MBC Construction

We had MBC construction do our whole home renovation: removal of structural walls, fabricate new kitchen, install new flooring throughout, install crown moulding throughout, removal of popcorn ceilings, fabricate custom desks (three) in den, fabricate two separate walk-in closets, re-staining all the stairs and installing new pockets and paint the entire house.

First off I want to say that Max and Chris did do everything in their power to ensure we were satisfied with the work. Even going as far as replacing the stair pickets three times because we were not happy with them.

But as the renovation went on things got worse and worse up until the end where Max got very weird about the last payment/outstanding work which I'll get into more later.

Some things we would do different had we known:

MBC contracts are very vague by design. That way it leaves a lot of room for up-charging. They will quote you the basic everything (flooring,faucets,cabinet handles,etc,etc) so when you want so and so handles or flooring, we'll guess what: "that will be more money".

Second downside to vague contract is their sub contractors will do what they want without consulting the home owner. For example: we wanted lighting installed in our walk-in cabinets. I asked the electrician to install two outlets so I could go out and buy any type of light I want and simply plug it in. The electrician took it upon himself to run two low voltage wires into the cabinets instead and left them hanging loose. When I questioned him about it he said: no problem; but whatever you lights you want and I'll come install them. So I did and now he won't answer my calls. So now I have two loose wires in the cabinet and two lights sitting here that I cannot install. Great. Thanks for that. When not just install two outlets like I asked?

They leave a very messy work environment. Many of my ceiling lights were taken down for the popcorn ceiling removal and were left here and there on the floor so two or three ended up broken and the rest were re-installed with paint and plaster all over them.

They left live wires hanging out of the kitchen cabinet where our wall oven was to be installed. When I questioned wether they needed to be in an electrical box I was told: " No they don't". Really? Actually they do need to be by code. Scary stuff.

I asked Max to come and measure my house so I know how much flooring I needed to buy. He over estimated by 400 sq ft so I was stuck with all that extra flooring which he refused to compensate me for.

The framing for the walls they put up was not straight. One box they made to cover a vent was ridiculously not square. And when I pointed it out they said: "it's fine". No, it's not fine.

They messed up the fire sensor for our house alarm then expected me to figure out how to fix it.

They don't really pay attention to detail and they cut corners everywhere. For example they were to paint all the interior doors. So for the basement door they only painted one side. When questioned why the said the other side is part of the basement and not part of the renovation. Really? How hard would it be to have painted the other side as well. We replaced all the base trim on our baseboards so they did the entire house minus the laundry room. So now we have two different base trim in our house. Why not do the laundry room as well? Makes no sense.

At the end things got odd as far as payments and the last bit of work to finish. Max wanted alm the remaining money owing and I wanted to hold back about 10K until everything was finished as we had appliances yet to be delivered and I wanted to make sure everything fit in the new kitchen. Max pushed hard for the money and even got offended saying when I suggested I wanted to make sure they finishe the work if I paid the money ahead of time saying: " it's not about the money for us; it's about keeping the customer happy". So I agreed to pay everything monus 2K. So guess what happened after the appliances came and the wall oven didn't end up fitting in the cabinet? Max and MBC construction stopped answering my messages. They never came back. Now I have a wall oven that doesn't fit in the cabinet. Thanks a lot. I would not recommend them to anyone I know.