Dissatisfied C.
Yelp
A main line water leak occurred at my rental property on July 30 2024. A Biard technician came and stated Biard would only replace the main line from the water meter to the house if I agreed to have the house plumbing replaced. The technician said it would be copper piping surface mounted to the exterior walls since the bathrooms in the house and the kitchen are all along perimeter walls. The copper piping along the exterior perimeter stucco wallls was what I wanted so as to minimize the intrusion into the house and minimize the disruption to my tenants. On July 30, 2024 I received a written estimate / invoice from Baird for $29,693.00. It stated, among other things, "repiping the front house with new type L copper piping surface mounted to the exterior wall. We will need to go from the exterior wall into the bathrooms that are all on the exterior wall to supply the sinks, toilets and tubs." I agreed to the amount quoted for the COPPER piping exterior mounted.
In fact, Biard's workers showed up on August 1, 2024, cut approximately 80 large holes in the interior walls and ceilings, and ran PEX lines instead of copper. Biard not only disrupted my tenants who occupied the house, but displaced my tenants from the house and they had to stay in a hotel for two nights. Biard billed me, and continued to bill me for COPPER piping even though PEX was installed. If the pex lines leak in the future, the leak will be in the walls and ceilings of my house. Conversely, if copper lines were installed and if they later leak, the leak would be on the exterior of my property and not cause any damages inside the house. Copper has a proven track record to last for 50, 60 or 70 years. Who knows how long pex (i.e plastic) will last. Biard did not inform me pex was going to be installed prior to them installing it. No Biard representative contacted me to ask to modify the contract to pex instead of copper. I still do not know the quality of the pex pipes that Biard installed since it is inside the now closed walls and ceilings.
Why did Biard even bother having a written contract if it is not going to follow its terms and instead unilaterally makes changes?
There were 10-12 workers at my rental property cutting the 80 or so holes in the walls and ceilings. They were at my rental property from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Dust, noise, debris, tools, ladders, piping were all around the house inside and out. There was no running water at the property from 8:00 a.m. until about 6:00 p.m. And Biard claims my tenants were not displaced!! The law requires landlords to provide habitable premises to tenants. My rental property was not habitable with no running water, with all the noise, dust, materials, and workers moving all about. My tenants had a 4 month old baby when Biard's army of workers went to my property and started doing all of the things they did INSIDE the house instead of running copper along the exterior as the contract specified. My tenants had to scramble to get their baby supplies, baby food, along with their own clothes and belongings and vacate the house on very short notice. They had no where to go and I, as the landlord, had to put them in a hotel. The house was not habitable while Biard's workers were cutting holes in the walls and ceilings and running pex. For Biard to claim the tenants weren't displaced and they didn't have to vacate is absurd. If necessary I can post a plethora of pictures depicting the condition of the premises and showing that the premises were not suitable for staying at. The day after the pex was installed, another Biard crew showed up to patch the walls and ceilings. They were at the property from approximately 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. This was another full day my tenants could not occupy the house I rented to them. There was dust, hammering, cutting of wood, sawdust, drywall mud, etc. in many rooms of the house and it was not suitable for living. Therefore I had to put my tenants in a hotel for another day/night.
Biard's website states, among other things, PROTECTION PRICE GUARANTEE... if a mistake happens while performing any of our services, we will correct it. It also states SATISFACTION GUARANTEE... We pride ourselves on the level of service we provide to our clients. If for any reason we have not performed in a satisfactory manner, we won't collect payment until we do. We will make it right.
Biard's failing to follow the contract requiring copper along the exterior perimeter resulted in substantial inconvenience to my tenants (including a 4 month old baby). It has resulted in the deterioration of my previously excellent relationship with my tenants who are now less trusting of things relating to their tenancy. Staying in the hotel with a 4 month old baby was very difficult for them. It is probable they will not renew their lease at the end of the current lease term to my damage. I am stuck with pex interior plumbing which I did not want.