Lamar Home Solutions

Nathan H.

Mixed experience, ultimately more negative than positive.

Full timeline of events:
- May 11: First contact Lamar Home Solutions, and spoke with Cruz on the phone. Very nice guy, sent him the picture of the side of our home. (a raccoon had torn into our siding back in March and we wanted to repair it, see photo). Cruz suggested putting a piece of siding across the bottom to act as trim, I thought that sounded good Cruz said he be by later that day. He never showed up, but later texted and asked if he could come in the morning. I said no problem, figured it was busy because of the shutdown and was grateful he was working at all.
- May 13: Cruz tells me he's coming over, I leave our bucket of external paint out front so that he can paint the new piece of siding. The guys come over and do the work and it looks pretty good! (see photo) One thing though, it just kind of ends in a jagged edge at the peak, so I ask if it would be possible to run another piece down the other side. He said that should be fine, would an additional $40 be okay with me, I agree. He also suggests that he could have someone powerwash the house, and I offer to give him an extra $100 to do that. Done deal, everybody is happy. I pay him in full for what he's already done, plus the extra $40 on the spot.
- May 16: been 3 days with no word, so I text him to find out what's up. No response.
- May 17: not at home, but get a text from a different guy showing me that the house has been powerwashed. Looks great! However, I text Cruz to remind him about the extra piece of siding we had discussed and that I already paid him for. He responses simply ""Yes""
- May 23: still no word from Cruz, but on the 22nd we had had a rainstorm, and I realize the paint is still sitting outside waiting for Cruz and his guys to come back. I went to move the paint and realize that the lid is still partially open, and that the 5 gallon paint bucket that was once 1/3 full is now 2/3rds full with a mix of paint and rainwater. It is now a strange milky color flecked with orange and yellow (see photo). I text Cruz about all of this and he says ""Today. I get new paint""
- May 26: no word since the last text, so I text ""Can you please come tomorrow? I've been very patient"" He responds ""Yes sir""
- May 27: I text ""Still need the hardiplank"" and he responds ""Today it is""
- May 29: I text ""I guess I'm just gonna leave a bad review and assume you're never going to come?"" and he responds ""I got the material in the truck and I will be there today thank you"". I say, ""That would be nice, thank you"" I actually went to Dallas in the afternoon, but that evening I get a picture text telling me the house is done. I ask who to make the check to for the extra $100 I owe for the washing, and apologize for being out of town.
- May 30: I get back to town, and notice that the new piece of siding trim doesn't join very well with the old (see photo, fine, it was a cheap patch job anyway), also I realize that I'm probably going to need another little piece across the roof to connect it with the rest of the trim without it looking too crappy (that's my fault for not thinking of it earlier), but mostly importantly, the paint they used is clearly the old paint, which looks yellow and splotchy, and is clearly not the same color as the old paint. (see photos) I debate whether or not I should just move on and fix it myself or try to hold Cruz accountable for the paint. I figure I'll talk to him about it when he comes to pick up his check.
- June 3: Cruz calls me and asks if he can come pick up the check. I say yes, but I was wondering if he could add an extra little piece of siding that I hadn't originally realized we might need, and that I also wanted to discuss the paint, so I wasn't comfortable with just leaving the check under the mat. He quoted me an additional $150, but also acted like he didn't understand the request fully, I wouldn't expect him to without seeing it. I said I was home and to come by and I'd give him the check and we could discuss in detail. He didn't come.
- June 6: I was near Bastrop and my service was bad, but Cruz called and asked if I would leave the check under the mat. He couldn't understand me because of bad reception, but I texted him to let him know I was out of town.
- June 8: Cruz called again to see if I would leave his check under the mat. I texted him (included below) explaining the situation. I was thinking that I would pay him to add the new siding piece, but that I wanted his company to cover the new paint. I estimate about $75 worth of paint was ruined. Cruz called me and began to berate me about making up the paint issue, and that it was all a ruse to avoid paying the $100 I owed him. I emphasize that I can send him pictures of 2 sides of the siding side by side to compare paint, and he hung up on me. I told him I would leave a review to reflect my experience.

My check is now under the mat.

Mike C.

The contractor agreed to a day and time to review my project. He failed to make the appointment nor did I receive a call to inform his status.

Susan T.

Lamar Home Services is great! I needed some siding replaced/repaired and repainted. Squirrels had eaten holes in siding at my roofline. I put out this need on Angie's List. Cruz Castillo contacted me immediately for an appointment to see the job. Yes, it was a small job, but he walked around the entire house noting any protruding nails. I also asked him If he would re-glue a piece of window frame. He did the job! And I am completely satisfied with the result. I plan to call Cruz for any future ""fixes"" I may need.