How do you fix substandard, low quality work?

We're keeping a detailed log of all the repairs we've had to do after mistakenly hiring FJ Smith Contracting to do our renovations. It's a never ending, horrible experience that we wouldn't wish on anyone. So beware, it truly matters who you hire to come into your home. We mistakenly hired Francis Smith.
Here are pictures of the repair process we had to go through to fix water damage in our bathroom. After the tiles were removed, it was revealed that FJ Smith contracting didn't create a wet area around the shower - any crack in the caulking allowed water to seep under the tiles, soak the thinset, and loosen tiles to the point where some just lifted off the floor. FJ Smith contracting placed tiles over the plywood subfloor which was soaked.
The professional tilers we hired to fix FJ Smith's shoddy work, first sealed the subfloor to create a wet area, then reinstalled the tiles in the shower and bathroom floors.

Mold from Water Leak caused by Shoddy Work

Francis Smith strikes again!

We were repairing the water damage from the first leak in the Master shower when this second leak was discovered.
This water leak has damaged the drywall and created a horrific mold problem.

Repairs will take over three days. We will not be able to repair the drywall in this picture until the tile is re-grouted and the Master shower glass is resealed (assuming there is no additional leak), and this area is treated and dried out.

More Pics Coming Soon

We have a plumber scheduled to fix the leaks caused by the shoddy work of
FJ Smith Contracting and will post pictures soon.
Based on our experience, our recommendation is to avoid using this contractor.

Complaint Filed with BBB Against FJ SMITH

Francis J Smith refused to respond to a complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau. Effective immediately, FJ SMITH CONTRACTING CORP now has a negative record with the BBB:

Complaint ID 8407457

Problem:
F J Smith Contracting performed substandard work on our renovations. It took Francis Smith, the contractor, years to finish a nine month contracted renovation. He not only failed to have enough workers to complete the job but then refused to pay fines for not finishing within the contracted period. We checked with the NYC DOB and found that he was working without liability insurance for over a year. Our architect had no other choice than to fire him for poor work performance and breach of contract. We have water leaks in the plumbing system at several locations, the skylight leaks when it rains, water has seeped behind bathroom tiles; all of which have left considerable damage and will be costly to repair or replace. Walls were not plumb, water leaked through walls and ceilings and into lighting fixtures causing a safety hazard and damage to our property; marks from rotary sanders were left on our refinished wood floors. Most of FJ Smith's time was spent fixing substandard work, as demanded by the architect. This caused the project to fall behind schedule. He essentially held our property hostage, knowing that home owners will pay just about anything to get their homes back. Before the project was completed, Francis Smith demanded to be paid in full and refused to allow any work to continue, clearly breaching the terms of our contract. Our architect was forced to fire him. We also learned that Francis Smith did not compensate his subcontractors.

Unfinished and Sloppy Work

More pictures of poor workmanship by
FJS Contracting
65 West Merrick Road
Valley Stream, NY 11580-5709
(516) 561-6411

Our Contractor Likes His Walls Crooked

When we pointed out this crooked wall in the bathroom, our contractor, F J Smith Contracting, said our place was old and the walls weren't straight. Problem is, this is a new wall.
And yes, F J Smith Contracting scratched glass tiles when installing them as well.

How Not to Caulk a Skylight

Francis Smith placed caulk on top of the plastic so no seal was made where the skylight meets the wall. You can see the gap between the caulk and leftover plastic. Where is Mike Holmes when you need him?