Jayman Innovation Masterbuilt Blog Review Builder

I have amazing news for me, any future buyers, and anyone else that has had bad service by Jayman!!!

I am officially on the second page of Google even with just the words "Jayman Blog".

Yes, my title is to just give it that extra kick for having Google be able to find it.

Mua ha ha ha <---- Evil happy laugh!!

Oh aaaand......

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

Here's the pumpkin I made for tonight!!

Witch Putting Lizard Into Cauldron.

Jayman Innovations Really Means Dolts R Us

Progress:

So after harassing Jayman to do their job (apparently that's the only way to the job done) we finally got our front landscaping done October 16, 2012.  We had enough time to water it twice before it snowed and it hasn't gotten any warmer since.  We are quite worried about the time frame and if it will have had enough time to have properly taken root.

"Turf largely avoids these problems, and with proper care, newly laid sod is usually fully functional within 30 days of installation and its root system is comparable to that of a seeding lawn two or three years older." - Wikipedia

That being said, two days if far from enough time for our lawn to be properly installed and that isn't including that they didn't install it properly and we have a large gap because they didn't lay them quite side by side.  I don't understand why Jayman can't do things right the first time or on time.  Jayman this year won the lottery for being the first company to have access to the dirt and sod (the developer has a lottery for all builders and if your second or third in the "win" then you don't get the material to do landscaping until later) so there isn't any reason why they waited until two days before it snowed.

So a week before our sod was installed I had a meeting with the warranty manager to show him what has not been done.  Again, I was pretty much told I was crazy for our master bedroom being drafty (remember how I said we upgraded to triple pane windows but we have a draft like we have single pane 25 year old windows).  Well I showed him (I didn't know exactly where it was coming through so we almost missed it) but our master bedroom windows weren't installed properly and the window is bowed and has a couple inch gap once you take out the screen.  Well All Weather Windows just called me yesterday saying they JUST got the work ticket even though the meeting was almost three weeks ago.  I have to wait until November 19th but then they were like "well, I guess you'd want it sooner so we could do a rush".  Rush means apparently that no set date potentially and that they will call me 30 minutes before they are going to be there and at any given time I have to leave work (which is 25 minutes away) to meet them.  More than a month to wait in winter (yes, in Alberta right now it is winter; -9 and we have snow and it's only going to get much much colder) for the very large draft in the master bedroom.  It's ironic in a way because we upgraded our windows so our house would be more efficient and we would save on utilities...well, this winter we're getting the opposite.  Maybe i'll laugh about this five years down the road.

After 1.5 years of me telling Jayman to only call me and not my partner they still call him everytime.  Everytime I deal with them I remind them not to call him as at any given time he could be in meetings or with a partner but every single time they call him.  I don't understand how an established company can be so idiotic.  If you have children (even very young ones) how many times would you have to tell them something similiar: once? twice?  Our children aren't slow and so you'd expect that they could function better than a four year old.

So after a rage filled email to get things done (they seem to only ever respond and do their job after I do this which that's another thing I don't understand.  Shouldn't it be the opposite?  Respond to nice emails?  Well they seem to disregard those ones) we have FINALLY got our trenching done for the electrical cord going to our garage pad that they had to redo because they put the wrong wire in it (I have not been able to plug my car in because of this...well, that's a lie, I've had to put a really long orange extension cord running from the house to my car to plug it in).  So now i'm waiting on them to finish installing the wires so that the plug in for the pad is usable.  Hopefully that happens sooner than later.

So after meeting with Jayman I was suppose to have the electrician call me the next day to set a date as to when he'd come by and fix our island in the kitchen (it doesn't have any electricity running or working on it).  It's almost been three weeks and he's never set a date with us and he didn't even call us until two weeks later.  I had someone call me while I was out of town and I was sure it was the electrician that set up the appointment today but when he called (a week after the other call) he didn't know what I was talking about.  I don't know how it worked out but another electrician came by today (separate companies) to look at the island.  So going by the history of this blog and how Jayman works, what do YOU think happened?  Well, they couldn't fix it (and that's not because they were incompetent).  So not only did the other electrician not even wire the cords to the "easy box" the cord isn't even right behind it and since we have a finished basement it's not an easy fix.  There is a working cord running to the breaker but it's too far down so they have to get someone else in the take apart the island.  What does Jayman do with this information?  They tell me that the original electrician is going to try to come by today at "some time" to tell me exactly the same thing that the first one told me.  One: why do I want the electrician that couldn't even wire the easy box to come in if his work is that shoddy?  Two: why do I want to waste my time and have someone tell me for a second time the problem?

Jayman running their business like they are isn't doing them any favours at all.  I know for a fact i'm not an outlier in having this type of service as I've read other blogs and heard from other people.  The more people they give bad service to and don't do things right in the first place the more bad word gets around and that is death to companies.  Granted bigger ones it takes quite a bit longer but still, it's not good for business.

The last problem I have at the moment is the paint is flaking off around the front door, the front closet, and the master bedroom.  That I assume is an easy fix so we shall wait and see what happens toward the springtime as that is when they recommended it be fixed (winter will dry everything out).

The "Lamp" Picture

Progress:

So after two months of fighting about the concrete being poured extremely poorly (well it's not really fighting as they just didn't get back to me).  I was fed up after trying to get them to answer and I filed an official compliant with the Better Business Bureau and the very next day I get an email saying that they will replace my apron.  Funny how that works.  I did also contact the people Jayman "said" they were going to contact which is the Alberta Ready Mixed Concrete Association (ARMCA).  It also helped that I work next to engineers who deal with concrete in every kind of way from overpasses, highways, sidewalks, curbs, etc.

Did I already say my Hunter Douglas blind cord snapped?  Well, it did but I am bringing it in on Monday to have it fixed which shouldn't be too big of an issue.

NOTE: If you are building with Jayman watch out for where your oven is in correlation to your fire alarm.  Mine is under my alarm and so I have to make sure all windows are open and the fan is on and that isn't even when you burn something.  I don't know if you can make them on opposite sides but if you can, definitely try because it makes things a little bit harder.

And to my lovely co-worker; here are the pictures I promised you (sorry for them being a bit late):

The far right corner is where the lamp will be going.

Better view of the type of living room we have.  Phantom is laying underneath the table staring at me.

Not Much Progress Really

Progress:

So just to give an update on where our house is at.  We have waited for a very long time for Jayman to get back to us regarding our concrete pad but either they have conveniently forgotten or they couldn't find an engineer that would sign their name to their incorrect pour.

Sadly, we have also found out the backsplash in the master bedroom is crooked ever so slightly (doesn't matter too much I guess though as I don't know how you would fix that so it's just easier to not bring that one up to them aside from maybe letting them know so they can maybe be careful with that in the future, who knows).

Odd thing: our light switches are slightly crooked too.  Not the outside but the part that you press (again not something that I will bring up and that one might even be from the manufacturer itself).

Oh! Our Hunter Douglas blinds broke, yup yup.  The cord that you would open the blinds snapped in our kitchen.  Many of our blinds seem to have this weak point on the cord (not one that should be there).  Will let this know how it all goes down.

Our neighbours aren't having much luck with their builders either (their paid for garage pad that's suppose to have been up a month ago hasn't been because their builder hasn't poured the "curb" for the pad).  Among other things of course.

Ooooh and we're missing a part of our concrete walkway (so we get a moat when it rains) but I don't know what is happening with that though.

Light in the Darkness?

So if you've been reading regularly you have undoubtedly read the issues we have been having with Jayman.

Here is a bit more information as well as some good news!  Ta da, who knew!

So in regards to the concrete that we have a problem with; I have talked to my engineers at work that deal with concrete and here is what they say:

       
            1. The rebar is doing absolutely no good now as reinforcing.
            2. No bond now between the layers.  It will break up and the design strength will not be there.
            3. Cold joints between layers are never recommended.  Any moisture settling in the cold joint may lead to degredation of the concrete (as water expands and freezes cracking will occur and joint susceptible to shear.
            4. If any engineer signed off on this (which they wouldn't) they could be sued.

