A couple in Chicago claims that their dream renovation became a construction disaster. They are now taking legal action against a local contractor and have reached out to the ABC7 I-Team for help.
The lawsuit claims shoddy siding and exterior work left their home damaged and unsafe.
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The couple reports that they have been left with warped siding, gaps in the exterior, and other major issues that have spoiled their exterior renovation. They believe that they will ultimately need to remove all the exterior installations and begin the project again from scratch.
“The siding is shoddy, it’s falling apart. Its cracking and bowing,” Bill Lennon said.
At first glance, Bill and Mary Lennon’s newly-remodeled Roscoe Village home looks picture perfect, but when you look closer…
“It’s all swelling, cracking,” Lennon said. “All the trim on the bottom is splitting and cracking in spots.”
Still photos show a clearer picture. There are also chipped panels and openings that Bill says will allow water to enter.
It’s been an absolute nightmare. It’s not like we have the cash laying around, so we took out a 20-year loan.
In 2023, the couple paid Cobblestone Remodeling $108,000 out of a $120,000 agreement for updating their exterior, which included new windows, siding, and gutters. They have withheld the remaining payment due to their dissatisfaction with the work completed.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Lennon said. “The fact that everything needs to be replaced and they disagree.”
The lawsuit alleges they have been left with siding that was improperly installed, a defective roof due to incorrect gutter installation, and an unstable porch that allegedly fails to meet code requirements.
“These were nail holes that were cosmetically bad, and this was their correction. Some of the nails still poking out,” Lennon said.
According to the Lennons, two independent inspectors have confirmed the presence of these defects. The lawsuit mentions that additional repairs, such as reinstalling siding and other exterior elements, could cost at least $150,000.
“We are shelling out money that we don’t have to pay for an attorney… to try to get some money back to redo our house,” Mary Lennon said.
In response to the lawsuit, Cobblestone Remodeling has denied any claims of defective or unprofessional work, as well as any breach of contract or warranties. The company refutes all allegations of misconduct and disputes the claims made against them.
Cobblestone Remodeling is now closed. An attorney representing the company says a younger partner and the former owner Bill Conforti have organized a new company around the corner, called “Cobblestone Exteriors LLC. That company is not named in the lawsuit .
Attorneys say it is part of Conforti’s retirement plan for exiting the business. ABC7 saw Conforti driving by while at the business.
He didn’t comment, but his attorney calls the lawsuit “unfortunate” and says the business tried multiple times to resolve the dispute, but all offers were rejected. The company stresses it has faced only two lawsuits in 35 years, with the first one ending in its favor. Cobblestone points to its long history in Chicago, completing thousands of projects and maintaining an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
“It’s been an absolute nightmare,” Bill Lennon said. “It’s not like we have the cash laying around, so we took out a 20-year loan.”
The Lennons say Cobblestone did offer a new roof after theirs was damaged from the gutters and some exterior replacement, plus forgiveness of their $12,000 balance. But they rejected it because they want the entire exterior replaced.
Experts say when hiring a contractor to always pay in thirds, at the beginning , middle and end of the project, and use a credit card to be able to dispute charges.
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