I hired Sea Beast Design & Construction (Sebastian Barbagallo) as General Contractor for a…read moreresidential project in Fair Lawn, NJ under a written contract in March 2026..
I paid Sea Beast $68,190 against the contract and separately paid $17,176 directly for materials I had no contractual obligation to pay -- $85,366 total -- yet MULTIPLE major scope items remained incomplete or not meaningfully progressed with only weeks left on the schedule. These included the porticos, exterior brick samples, simple framing and finish details, unable to install simple door hardware, the HVAC condenser pad (the condenser itself was paid for but not on site), step repointing and masonry, main electrical service, exterior hardware, interior doors (despite a $3,000 advance for them), and the kitchen, which was never properly coordinated, ordered or released.
Sea Beast also failed to provide the conditional lien waivers, a simple bill that wasn't a demand for money that needs to be today which was required with each progress payment, and continued to demand additional payment while materially overbilled relative to work completed.
I issued a formal Notice of Performance Issue on April 4, 2026 requiring a written cure plan, manpower and sequencing plan, procurement status, revised schedule, lien waivers, and payment reconciliation. Sea Beast acknowledged receipt but did not provide the required cure documentation. I issued a Notice of Default on April 8, 2026 under the contract's default provision, which required cure commencement within 36 hours. The required cure was not provided. I terminated the contract for default and am pursuing damages.
I would not hire Sea Beast Design & Construction again and would not recommend them for residential general contracting work. I've filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs.