Michele S.
Beware of this contractor
I had a very disappointing experience with Bayside Builders Group, Inc. (California Contractor License #1081484) on my bathroom remodeling project. The scope of the project was relatively straightforward: address and clean up mold, remove the existing bathroom tile and flooring, install new tile and flooring, and install a vanity and bathroom fixtures. It should have been a manageable bathroom remodel. Instead, the project lasted approximately 140 days and involved significant delays, poor workmanship, repeated visits, and multiple items that had to be corrected or completely redone. Workmanship was one of my biggest concerns. The bathroom faucets were installed incorrectly and required several visits before the work was completed. The tile work was not properly finished or grouted and had to be redone. During the project, an adjacent wall was damaged and had to be repaired. Unfortunately, that repair was also poorly done and required several attempts to correct. The shower faucets and controls were also installed incorrectly. I had to explain to the workers how the shower controls were supposed to operate and even showed them Kohler installation/instructional videos demonstrating how the components should function. It ultimately took three attempts before the shower controls were installed and operating correctly. As a homeowner, I did not expect to have to research the manufacturer's instructions and teach the people performing the work how the fixtures they were installing were supposed to operate. I found myself repeatedly identifying problems, following up, scheduling additional visits, and waiting for work to be corrected. In my experience, there did not appear to be adequate supervision or quality control to ensure that the work was done properly the first time. Another major concern was knowing who was actually working in my home. I requested a list of the workers who performed work on my project, whether they were Bayside Builders employees or subcontractors, and the applicable contractor license information for subcontractors. I also requested appropriate lien releases. Getting clear and complete information was difficult. I also had concerns about the company's business address. I personally went to the address associated with the company at 1151 Harbor Bay Parkway in Alameda and found what appeared to be a locked room with no Bayside Builders signage. I subsequently received a different Los Angeles address from the company's office manager. This added to my concerns and confusion about the company's operations. This project required far more time, follow-up, oversight, and frustration than I expected when hiring a licensed general contractor. A homeowner should not have to continually monitor a remodeling project, identify workmanship problems, explain to workers how fixtures should operate, repeatedly arrange for corrections, or repeatedly request basic information about the people performing work in their home. After approximately 140 days, what was supposed to be a relatively simple bathroom remodel became an exhausting process of delays, corrections, and rework. Based on my personal experience, I would not hire Bayside Builders Group again. I strongly recommend that anyone considering this company carefully verify the scope of work, permits, payment schedule, subcontractors, licenses, insurance, lien releases, and business information before signing a contract. I would also recommend documenting all communications and photographing the work throughout the entire project.