Kitchen Renovation

Kitchen Renovation:

On the 8th February 2021 I accepted their quote and was required to make 70% payment of the quote which was done and acknowledge by Fikile.

On Friday 12th February 2021 Lionel and the carpenter Philani arrived at my home to do final measures. It was then agreed upon that on Sunday 14th they will start with the kitchen and take out the old kitchen so on Monday they can start putting in the new cabinets. Unfortunately that was not done because the cutting of the kitchen was not complete so Fikile didn’t want me to stay without a kitchen until the cabinets was ready. I was told that the kitchen will be completed by Friday 19th February 2021.

Monday 15th, they started taking out the old kitchen which was completed around 18h00

On Tuesday 16th, nobody arrived at my premises. I raised the issue with Fikile and she sent me a text saying she wasn’t aware no one arrived and confirmed later that evening that there was load shedding in the area which delayed production to do the cupboards.

Wednesday 17th Feb, carpenter Philani arrived at 11h00 to start assembling the cupboards.

He arrived again on Thursday to continue work of which on several occasions I had to intervene and supervise due to incorrect kitchen measurements. Fikile and Lionel were never around to project manage the work being conducted. 18th Feb the guy who needed to fit in the kitchen countertops arrived to take measurements.

On the same day Fikile sent me a picture of a countertop which I didn’t agree upon, saying it was in my budget and the countertop I originally wanted was expensive. After deliberating with her and Lionel they agreed to take on the cost of the countertop I wanted. Lionel asked that I pay the additional 10% payment of the quote so he can order the right countertop, which I did on the 19th Feb.

Friday 19th the carpenter continued to work and finished installing the framing of the kitchen. Lionel came to my house on that Friday to check on the progress and advised me that the countertops will be installed on Saturday. On Saturday at 14h30 the counter tops were supposed to be delivered and installed, but that never happened.

Monday 22nd Feb, the guy arrived to fit in the countertop but couldn’t proceed because the carpenter didn’t put in the right support for the one side of the kitchen. He therefore left and no work was done on Monday which I communicated to Lionel. He was aggressive with me on the phone and told me that I’m not allowing the process to happen and I should calm down and let him deal with his staff instead of constantly interfering.

On Tuesday 23rd Feb, the carpenter arrived at 08h30 to work and left 2 hours later. No one else arrived to finish production.

Wednesday 24th, the countertops were installed. I contacted Fikile on that day to advise her that I wasn’t happy with the way things are being managed. No one is keeping time and there constant delays on having the kitchen finished. She apologized and told me that the kitchen doors are being spray painted as we speak and the kitchen should be finished on Saturday.

Thursday 25th, no arrived to complete work which I raised again with Fikile.

Friday 26th, the electrician and tiler arrived to fit in the down lights and install the backsplash. Carpenter did not arrive with the completed doors

Saturday 27th, the tiler completed tiling. At 11h00 Lionel arrived and I raised it with him that carpentered hasn’t arrived. He left in a mission to find the carpenter as he wasn’t answering his phone. At 14h00 Lionel arrived back at my home to tell me that the carpenter will arrive at 16h00 to drop off the doors and will commence work tomorrow. At 19h30 that evening Fikile and Lionel both contacted me to tell me that the carpenter will arrive at 20h30 to drop off the kitchen doors and that I should not express my anger and that they will address his unprofessional behavior with him. He did not arrive that night.

On Sunday the doors arrived at 10h00 after contacting Lionel to provide me with the update. The doors were delivered by a delivery company. The condition of the doors were appalling. They were poorly constructed and spray painted. I sent both Fikile and Lionel pictures of the poor workmanship and they agreed to personally come get the doors. I expressed to them how disappointed I was and that the kitchen is taking longer to complete and I’ve living in a construction site without an operating kitchen sink and stove. They apologized profusely and said they will get a new carpentered the next day to complete the outstanding labor. They agreed that the doors needed to be redone and eta to complete the kitchen will be Wednesday 3rd March 2021

Monday 1 March, the new carpenter arrived at 08h30. He wasn’t properly briefed on what needed to be done and I had to show and tell him what he needed to do. I called Lionel and he said he will handle it. The new carpentered took new measurements and left. That afternoon Lionel called me to say that the doors are being redone and he will be able to collect them the next day and the carpenter will be able to install and complete the kitchen on Wednesday as agreed up. I told him I need my stove installed so I can at least cook since its over week without a functioning kitchen - he said he will arrange for the electrician to arrive the next day.

Tuesday 2 March, no arrived. Lionel called me to say he say he is on the way to my house to drop off the doors and that the electrician is on his way. The doors were left in my home with improvement on the workmanship. The electrician didn’t arrive and I told Lionel of the cost I was enduring having to get takeways every day because I didn’t have a kitchen to cook in. Once again he apologized and said that electrician and carpenter will arrive tomorrow and everything will be finished. As of 4 March, the new carpenter has picked up there is 4 outstanding doors and will install what he can for now.

7 March 2021 the new carpenter raised further issues with my kitchen. Fikile and Lionel Bill arrived at my home and inspected. They told me they have endured alot of cost for my kitchen and that I need to be happy with certain adjustment with the renovations. The carpenter raised all the things he needed to fix the problem. The conversation was taken outside with Fikile, Lionel and carpenter excluding me out the conversation. The carpenter returned after 20mins to advise me that the Fikile and Lionel do not have money to finish my kitchen and refuse to pay him. I had to negotiate with the carpenter to assist and made a small payment to him of which he agreed to leave his tools behind as collateral damage. I discussed this with Fikile and she agreed to take it off my balance.

In short, I told Lionel Bill on the 13 March that my kitchen wasn't complete and that they need to complete it in the next 24 hours. He responded the next day to let me know I needed to pay the balance in order for them to finish. I have not done this and have seeked assistance elsewhere.

I have endured over R2000 in cost, buying take away and making numerous follow ups on a kitchen that needed to be completed on 19th Feb.

PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. THEY ARE A JOKE AND LACK PROFESSIONALISM