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Fortress Marine Construction

230 Deer Island Road, Winter Garden, Florida, United States, 34787

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Reviews Building Contractors, Marine Contractors, Dock Builders, Boat Lifts Fortress Marine Construction

Fortress Marine Construction Reviews (%countItem)

Dock was to be built and installed in 90 days. It has been 6 months and only 4'x10' installed. No idea when the rest will be completed.
I contracted with Kona Docks to build me a floating dock for my home in early October 2018 on Lake Myrtle in Lake County. I was told it would be 90 days before it could be guilt and installed. I agreed to the 90 day delay. The dock was supposed to be installed in early January 2019. The dock is in 3 parts. Part 1 is attached to the shore and is 4'x10'. Part 2 is floating and 4'x8'. Part 3 is floating and 10'x16'. Part 1 was finally installed about 30-45 days ago but parts 2 and 3 are waiting for caps that are the floats for the dock. I have been waiting almost 6 months and have no idea when the last 2 parts will be installed. I have been told the caps are stuck in Panama (the country). I ask and was given a 10% reduction in cost except for the jet ski lift that is from a 3rd party. I have asked them to find other caps or order more from China but it does not happen. To date I have no idea when this dock will be completed if ever. I paid 10% down and the full cost of part 1 that was installed. I just want my dock completed as promised by the salesman.

Desired Outcome

Complete the work

One star at best, they did not have the permitsThey did not pay for the permits, they replaced a deck without a permit, they will not refund the down payment, they communicate very little, they do not do what they say they would do

In April, 2017 the company replaced our dock. It has been destroyed and they promised to send someone out to look at it. No one has shown up.
In April, 2017 the company had inst***ed a new dock and it has been destroyed. On 3/8 I spoke to Brian H, owner, and he requested us to send pictures. On 3/9 we sent pictures and he responded that he would send someone out the next week. We gave him the times we would be available and he responded "will do." No one came out. One 3/20 I c***ed and left a message; 3/22 we attempted to contact him again. There has been no response.

Desired Outcome

We want to the company to come out and make the necessary repairs for a dock that is less than a year old.

Fortress Marine Construction Response • Mar 29, 2018

Hello ***,

Thank you for reaching out. We're very sorry that your dock was destroyed and that we haven't had the chance to make it out to you just yet, we know that can be frustrating. However, when we initially installed the dock in 2017, we highly recommended that you updated your pilon so the dock wasn't destroyed by any upcoming storms or hurricanes. You decided against doing this and only updated the decking, which is why the dock was indeed destroyed as we had explained. From the photos you sent, we could see that the decking we installed was still completely intact and together.

Again, we're extremely sorry for taking so long to get to you to complete the needed repairs, but we promise we will get out to you as soon as we can ***!

Thank you again,
KonaDocks

Customer Response • Mar 29, 2018

(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
According to my husband nothing was ever mentioned in the original quote about the pilons. In the Dock Construction Proposal the only thing listed is re-deck, decking options and stairs.
This response is very disappointing because even though on 3/9 as Brian Hall requested we sent him pictures of the destroyed dock and he wrote back he would have a rep come out next week. We informed him of our schedule and his response was "will do." As of today, 3/29, no one has come to our home to provide any customer service as he promised.

Customer Response • Jun 19, 2018

(The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.)
Someone did come out, however, it took almost nine months for the company to provide any customer service. It is unfortunate that this company ignored us and we had to go through the Revdex.com just to get a response and a quote to repair the dock they installed.

I thank the Revdex.com for your assistance because without you we would probably still be waiting for a home visit that we were promised by the owner.

Fortress Marine has failed to fulfill comittments and obligations to rebuild community dock in River Lake Estates development.
The original Contract was signed the last week of December. Final terms renegotiated and signed February 10, 2017. Brain H of Fortress Marine was also going to include a floating platform at east end of new pier as an added feature. Existing pier and pilings removed in January. Payment of $13,500 made January 17, 2017 and $35,000 made February 16, 2017. Pilings delivered in March/April period.
Permit application was made in Jan/Feb 2017 with assurances permit would be issued within a couple weeks. Work would start within a week or two after receiving permit.
Permit finally issued in June 2017. Fire Standpipe costing $12,500 was added requirement. This may or may not have been caused by the original wording in the permit application.
Revised commit to start was in July following completion of setting pilings at 12740 A1A job in Ambersand Beach. (That job is still not complete. A supplier, Synergy Rents, is or has filed a lien demanding payment for equipment rental.)
Start date again revised to August due to not completing the 12740 A1A work.
Work barge moved to our location prior to Hurricane Irma. "Work Barge" is a floating dock without any gantry, power supply, A-frame or other structure typically used for setting pilings
Revised commit after Labor Day due to Hurricane Irma and "urgent" repair work required elsewhere due to Hurricane Irma damage.
Actual "start" late September with the following experience:
No auger on site although Fortress had stated it would use an auger to drill holes for seating pilings
Crew erected a "gallows" type structure for using a power hammer to seat pilings on the barge
Rented power supply and hammer, attempted to set pilings in old holes
Sporadic, late starts, no-shows, undermanned, inadequate equipment
Work crew pulled off for other jobs
No work due to "high wind"
Hammer malfunction
Removed rented equipment (Oct 27, 2017)
Brian H had a phone discussion with HOA President Tom O on October 30 in which he said no crew available for work for at least six weeks. On October 31, he committed to summarizing issues and probable start date in email to Tom O. No email received. Tom followed up with requests to Hall on November 2 and November 6 but received no response from you. Subsequent communications from *** requested status and a schedule by November 23. Evening of November 23, H committed to having a schedule on Monday, November 27 in a text to ***. No schedule or plan was received. Monday evening H stated via text message he was waiting on phone call to line up excavator and operator Monday evening. No update this morning.
It has been a constant battle to get information from Brian H. He makes promises, then comes up with excuses. Apparently, he depends entirely on hiring independent contractors and equipment and is not effective in managing his operations. Tuesday evening H notified me via text that he would have an excavator and operator available to start setting pilings on or before December 18. He has still not submitted the requested work plan and schedule as of 4PM November 29. Original request was for this information to be provided by end of business on November 27.

