Pleasant Grove family says contractor left deck unfinished, unsafe months after payments

PLEASANT GROVE, Ala. (WBRC) - A family said they paid Capa Construction LLC more than $25,000 to rebuild their back deck, which they said remains unfinished and unsafe.

Ervin and Bridget Lewis hired the company in March for a full tear-down and rebuild. Months later, they said, the contractor told them he could not complete the job. The family said the deck is still incomplete and that they paid thousands more than the amount on the original contract.

The company said it is owed a balance, which they are not seeking to collect. Their full statement is below.

The deck 12 feet off the ground

The deck on the back of the Lewis home sits up to 12 feet off the ground. Ervin Lewis said it is about 12 feet high on one side and about 8 feet on the other. The family said the railings are not finished and that it is now a safety hazard.

“I refuse to let anyone come out there other than my wife and myself. Because I don’t want anyone to get hurt,” Ervin Lewis said.

The family said the railing, screens, stain and electrical work, including recessed lighting and a ceiling fan, have not been done. Ervin Lewis also said part of the roof “is not done right,” and he is worried that rain could damage the inside of the house.

What the contract covered

The contract, signed by both sides March 19, was for $21,000. It described a full demolition and rebuild that included a new screened-in area with a roof, recessed lighting and a ceiling fan.

“And that was his words, complete, ready to use,” Ervin Lewis said of the $21,000 quote.

Work done

The family said crews framed the deck and completed part of the privacy fence. They said they kept paying, but the work was not getting done.

Bridget Lewis said the family had told the contractor about a Fourth of July event they were planning.

“I can’t trust it. Nobody could go up there and he stood and told me you could count on me. That I would have you all finished so you could have your event. The event came and it’s gone. Still nothing,” Bridget Lewis said.

Ervin Lewis said the contractor later told them he could not finish.

“He wasn’t able to finish the job because he had underquoted himself,” Ervin Lewis said.

The Lewises said they offered to pay more to get the work done, and that they worked out a plan to finish. They say the total they have paid is now more than $25,000.

Nearly seven months after the contract was signed, Capa Construction said it would not be able to finish.

In text messages the family shared with WBRC, the contractor said he takes full responsibility and apologizes for not being able to finish the project. The texts also offer to pay the family $3,250 over six months.

The Lewises said other contractors have quoted them $10,000 to complete the deck. They say they asked the contractor to pay them back that amount, and he said no.

Company statement

Capa Construction sent WBRC the following written statement:

Thank you for reaching out and providing us with the opportunity to comment.

CAPA Construction is aware of Mr. Lewis’s concerns regarding the project. We take our contractual commitments and customer relationships seriously.

Throughout the project, our company invested labor, resources, and additional funds to move the work forward. There remains an outstanding balance owed to CAPA for work performed, which we are not currently seeking to collect.

We understand that Mr. Lewis is dissatisfied with the outcome, and we respect his right to express his concerns. However, we believe it is important that the circumstances surrounding the project, including the work completed and the financial considerations involved, are presented accurately and in their entirety.

CAPA Construction has completed numerous projects for its customers, and we remain committed to maintaining the professionalism and standards our company was built upon.

We appreciate the opportunity to provide our perspective.

WBRC asked Capa Construction for a detailed invoice of the work done and what the additional payments were for, and whether it was provided to the Lewis family. As of Monday, Nov. 9, the company had not answered those questions.

Licensing

WBRC contacted the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board and the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors. Neither was able to find a license for Capa Construction or its owner, Pedro Martinez Vicente.

The company’s social media page lists a license number. The Home Builders Licensure Board told WBRC the number is not a valid license number with the board. WBRC asked Capa Construction what the number is for. As of Monday, November 9, the company had not answered.

According to the Home Builders Licensure Board’s website, residential construction, remodeling or repair work costing more than $10,000, including labor and materials, falls under the board’s licensing law.

How to check a contractor’s license

• Home Builders Licensure Board license search: Click or tap here.
• Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors license search: Click or tap here.
• Report suspected unlicensed residential work anonymously: Builder Watch Hotline, 1-800-304-0853
• The Home Builders Licensure Board said it cannot order a builder to refund money to a homeowner. It said homeowners who want to be compensated should talk with an attorney.

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