Complaint Review: Rob Loots and Janelle Loots

Rob Loots/R & E Custom Construction was hired to do some construction/remodeling work May, 2010.  He was to build a deck, and remodel 2 bathrooms.  He submitted a proposal for this work to be done, the total amount was to be $25,000. 

When he started the construction, he did not notify the utilities companies for them to flag for lines, etc.  Consequently, he cut into the gas line, resulting in police, fire engines and gas company coming to the house.  That should have been a red flag for us to check him out, but, we still trusted him at that point.  He is an extremely personable person, and treats you like a friend.

We found out later that he didn't file for a building permit, as he is not a licensed building contractor!  When he finally started the work on our two bathrooms (he only works 3-4 hours a day), it took several weeks to install a jacuzzi tub, do tile work and move the toilet, that was in one bathroom.  He cut a large hole in the wall between the bathroom and bedroom and hid it behind the dresser.  We didn't find that out until later.

When demoing the other bathroom, he was to remove the bathtub and install a walk-in shower, he was using a reciprocating saw and cut through the wall into the adjoining bedroom, which had a custom paint job.  He cut through in 3 places.  The tile work he did in that bathroom was a complete mess as he used the wrong grout, didn't install the correct moisture barrier, etc. etc.

Ultimately we ended up hiring a reputable contractor to come in and fix the work he botched, this ended up costing us an additional $6,000. 

Also we decided to have a porch built over the deck he constructed.  Only this time we got estimates from other contractors and because he came in $10,000 over the contractor we ultimately hired, he became very angry.  Thank heavens we hired the other contractor, as we then found out that the construction work done for the deck was very bad and had to spend another $4,000, plus.

This guy is a scam artist and does not know the first thing about construction, tile work, etc., etc.
Do not hire him to do anything even remove snow.  He needs to be stopped.  Before he was even half finished doing our work, he had asked for the rest of the money up front and more.  He is still working, as we have seen ads in the paper for construction/remodeling work.  He also has posted notices on boards at various businesses for work to be done.