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My complaint, against Gilberto Gutierrez and SP Plastering, Inc.
First, I'll start with I am Not a cheap person, who hires the cheapest bid, and expects the best work. To the contrary. SP Plastering was the HIGHEST Priced quote we received, period. We only went with SP Plastering's High Bid Proposal, as Stucco is a fine finish, and we wanted the best, for our forever home we are building. Fact is, you will pay SP Plastering & Gilberto Gutierrez more, but certainly won't get more.
He's work is awful; not my opinion, rather all licensed contractors who came to see the workmanship, or lack thereof. Every licensed contractor said, it's one of the worst, or THE worst they have seen. Gilberto and SP Plastering is extremely messy, I will have to repaint my wood beams, because he didn't cover them and got cement on them. He damage my roof, he drilled and/or nailed his scuffles on to my roof. Now I will need to pay my roofer to fix it. Another cost I have incurred due to SP Plastering's poor workmanship is cost to grinding my floors as he left cement all over the place. Between, paying to remove the concrete from my wood beams, fixing my roof he damage, and grinding my floors to remove all the concrete he dropped-- Thousands spend due to his below poor quality work.
If you hire SP Plastering, watch-out for "change orders". Gilberto will try to charge you extra for every little thing--if you let him. He tried with me. The price for little things, are outrages. His "MO"; meaning, "way of operating" is just that. He knows you are into it (the project), so you're going to pay his High Price, as most people won't stop him, and get another stucco company to do a little work, he won't do, for a reasonable price.
More troubling, I recently discovered, as of 3/25/2021, which was pointed out by 3 Licensed stucco contractors, that SP Plastering (Gilberto Gutierrez) did NOT apply a vital step/coat in the stuccoing process. That is, applying a Scratch Coat. You can ask ANY licensed, or even an un-licensed contractor, the Scratch Coat is Vital. Even if SP Plastering and Gilberto Gutierrez discredits the need for a Scratch Coat. It is irrelevant, as the Scratch Coat procedure, and steps thereafter are noted in the Bid Proposal ("Contract"), that in part reads the following: "We are going to lath, Scratch Coat, brown coat, mesh with base X, ... " He did not follow what the Bid Proposal ("Contract') stated. Meaning, he did not apply a Scratch Coat, before brown coat, mesh with base X, ...etc.
SP Plastering and Gilberto Gutierrez missed a vital step he was contracted to do, per the written Bid Proposal ("Contract") that I signed. This may be another tactic of Gilberto, he counts on you not knowing the process and/or material, and will cut corners, anywhere he can.
Even keeping the Jobsite clean, the Bid Proposal notes: " Job site will be left clean at end of each work day", I have several videos of different sections of the jobsite, that were left with cement and other debris. He cut corners, not wanting to pay his workers the extra time to lay paper to cover the floors and pay for the cost of the floor covering paper.
SP Plastering Inc, Gilberto Gutierrez took a grinder to a metal flashing known as Weep Screed, covered it with cement and stucco, all the way to the dirt floor. Permanently damaging the Weep Screed. I have been told by Licensed stucco contractors, that this most likely damaged the waterproofing as well.
Gilberto Gutierrez, SP Plastering did this illegal ("Non-Building-Code Compliant") act, AFTER the building and safety inspector did his visual inspection of the Weep Screed, and signed off on the permit card.
Meaning, Gilberto knew better not to do it, before inspection; rather did it, After Inspection--a deliberate act. You may ask, why would a licensed contractor do an illegal act ("as described above")? Money! He sold me on it, and noted he will charge me more/extra for it. It will look much more "high-end", Gilberto noted.
That was Gilberto's "MO", if he can make more money on it, illegal or otherwise-- he will do it.
Note, there is no question or opinions about it. Not having the Weep Screed flashing/metal and taking cement/stucco all the way to the floor/dirt is illegal ("non-code compliant").
