I had thought that I done my research well. However, my experience with Window Concepts was a nightmare and still is. The contract was signed in mid November 2016. The estimated length of the project was 10 to 16 weeks for new front and back doors, all new windows in the house and new siding. That placed the job to be complete before the end of March 2017. After repeated calls to find out where the project was at, I never got a single call back from Window Concepts. Since I got no calls back from them I started on the inside remodeling. Finally, in the middle of April 2017 I got a call from Window Concepts. At that point, I waited 2 weeks to give them a call back as the project was already supposed to be done. I wasn't sure I wanted to continue with them.
However, I returned the call right after Memorial Day 2017. I was told I had to have everything out of the way for them to install the windows and doors. So, the remodeling stopped to get ready for the windows. Then I got a call that the windows and doors were scheduled for July 6 and the siding was to be started July 17. The windows and doors were finally installed. A week after the windows were completed and still no siding, I called them again to find out about my siding. A week later, I got a call back saying that the siding was pushed out to September after Labor Day 2017. They finally completed the siding in October 2018. However, this did not pass inspection. Inspection was finally passed at the end of November 2017 over a year after the contract was signed.
My first mistake was dealing with Window Concepts, thinking they are an honest reputable company. My second mistake was not booting them out when they were already outside of the project complete date and hadn't even started the project. One of my mistakes was believing the project manager for my job really cared. Make sure you don't pay in full until the job is completed and passed inspection. The project manager came to my house when the job was considered completed. He was there to do a quick inspection and collect the balance of the project. I didn’t pay the full balance as a window was broken by the work crew and I wanted it replaced. I held back the price of the window. The project manager said the window as ordered and on its way. He also pointed out that the city electronic water meter reader was not put back as well as the phone line box, cable box and the central air.
He gave me a date he said that the city inspection was scheduled for. They did get somebody out finally to fix the broken window, as the glass and sash were broken. However, I paid for a new window and you can clearly see that the window now looks like it was repaired and not new. They never sent anyone to do the rest of the work required to pass the inspection. Just a good thing I’m a handy person and know electrical work well. I ended up putting back the phone box, cable box, water meter reader and the central air. However, they were all pulled off the building in such a way it looked like they just ripped off the wall. What they did with the central air was so bad that I had to do some rewiring just to get it back in place and ready to pass inspection. Well, the inspection date came and went and no inspection.
Left a message at Window Concepts and again no return call. I had to call the city, which they informed me there was never a date scheduled for the inspection. I scheduled the inspection and the inspection failed. Everything I had to do for this project to be completed passed inspection. However, the window job and siding job never passed inspection. The bathroom windows were not tempered glass. They cut off the kickout flashing on the porch roof and never replaced it. They did get someone out to replace the glass in the bathroom windows, but nobody showed up to replace the kickout flashing. Now I have two more windows that I paid for new windows that you can clearly see they have been repaired. Since nobody came for the kickout flashing, I looked at it and that is how I know that the kickout flashing that was there, was cut off. I had to purchase new kickout flashing, remove the cut off kickout flashing and install the new kickout flashing. This time it passed inspection.
When they were doing the siding I was told I only needed to turn off the electricity for the outside lights and outlets. However, I just happened to come outside when they were trying to remove the first outdoor light. I had to stop them as they already did some damage to the mounting. I then removed all five outdoor lights properly. I also removed the two outdoor outlets. I call the project manager at Window Concepts and it took a day for him to get back to me. He said that they would have to hire an electrician for this. He also stated I would have to pay him. Wrong, that is part of the siding job contract. I contacted 2 other people in the neighborhood who had Window Concepts do their siding.
Their lights were all done through Window Concepts with no up charge and part of the contract. I also contacted 3 other contractors and yes, removal and replacing the outdoor lights and outlets is part of the contract as well as anything else attached to the house. Needless to say, I did not want any further delays in a project that was months outside of the contract. I properly installed all the siding electrical boxes for the lights and outlets. I also did the required wiring and reinstalled all the outdoor lights and outlets. Since that work was in the contract for the siding I wanted to get paid for my time. Which by the way is less than half what it would have cost them if they had brought someone in to do all those things I had to do. Everything I did passed inspection, but not everything they did passed inspection.
