JdK Construction Ltd / Carpentry Contractors / Carpenters in Albany

We were naive to have such an opening contract with JDK, before this experience, we thought all builders can build the house at similar cost and haven�t done much research before engaging JDK. The experience with JDK was frustrating and stressful. ( To avoid the same experience, we recommend all people seek solicitor opinion before engaging a builder)

John used to be very good in small jobs, however, the… communication/experiences in big job was terrible where most of our requests were being ignored. And the cost of the job were terrible too. ___________________

Cost:

Cost increase from 10% to 100% in most items

After we compare the standard concrete price of similar new build projects, most people were paying $220 - $230 including GST. We were charged $281.75/cubic meter including GST (which is likely at retail price) . Just the concrete and block grout is estimated to have an unreasonable cost increase of $4K. What was happening just from the start of the foundation work?

The brick laying which is ordinary finish was ridiculously over $40k.

He gave us a quote of driveway that is over $160/sqm, however, we finished our driveway including the excavation at $85/sqm including GST with the same exposed aggregate finish.

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Experiences:

We experience delay or problems with almost all suppliers / sub-contractors of JDK

Unexplained / unreasonable subcontractor's delay including (but not limited to), steel beam, roofer, bricklayer, drainlayer, gib, stair, insulation �

Two week delay in steel beam delivery �

Builder told me (yes, John never tell you a thing directly) John said roof not working under rain, however, it was a rainy day when the roofers were coming back to finish the Job.

Stair turned up 4 weeks after measure done.

A whole month delay for bricklaying was unexplained.

Front door turned up 5mm too long, and his builder spend almost whole day on it � John blamed the Joinery supplier for wrong size given in front of his builder .. however, John didn�t remember he text my husband the size that was exactly 5mm less three months ago.

Instructed his drainlayer to change the water tank location, without consulting council if amendment is needed. We have to redo the stormwater piping. I am very surprising that as an experienced builder, John De Kwant don�t realize amendment is needed to change water tank location.

John told his builder he wanted to change to Elephant board from Gib boards, as Elephant board can do delivery a week earlier (not a single word to us directly before he made this decision). Luckily, my husband insisted ordering gib � and surprisingly, gib delivery were just about three working days right after we asked for it. We later learned changing to Elephant board could be a disaster � we could have a failed post line inspection as the bracing of the house is designed with Gib not Elephand board, and then we might have to wait a few months for Amendment before we can keep things moving. I could be very surprised if John De Kwant don�t realize that!

Insulation was done two weeks after measure, suprisingly slow.

Please don�t forget John De Kwant kept his builder in our job no matter what happened, and charged us for the time spent."