Do not use Hero Construction (Complex Care 1)

DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY We used Hero Construction and their sister company Complex Care 1, to complete a small renovation at our home, consisting of a Domestic Quarters with a new bathroom and a room extension (which required new foundations; a new roof/ceiling with Kliplock roofing sheets and Isoboard ceiling inside); and then a new Master ensuite bathroom to be built inside the main house to replace the older smaller bathroom.

We supplied approved building plans, which stipulated all foundation sizes; roofing sizes; lintels required etc etc. A quote was given, and we accepted it based on the approved plans (so we thought). At the end of the project, we received an updated quote which had increased by 20%. The renovation was scheduled to take 6-8 weeks maximum. It ended up taking 24 weeks (yes you read right… 6 months for 3 small rooms!) and unfortunately no penalties had been established upfront, so we had no recourse and were at the mercy of this unprofessional company. Long snag lists took 3 months to address. At one point the roof started leaking in multiple places and they took an entire week simply come out and look at it. 2 months after the renovation was completed the domestic quarter Isoboard ceiling fell down, and we had to pay out of our own pockets to redo it entirely from scratch, as this company refused to take accountability for it. We also discovered they had used a generic (much cheaper) Isoboard product, and when we sourced our own quote from the official Isoboard company, turns out they’d marked up the materials by 50%. I don't mind people making margins but not on materials. They used our tools (wheelbarrows, ladders, even our grinder and drill at one point) and ruined the wheelbarrow, and ladder is not far off... when we requested they replace or take accountability they push back and refuse.

This company epitomises everything wrong with South Africa’s construction industry. They take your business, start well, and then take on more jobs and work slows down on your job delaying your project. Builders seem to not understand or care that we are the ones living with the dust and mess daily. Our daughter developed such bad asthma because of the dust and mess, she had to go onto chronic medication. These builders just lie and do things in an unprofessional manner, and we as the customer are left to foot the bill and pick up the pieces.

If you come across this company, I urge you to steer clear.

This is their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064208763922

The owner is Piet Nieuwenhuizen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piet-nieuwenhuizen-ab17a3bb/