Our bathroom remodel with Coast to Coast Restoration was a mixed experience. This review is nearly eight months after completion of the project.
Our frustration was we expected the project manager to provide more proactive quality control, but we frequently found ourselves catching issues and having to stay on top of the work because we weren't confident with the crew. There were too many avoidable ‘redos’- work that had to be done twice because it wasn’t done correctly the first time.
Examples: an exterior electrical outlet was drilled through the bedroom wall even though the contracted outlet was to be inside the bathroom; bedroom walls were not properly prepped and had to be addressed twice; inadequate wall preparation in the bathroom resulted in pinholes and imperfections throughout the bathroom walls and ceilings; shower waterproofing/finish work was poorly completed; and our new vanity was measured incorrectly, requiring the drawers to be cut so they would close around the plumbing. We also caught missing insulation in the shower wall adjoining the exterior. Newly staged shower-floor tile was not protected during ceiling work, resulting in paint and construction materials getting onto the new tile. Ductwork was also damaged due to lack of attention. The crew initially replaced a much flimsier replacement- connecting flimsy flexible duct to firm rigid duct creates poor airflow, traps dirt, and violates building codes. Photos are attached documenting several of these issues- PHOTOS ATTACHED.
We had concerns about a $5,600 change order for an 87-square-foot ceiling. We were told the existing framing could not be salvaged, so we approved the additional work. Once complete, we observed that the solution involved adding two new 2 x 4s, sistering four existing joists, adding support, new insulation, and drywall; they did not have to take out all of the existing joints. After completion, we requested an itemized breakdown for our records. David C., the sales estimator, told us that because we had signed and agreed to the amount, he would not provide a breakdown. We understand that we approved the total, but felt an itemized explanation was a reasonable request.
C2C is a very responsive company. The project manager became much more responsive after we raised our concerns, with increased site visits and better communication. C2C has also been extremely responsive when we have brought up repairs or questions after completion, and they have returned to address issues, which we appreciate.
Ultimately, the bathroom looks great, but the process required considerably more oversight than we expected. We did not use C2C for any of the design work. If considering C2C, I would recommend documenting everything carefully, confirming measurements and specifications, and getting detailed written documentation for any change orders before approving them. We also recommend taking your time and getting a permit for the job.
