For heaven's sake, what happened to this company? Yelp reviews up until Fall, 2023 seemed to be positive, yet if subsequent reviews are to be believed, things have taken a precipitous drop since then.
In October, 2023 we found a rat had chewed through our dishwasher's drain hose when we discovered water had flooded under our (new) kitchen floor. Our insurance adjuster suggested we call RCA to remediate the problem. Two women came out, nicely masked the floor leading to the kitchen with plastic and paper, and brought in large dehumidifiers. At that point I was so impressed that I left a review here on Yelp commending them.
Alas. While a week of those roaring machines and the kitchen's oven, microwave and sink being blocked off by plastic sheeting wasn't fun, it was to be expected. What wasn't, was when they showed up, removed the sheeting, declared the flooring dry and told us we could now use the sink. Fast-forward to the next morning when I pulled the sink plug after doing some dishes and witnessed a flood of soapy water come gushing out of the cupboard and onto the floor. Turns out they had neglected to plug the exit to the garbage disposal. Back came the dehumidifiers and up went the plastic wall again.
Meanwhile, we were being given the run-around about the materials. We wanted the same cork flooring, but for some reason their supplier back east couldn't find it. Time passed. Dates set, but no action. Tripping over the uneven edges of the flooring was irritating. I finally went online, found five dealers with the flooring and sent them a list.
(Now, why they didn't realize from the beginning that if a floor is made of click-in panels, you'd have to take up the flooring from one side of the kitchen all the way to the damaged part, I don't know. And why they wouldn't initially understand that if flooring panels are being used, the ENTIRE floor must go if everything is to match color-wise? (More about that later.)
Finally, months later. The flooring guys came in and put in a whole new floor. As we were not standing over them, we didn't catch that a part of the floor beyond the dishwasher had surrendered to dry rot. Apparently that didn't faze them, as they simply laid the floor over it. A gap in the wall behind the uninstalled baseboard alerted us to this, as did the way the floor gently squished down when you stepped on it where there was no flooring underneath, only a void. Additionally, they had inserted a panel from the old, faded floor under the kitchen table, which was markedly lighter.
Unacceptable. Back they came and ripped up the floor again, this time only partway. Using the old, faded panel and another as no-go zones, they taped off the partially ripped-up edge with instructions not to step on it. As I couldn't trust that the faded panel wouldn't be used again, I even taped a warning on it. So, the dry rot was fixed, and the floor was laid for the second time.
All done? Not quite. We looked at the floor and--what's that? The flooring guys had taken the old, faded panel and stuck it right in the middle of the new floor! Check out the attached photo--we were incredulous! How, HOW could someone--a flooring professional, at that--do this? So, the floor was reinstalled for a third time.
Finally, the project manager, a very enthusiastic guy, came for the "walk-through." We pointed out that the wood trim covering the divide between the flooring and the carpeting was crooked, leaving some previous flooring exposed. Oh, he said, would you like someone to come back and fix this? We can do that! (I wanted to say, are you out of your mind?? Just get out of my house and never come back.)
Then he had the nerve to bring out a bill for the unpaid half of the dry rot work. No, we were not going to pay that, not after this four-month trauma. I told him that this remediation had been a homeowner's nightmare. Really?? he actually queried. He just couldn't understand why! I was insulted that he thought his disingenuous attitude would pacify me.
Overall, difficulties could be attributed to the unavailability of the office management and staff, the inexplicable delays, and the scattershot subcontractors used (and their scanty if non-existent English). Our insurance company has been informed of this unfortunate incident; I can only assume it will not refer clients to RCA in the future.
If you, the reader, have any doubts about this experience, I refer you to Ash M.'s review in November, 2023; Rebecca M.'s in January, 2024; and Jaime E.'s review in April, 2024. read more