Mike Nickens Builders Job done incomplete and totally rips people off Marlette, Michigan

By the time that we were two months past the supposed completion date, we had identified that following issues:

- Highly visible drywall seams in ceilings

- Installation of drywall returns around windows that weren't even close
to manufacturer instructions - they were cracking within two months of
being completed

- Corner beading for drywall that only had about 1/2 the nails they should have had, and were starting to crack

- three tile showers that looked like it was the first time the tile
layer had tried to tile a shower. Turns out from what we found out
later, it probably was. Not only did they look horrible, but they
wouldn't drain properly

- tile floor in the kitchen that was uneven


When
we presented a written list of what we wanted fixed, Nickens just
stalled, not providing any plan as to how he was going to address the
issues. Then one day he came by and loaded up his tools, and informed
us that he had just submitted a draw. This particular draw would have
been 90% of what was remaining on the contract. When I told him that he
wasn't getting another cent until the existing issues (which involved
things we had already paid for) were addressed, and the house was
completed properly, he just shrugged.
 And also keep in mind that there was a
deposit that had never been applied to any billing.

He finally
officially walked off the job (we got that in writing). So we had to
finish the house ourselves. In the course of doing so, we decided to
take care of some subs who had done their work, and also a couple of
suppliers. When we got their billing, we found that he was attempting
to overcharge us by about 50%. And once we got a chance to see actual
billing for lumber, he charged us on the first draw an amount for rough
lumber that was far over what was actually used. Also, decided to tell us we owed
him an additional $10,000 above our agreed price!!!

We ended up
having to have the showers all demolished and retiled - glad we did, as
besides the drainage issues, the liner under the tile had not been
applied properly - they would have all leaked. The kitchen backsplash,
had to be torn down and redone. We also had to have close to half of the
dry wall in the house torn down and redone. And of course then the
house had to be repainted again - not only the new drywall, but it
turned out we were a coat shy of what we were supposed to have on the
rest of the house.

Oh, and before I forget, the enclosed hood over the stove was installed too low for code, and had to be torn out and raised.