Ore-Cal Construction

I want to share an update for a couple of reasons. First off, since I posted my first review, I’ve had people message me (from other states, no less) telling me that I have no reason to be pleased with the work they performed, and that it wouldn’t pass inspection (it did). So I wanted to update and set the record straight for us: Our new fence has been the subject of much admiration in the neighborhood, and still looks wonderful. Our new stairs and landing have been a source of many compliments. They’ve always made themselves almost immediately available to address any questions we’ve had, even months down the line.
Secondly, we recently engaged them for a kitchen remodel. Every step of the way we were consulted on the direction we wanted to take, had our sketched out design transformed into a beautiful plan, and benefited repeatedly from their input on not only major design changes, but aesthetic tweaks as well. Hell, they even wrangled our cat when we were out of town. With their assistance, we have an amazing new, functional, wonderful kitchen.
I’m very grateful to them for their continued skill and professionalism. I’ve had to deal with contractors from other industries, and these guys are a pleasure to work with.
As always, deal with the folks you’re comfortable with, and have a good relationship with. I’m happy to say they went out of their way to make sure that was the case for us.

Please be forewarned and read all of the following review:
I want to update my review so you understand how serious this is —
Sam and Matt Najdek are nice to talk to. Unfortunately, their work is neither nice nor professional. My husband and I have had over 45 years of experience with remodeling homes (8 to be exact) so we are excellent judges of appropriate work.
Ore-​Cal left the job at our home unfinished and won’t return calls or e-​mails — we have attempted to reach them for over 2 years now. We were out of state at the time that they informed us the job was completed. I sent them the final check to pay in full. When we arrived at their job site, we met the city inspector for the «final inspection» of our home and he informed us of all the work that had been improperly done (such as the finished plumbing, the roof, the electrical, the floors…) along with the work that was not finished at all. We had to hire another contractor to come in and clean up their mess (literally, they left a ton of debris at the site).
According to the city inspector they did the following incorrectly: Plumbing, finished plumbing in the bathrooms (the pipes were put in «backwards» under every sink, the windows were left in the open without stucco or finished wood around them for the rainy season, the floors aren’t level, the bathtub isn’t level (unfortunately it will have to remain that way), the cook top vent and bathroom vents were vented into the attic and not thru the roof, there was no venting on the water heater (which the inspector said was a extreme fire hazard), the roof had numerous holes in it which leaked into the new dry wall and ruined it, the electrical didn’t pass inspection and wasn’t up to code, there were 10 (count them — ten) additional drill holes in the new finished door front of the cabinets in the kitchen that do show (I am sure all you ladies out there would NOT appreciate that), toe kicks and crown molding were not complete, there were 5 broken windows we had to replace, they lost our lovely new door handle into the home … the ground outside was left not level/​finished (we had someone come in and level it away from the house for another four thousand) w
I could go on and on (yes, there is more) —
Over the amount I paid them we added another 25 thousand + to the final bill to have the work completed by another contractor.
We had 3 liens placed against our property — extremely upsetting — especially when we got the «collection» notice from an attorney for the initial plumbing we had paid Ore-​Cal to do… along with that, we were threatened by the electrician and cement sub contractor for lack of payment. Sam continued to say he would «take care of it» but, of course, didn’t. At that point I suppose I was no longer shocked.
I am guessing that they also left many other sites in the same unfinished condition which is why they told me «so-​and-​so» hasn’t paid us for the work we have done or «we left the job because there was a problem.» At this point I do know what the «problem» was — they were unable to complete the task given to them and they just left the site and never returned like they did to our home … I know of one worker that they haven’t paid for at least 2 solid months of work on this house but since he didn’t fight back — that’s another bit of money they have «saved» on this job (they told me they had to fire the worker because he was so poor — no, he just got tired of no pay after 2 months and left.) Once people start making excuses or blaming someone else for their actions — you must consider what is being said.
When I called the California State Licensing Board they said there was a «judgement» against Ore-​Cal and they would not grant them a license until they paid their debts… to another person they probably left high and dry.
Instead of one star — I would put a huge negative sign, but one star was the lowest we can go on this site.
I really can’t say enough negative statements to try to convince you to find anyone else to do your contracting work!
Just beware — they did tell me they left sites not completed before … but, for some reason I thought they may just finish our job — didn’t happen — we are just another addition to their list of unfinished projects. The last thing Sam and Matt said to us was «see you tomorrow.» Possibly the idea of «tomorrow» being «never» I suppose.
Even the professional that recommended Ore-​Cal said they had been experiencing «problems» and he had heard they were having problems completing tasks and would probably not be recommending them again.
So, if you want two brothers to do some of the work you have hired and paid them do Sam and Matt might complete a small task (like a fence or deck … but even that will probably be done incorrectly like ours was). If, however, you want someone to come in and finish the job you have hired/​paid them to complete — you must reconsider.
Or, as Matt likes to say «just sayin