Other ways SP Plastering Inc., Gilberto Gutierrez broke the law ("did not follow Contractor's Licensing rules"). Gilberto's Bid Proposal ("Contract"), notes a "deposit of $1, 000.00 down, with four equal payments were to be paid."
Gilberto Gutierrez required us to pay him $6, 000.00 deposit (we have the check to prove it) and required us to pay him 10 payments overall, to date. Clearly violating Contractors laws; as well as his own "Contract". Moreover, note SP Plastering/Gilberto Gutierrez never provided an actual contract, as the Bid Proposal notes. Just a hint of his "professionalism" .
Moreover, Gilberto Gutierrez demanded payments to be made to him personally ("Gilberto Gutierrez") rather than to his company, SP Plastering Inc. I believe this was his attempt to alleviate his company and license, from liability of his faulty work and/or taxes. Gilberto would "Cash" our checks, rather than deposit them into his account. Hence, the reason he always required checks of $5, 000.00, which were issued and dated, back to back. This is another one of Gilberto's "MO's", I have spoke to another customer of his, Gilberto asked him to do the same, same experience.
As SP Plastering Inc., is so terrible, we are having multiple licensed stucco contractors come to give us a quote on fixing and completing the job. Several of them pointed out that the "Lath" must be taken all the way to the top, covering the exposed wood to just about the fascia. The licensed contractors told me, Gilberto just cut another corner, to save himself time and money, and did not take that waterproofing step that is required. Instead, he just installed the foam moldings to cover it up.
Remember, Gilberto's price quote was the highest we received. Yet, still cut a lot of corners.
More importantly, the written quotes we are now getting from licensed stucco contractors to fix SP Plastering's work state "due to faulty work"; "due to poor workmanship"; "due to substandard work previously performed" --"we make no guarantees on our work performed. "
Thinking of hiring SP Plastering, Gilberto Gutierrez [protected], [protected], Contractor Licensed number 1063264? You may consider my experience.
Lastly, Gilberto Gutierrez, SP Plastering Abandon the Job. I was concerned about the appearance of the work being performed. After days of trying to get him to come back (I have text proof of it), I finally locked him down; within that same text conversation, I told him there are a lot of cracks everywhere, and to let them be, let them crack as they will crack. I wanted to get a second opinion as to why the home looked so bad. In the text, I also told him not to bring too many guys, as I only wanted him to clean up and add cement to places that didn't (should have been done already) have it. I did so, as I was being considerate, as I didn't want him to incur the cost of paying a bunch of guy to stand around. Yes, I was that considerate. Gilberto, came with a lot of guys, I told him not to attempt to cover up the cracks, he agreed he would not do it. I left and came back; sure enough, Gilberto started to cover up/hide his bad work, cracks. When I stopped him, he became aggressive; physically confrontational. He said, it seem "You don't like my work, so get someone else to finish it." He asked me if I wanted him to immediately stop. I told him no. Do what you agreed to do, add cement to the places that are missing it. He did not finish doing so, I have pictures and video as proof. Gilberto instructed his workers to gather up all his things. Gilberto remove/took all his scuffles, equipment and other tools and abandon the job.
No one wants to be Scammed, Ripoff, and taken by Contractors. Let alone, have the job abandon.
If you have a complaint, you have the right to contact licensing first, they will send someone to evaluate the work.
I wish I would have never hired SP Plastering Inc., Gilberto Gutierrez. My experience, may be your experience. Now, Licensed contractor won't take on Gilberto's work without a Warning and Disclaimer that they can't guarantee anything due to SP Plastering's bad work.
Remember; as noted above, SP Plastering did not follow what was written in the Bid Proposal, the Scratch Coat. As well as, the non-code compliant Weep Screed issue. He took $6, 000 down payment, which is against the law (contractors rules), required payments to his personal name, rather than the licensed company, SP plastering (presumably, to escape liability of his faulty work and/or taxes), did not lath the wood leading to the facial, etc.
Thinking of hiring SP Plastering Inc., Gilberto Gutierrez?
He's only been licensed for a few months: Since 02/12/2020 and Expires 02/28/2022