Since, the end of November 2017, I have had several pieces of siding come off. Since there was no damage to the siding that came off I put it back up. I found that it was not properly trimmed and the siding was forced to bend to lock it in place. This is why it came off in the first place. After being properly trimmed I completed he reinstallation of the siding. I made the mistake of not taking pictures. Now several more pieces have come off. This time the siding is damaged, so I called Window Concepts. As usual with them I had to leave a message. The message stated that they would return the call within 48 hours. Well, after a week I called back, talked to a receptionist and she said she would have the correct person call be back. I did get a call back that day. However, I was told they could not get someone out here to look at for a month. By that time maybe the whole side would be pulled off as the hanging pieces will be caught by the wind. What a joke for something that would take 1 person 2 hours at the most to do.
I had a friend that is an electrical contractor look at what I had done. He said that would have been a minimum of $4,000 and more than likely $5,000. This means that Window Concepts ripped me off for at least $4,000 for work I ended up doing. Since they charged me $100 an hour for any extra work they had to perform. I felt it was only fair that I charge theme the same. I sent them an invoice only for the lights, outlets, kickout flashing and reinstallation of things left hanging from the building. The invoice was $2,100, which is less than half what I would cost them that I already paid them. To date I have received nothing including no discount for the delay of all 8+ months and a down graded price for 3 windows that are not really new. My last attempt will be coming shorting in the form of a certified letter so there is a clear paper trail. This will then be handled by my lawyer from that point forward.
Buyer beware, they are not honest and as soon as they get your money you are out of luck. Of course, they already know due to everything I’ll never have them do anything again. I’m guessing that has a lot to do with them not doing the right thing money wise and ignoring me for anything else they have to or should do.
Window Concepts of Minnesota Reviews
I had thought that I done my research well. However, my experience with Window Concepts was a nightmare and still is. The contract was signed in mid November 2016. The estimated length of the project was 10 to 16 weeks for new front and back doors, all new windows in the house and new siding. That placed the job to be complete before the end of March 2017. After repeated calls to find out where the project was at, I never got a single call back from Window Concepts. Since I got no calls back from them I started on the inside remodeling. Finally, in the middle of April 2017 I got a call from Window Concepts. At that point, I waited 2 weeks to give them a call back as the project was already supposed to be done. I wasn't sure I wanted to continue with them.
However, I returned the call right after Memorial Day 2017. I was told I had to have everything out of the way for them to install the windows and doors. So, the remodeling stopped to get ready for the windows. Then I got a call that the windows and doors were scheduled for July 6 and the siding was to be started July 17. The windows and doors were finally installed. A week after the windows were completed and still no siding, I called them again to find out about my siding. A week later, I got a call back saying that the siding was pushed out to September after Labor Day 2017. They finally completed the siding in October 2018. However, this did not pass inspection. Inspection was finally passed at the end of November 2017 over a year after the contract was signed.
My first mistake was dealing with Window Concepts, thinking they are an honest reputable company. My second mistake was not booting them out when they were already outside of the project complete date and hadn't even started the project. One of my mistakes was believing the project manager for my job really cared. Make sure you don't pay in full until the job is completed and passed inspection. The project manager came to my house when the job was considered completed. He was there to do a quick inspection and collect the balance of the project. I didn’t pay the full balance as a window was broken by the work crew and I wanted it replaced. I held back the price of the window. The project manager said the window as ordered and on its way. He also pointed out that the city electronic water meter reader was not put back as well as the phone line box, cable box and the central air.
