safe to invite my guest on this deck.

The tension ties are installed crooked. The presence of small shims I found lately in the carpenter’s box would only be applicable to realign the tension ties. However, the S.E. indicated to align these ties with .5” x 2.5’ long P.T. spacers.

The deck floor is nailed into the joists and beams below, but many nails missed their destination.

Above the deck they did use good Pressure Treated wood. However, the Redwood guardrail is obviously discounted material with many knots, holes and unsightly blemishes compromising the strength of the guardrail.

The guardrail posts are only attached to the Douglas Fir girdle beam. my request to connect them to the beams or joists was ignored. While the girder beam was still on my driveway I indicated it was damaged and not suitable for construction. They installed it anyway, in a misaligned fashion.

Instead of placing the three roof bearing posts on top of the three beams according to engineering plans, they attached the posts to the side of the beams, so the load of the roof is resting on two thru bolts at each post. They refused to solve the problem by supporting the load with drop posts that reach to the ground below, but were willing to install half length sister beams, which would disrupt all blocking and nailing of the deck floor. Inevitably this would cause ruptures in the waterproofing.

Consequently the S.E. designed a custom made L6 x 3.5 bracket to support the post to the beam, which supposedly will be installed next week. My comments were ignored that the load bearing posts were installed with the wrong orientation. So the bracket will not fit. Again the construction will be compromised: The engineering plans show the long side of the 4”x6” post being parallel to the girder beam, while it has been installed perpendicular to the girder beam.

This do and redo has caused unnecessary delay, and has compromised the integrity of my home. My tenants were scheduled to move in on Sept.1, now it is September 9 and the job is not finished. I demanded $1000 in lost rent, due to keeping tenants out till Sept.8. Till now the $1000 reimbursement has not been wired to my account. They want me to sign a statement of “ change order” costing $7000, which implies that I changed plans while truly this is a remedial job to rectify their own mistake. But they would give me a $7000 “good client discount”…looks nicer in their own administration.

First the job would be finished August 11. Then they had to wait for the shipment of Redwood because the intended to do the entire job, including the guardrail with Douglas Fir. Meanwhile they took other jobs. Then they promised to finish August 31. right before my tenants move in, which prevents me from varnishing the redwood guardrail. Now the issue of corrective work indicated by the S.E. They promised to finish on Sept.7. The tension ties connecting the beams to the interior ceiling joists were installed crooked, so they still need to install spacers. They still need added support for each guardrail post. They still need to complete installing the A23 brackets on each joint of the guardrail.

Nobody showed up. Consequently the painting job delayed. New move in date for tenants is Sept.12. Rent being $5500/month, Kanler’s mistakes has caused me headaches, a compromised structure and for now $2000 loss in rent.

They refuse to come back and finish this noisy job now while the tenants are on hold. They prefer being more efficient with their time and money by coming back some later date and disturb my elderly tenants, a retired couple. Meanwhile we have to live with scaffolding. This scaffolding is in severe violation with OSHA requirements as there are no rails to protect the workers from falling while they are balancing on only one 2x8 instead of two.

Kanler Inc is a school for future contractors, administrators, accountants, etc. My project manager is a mechanical engineer who is in training for managerial education, and is not familiar with engineering plans and construction. Kanler’s secretary has sent me all forms of non-enforceable contracts. The final 17 pages formal contract is so convoluted that it will take a client several days to plough thru it, only to discover that Kanler opts to take many questionable liberties in interpreting engineering plans. Their unlicensed subcontractor stated that the detailed S.E. drawings were optional????

I've never dealt with a more amateur, incompetent, unprofessional and dishonest collection of individuals. My home served as their classroom for hands-on education.

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