So they have contacted ARMCA (the Alberta Ready Mix Concrete Association) which is a good start because my engineers gave me their contact information as well.  Granted if they come and say that "some engineer" said it's fine i'll be finding out whether it is a real life engineer (real and practicing) and talking to him personally to see what he actually said.

in regards to the patio door leaking, the window has been fixed but we are waiting to see if they fix the seal that has to do with the frame of the house itself or I guess the "deck people".  Not too sure exactly who they are though.

So I have made a meeting with Jayman and a few contractors who are suppose to be coming at 8am which is relatively working with my schedule so kudos to Jayman, it only took over a year and a few ragings (not a word but "Hulk impressions" would be too strong).  I am on "vacation" that week so I have it off but I have to leave relatively early so 8am makes me a happy camper.

The new problem we have found is that they only ran 14 gauge wire to the pad and it is suppose to have been run for 20 amps.  But they are going to look at it the same day that they come on the 8th. 

I have been dealing with the manager of the warranty area for Jayman and so far he has been exceptional.  Maybe it's because he always is maybe it's because i've been a little rage monster but either way i'm happy.  Especially because I no longer have to deal with their admin employee or whoever she is but she was horribly useless and I know that sounds bad but you give me a nice way of saying not competent and i'll go with that instead. Not living up to the scope of her job?  That one sounds a bit better.  I better stop writing before I start to ramble some more.

Little Jayman Shop Of Horrors

"Progress"

So dealing with Jayman I think a good way to describe it is like being in a bad relationship.  You have the "honeymoon" phase for the first four months as they court you and things are lovely because they haven't got you money yet.  But after that honeymoon phase it's like being in a abusive relationship.

If you look that is what this blog is like.  The first four months are all good things and excitement and then the abuse starts.  If there is one thing readers go away from this blog knowing it is to not build with Jayman.  Everytime I deal with them it confirms that they have as good customer service as Telus (you know where you wait on the phone for three hours and then they accidentally hang up on you).  I will never recommend this company...not even to a person I didn't like.  If you do still want to build with them I again recommend not upgrading anything because even their base builds they have troubles with.

So here are the updates:

- Don't know if i've commented on this before but one of the bedroom doors doesn't close.  To be more specific it does close but when it's "closed" I don't have to turn the latch, I can just push the door with my finger lightly and it opens.

- One thing I am curious about are the locks on the doors.  Most locks, you can still kind of get in if you really have to by getting a butterknife or something (say your child locks itself in and for some reason can't open the door...my sister has done that before...so it's good to be able to get in that way) but these locks you don't even have to have nails to turn them.  Makes it interesting when needing privacy, you really have to trust the other person to not open the door.  That really isn't a Jayman problem but a door problem but it's interesting to note.

- Hey, you guys remember that concrete?  So the woman that we deal with, I may as well be talking to a door for the responses I get...or lack there of.  No one got back to us on the concrete but All Weather Windows and Jayman came in today (they didn't phone like they were suppose to so I could come from work to see them instead of missing work and sitting around the house...it takes me 25 minutes to get home, luckily Tyler was home for them as he worked from home just in case they didn't call) and looked at the windows (will get to that on the next point).  So what the person from Jayman had to say about the concrete was: "If there are any problems it would normally surface in the first year".  I'm sorry, you f*** up and you want me to wait and see if anything surfaces in the next year?  We wanted to build a garage...if we build a garage (even if we wait until after a year is up) what are they going to do then?  I've talked to many professionals as well as posting on the Mike Holmes forum and everyone says that they need to fix their mistake and do it over again.

http://www.mikeholmesfanforum.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=51758

- Those leaky ol' windows: so I touched base last time with the fact that the patio windows are leaking.  The problem is a combination of the windows themselves AND the guys that did the balcony didn't do a proper seal!!  REALLY?!?!

Oh, can I say again the Weiss Johnson is wonderful?  They came by on Sunday and were very competent and quick and they installed everything that was suppose to be in our one upgrade and they even fixed the flap flap flap on the side of our house!!!  Remember I asked Jayman before I chose the upgrade to make sure that sound wasn't there and when it was they told me to buy a ladder, do it myself, and put some sort of two sided tape on it?  I will definitely be looking into getting an air conditioner from Weiss Johnson in the future due to their customer service and competence of the technician.