He gave me a date he said that the city inspection was scheduled for. They did get somebody out finally to fix the broken window, as the glass and sash were broken. However, I paid for a new window and you can clearly see that the window now looks like it was repaired and not new. They never sent anyone to do the rest of the work required to pass the inspection. Just a good thing I’m a handy person and know electrical work well. I ended up putting back the phone box, cable box, water meter reader and the central air. However, they were all pulled off the building in such a way it looked like they just ripped off the wall. What they did with the central air was so bad that I had to do some rewiring just to get it back in place and ready to pass inspection. Well, the inspection date came and went and no inspection.
Left a message at Window Concepts and again no return call. I had to call the city, which they informed me there was never a date scheduled for the inspection. I scheduled the inspection and the inspection failed. Everything I had to do for this project to be completed passed inspection. However, the window job and siding job never passed inspection. The bathroom windows were not tempered glass. They cut off the kickout flashing on the porch roof and never replaced it. They did get someone out to replace the glass in the bathroom windows, but nobody showed up to replace the kickout flashing. Now I have two more windows that I paid for new windows that you can clearly see they have been repaired. Since nobody came for the kickout flashing, I looked at it and that is how I know that the kickout flashing that was there, was cut off. I had to purchase new kickout flashing, remove the cut off kickout flashing and install the new kickout flashing. This time it passed inspection.
When they were doing the siding I was told I only needed to turn off the electricity for the outside lights and outlets. However, I just happened to come outside when they were trying to remove the first outdoor light. I had to stop them as they already did some damage to the mounting. I then removed all five outdoor lights properly. I also removed the two outdoor outlets. I call the project manager at Window Concepts and it took a day for him to get back to me. He said that they would have to hire an electrician for this. He also stated I would have to pay him. Wrong, that is part of the siding job contract. I contacted 2 other people in the neighborhood who had Window Concepts do their siding.
Their lights were all done through Window Concepts with no up charge and part of the contract. I also contacted 3 other contractors and yes, removal and replacing the outdoor lights and outlets is part of the contract as well as anything else attached to the house. Needless to say, I did not want any further delays in a project that was months outside of the contract. I properly installed all the siding electrical boxes for the lights and outlets. I also did the required wiring and reinstalled all the outdoor lights and outlets. Since that work was in the contract for the siding I wanted to get paid for my time. Which by the way is less than half what it would have cost them if they had brought someone in to do all those things I had to do. Everything I did passed inspection, but not everything they did passed inspection.
Since, the end of November 2017, I have had several pieces of siding come off. Since there was no damage to the siding that came off I put it back up. I found that it was not properly trimmed and the siding was forced to bend to lock it in place. This is why it came off in the first place. After being properly trimmed I completed he reinstallation of the siding. I made the mistake of not taking pictures. Now several more pieces have come off. This time the siding is damaged, so I called Window Concepts. As usual with them I had to leave a message. The message stated that they would return the call within 48 hours. Well, after a week I called back, talked to a receptionist and she said she would have the correct person call be back. I did get a call back that day. However, I was told they could not get someone out here to look at for a month. By that time maybe the whole side would be pulled off as the hanging pieces will be caught by the wind. What a joke for something that would take 1 person 2 hours at the most to do.
I had a friend that is an electrical contractor look at what I had done. He said that would have been a minimum of $4,000 and more than likely $5,000. This means that Window Concepts ripped me off for at least $4,000 for work I ended up doing. Since they charged me $100 an hour for any extra work they had to perform. I felt it was only fair that I charge theme the same. I sent them an invoice only for the lights, outlets, kickout flashing and reinstallation of things left hanging from the building. The invoice was $2,100, which is less than half what I would cost them that I already paid them. To date I have received nothing including no discount for the delay of all 8+ months and a down graded price for 3 windows that are not really new. My last attempt will be coming shorting in the form of a certified letter so there is a clear paper trail. This will then be handled by my lawyer from that point forward.
Buyer beware, they are not honest and as soon as they get your money you are out of luck. Of course, they already know due to everything I’ll never have them do anything again. I’m guessing that has a lot to do with them not doing the right thing money wise and ignoring me for anything else they have to or should do.