Oh and I found Jayman missed a paint spot on our roof when they walked through the house before we moved in.  That one i'll give them because it's in such a weird spot we didn't notice it until two weeks ago.  Hopefully it will be fixed though.

Here is a link to another womans blog I found about Jayman.  Much older (2004).

More Problems With Jayman Innovations

Progress:

I was expecting this blog to be done by now because this blog was set up for friends and family to see the progress of the house.  Now it seems it is turning into a blog to warn people NOT to build with Jayman Innovations, or anything Jayman really.  I am very sad to say that I don't have any good new for this update as that is the theme lately I guess.  Here's the update:

- Remember that clean air option that I talked about last time and how they didn't really believe me that they didn't install it.  Well they made an appointment to come fix it (or so I thought).  What ended up happening is they got the guy to come in to check if we had the two stage furnace.  Well, gee wiz people, that is the only item from our upgrade that we actually had!!  Good thing I kept the paper that lists what came with the upgrade because we didn't have a single item on it other than the furnace and that was a $5,000 upgrade.  Very con-artist like of them.  The Weiss Johnson guy was exceptional.  He not only has made it so that all my parts will be in he has scheduled a time for Sunday that he will come in (odd how Weiss Johnson can work around my work schedule and Jayman can't (even though it's their f**k ups i'm missing work for) and I didn't even spend the price of a house with Weiss Johnson for them to do that.  I have nothing but good things to say about Weiss Johnson (see, i'm not always negative lol).

- The plumber came in yesterday as well to fix the master bathtub and it went smoothly but now our toilets make this weird sound when we flush it and I'm hoping that maybe he just didn't turn the water on fully but we'll see.

- While I was home yesterday, it was raining, and I found that the third floor balcony door/window leaks.  I've contacted Jayman and they think it's the windows.  The leak is in the doorway/slider area but it also seems to be leaking right where the carpet meets the wood under the window (not coming down from the window but underneath the wood).  The other weird thing is it's not just wet right under the window but over the couple hours of it leaking there were wet spots a few inches from the window and not touching each other.  So Jayman has to set up a meeting with me and the All Weather Windows (which I doubt very much it was their installation that screwed it up but we'll see) and I bet you money they are going to say they can't do it unless it's during my working hours.

This door has not been opened.  The sliding door is on the right hand side and it slides to where that water is.

Right in front of my fingers is all extremely wet carpet.  3 inches from that is the wet spots.

- One more big kicker of a problem.  So they pour our concrete pad for us and then we build our own garage later.  So when they came by to pour it they only poured part of it and then left.  This would probably have been fine if they had come back right away and not waited three plus hours and it had dried enough that my friend could STAND on it without making prints!!  Anyone knows even a smidgen about concrete knows this is EXCEPTIONALLY bad!!  To anyone that doesn't the simplified version of this is that you basically now have two layers of concrete...two seperate layers...and those two separate layers are going to move, expand, etc at different rates which is bad when there is going to be a building on top.  I am hoping that they will change this because if they don't fix it and we build a garage on it and if they moved in the worst way and caused structural damage to the garage what am I suppose to do years down the road sue them because they didn't fix it in the first place?  Not a fan of that option at all.

Dry Concrete...lovely.

-  Oh, here's a weird one.  So we have a square island that we don't have a sink in.  The lights that are above the island and they are small hanging lights that are three across in a horizontal line.  They are not centre to the island but they are installed like there should be a sink (if there were a sink there the lights would be right above them and it would make sense).  The bigger problem which is more of a safety problem is that the big hanging light that would be over your dining room table is over so far to the island that you can't centre it over your table EVEN if you had the smallest table you could buy.  There is no way even with a tiny table that you could seat guests on this side of the table unless you move the table off centre.  You have to move it off centre enough that even average height people will still smash their heads on it if their not careful.

Oh!!  The Weiss Johnson guy is also going to fix the slam slam slam that I talked about yesterday where Jayman told me to get a ladder and do it myself even though I specifically asked about it before I got the upgrade.