Desired Outcome

Provide detailed work plan and schedule. Affirm will have adequate supervision to ensure job completed properly and on time. Affirm will have adequate crew to do the job correctly. Follow through and complete the work as specified in contract.

Customer Response • Jun 21, 2018

(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Response is detailed in the attached file.

The guys fixed my dock from Hurricane Irma damage. It took them 3 weeks, but the craftsmanship is amazing and worth the wait. It is better than before the hurricane.

Fortress Marine Construction Response

Thank you Randy.

The contract for the removal and rebuild of a boathouse on my property is not being done in compliance with the the approved building permit.
In March 2017, a contract was entered into by my contractor Simon R (***) and Brian H with Fortress Marine Construction to remove an existing collapsed boathouse, rebuild it, and to repair a seawall on my property.
Fortress Marine would provide the design and permitting for the new structure.
Removal of the structure began in July 2017. The 1-2 day process stretched into 1 month, with partial pilings still not removed.
Installation of new fiberglass pilings began on August 7, 2017. Again, the 1-2 day process stretched into over 1 month.
After obtaining and reviewing a copy of the Building Permit, I noticed a discrepancy between the number of new pilings installed, and of the circumference of the pilings installed versus that specified on the permit. The permit specified 15 eight inch fiberglass pilings for the boathouse framing, and an additional 4 eight inch fiberglass pilings for the walkway. Only 12 six inch fiberglass pilings have been installed.
I questioned Brian H about the discrepancies, and was told the six inch pilings were much less expensive and were strong enough, and that some of the pilings in the engineers plan and on the permit were 'decorative' and he chose to omit them.
I had not authorized any changes from the original engineering plans or permit set.
I spoke with the local building department, who told me the structure would not pass inspection as it was being constructed.
I relayed this to Brian H, who accused me of causing trouble getting the local inspector involved, and that they would not have noticed the changes. I told him the piling issue had to be resolved before continuing the build.
Nothing further has been done with the construction.
On September 18, 2017, I submitted a written list of defects and incomplete items up until that date.
This included:
-3 preexisting pilings not fully removed from water.
-Size of pilings installed not the size specified in the building permit.
-Number of pilings installed is fewer than that specified in the building permit.
-No building materials other than an inadequate number of incorrect size pilings have been delivered to the work site, even though I submitted payment in the beginning of July.
-The original concrete pilings removed from the water have not been removed from the work site.

I am currently having problems with flooding because most of the vegetation along the river was destroyed by Fortress Marine subcontractors pulling boathouse debris and the pilings over it.

Desired Outcome

1. Fulfill the obligations of the contract by completing the project as specified in the Building Permit obtained by Fortress Marine Contractor Harold A T III and engingeered by William F S, PhD, P.E., approved by the City of New Smyrna Beach on July 20, 2017. 2. Provide all Certificates of Insurance as previously requested, but not provided. 3. Provide a list of each and every party furnishing materials and labor as previously requested, but not provided. OR Provide a full refund of monies paid and to terminate Fortress Marine contract in a timely fashion.

Fortress Marine Construction Response • Mar 30, 2018

Hello,

We resolved this case and the customer stated that Brian did indeed call. The resolution was reached over the phone.

Thank you!

Customer Response • Apr 09, 2018

(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
The case is not resolved as Fortress Marine states. None of the complaints in the original report have been remedied. No materials have been delivered to the site and no additional work has been done on the project.

Customer Response • Apr 23, 2018

1. This matter is unresolved and attorneys are now involved.
2.Fortress Marine for the second time has misrepresented that it has fulfilled its obligations.
3.The pilings in place are structurally unsound.
4.The pilings in place are smaller than what I agreed to.
5. The defective pilings are not designed for this use.
6. Existing pilings have still not been removed.
7. The number of pilings are fewer than in the permit.
8. Building materials have not been delivered to the construction site.
9.Fortress Marine destroyed the vegetation on the river bed causing severe erosion.

Fortress Marine Construction Response • Jun 20, 2018

Hello,

-The pilings in place are incredible structurally sound and have been approved by all engineers that have reviewed and also have been approved by the City of New Smyrna Beach Permit Office in writing. Each piling can withstand a load of over 50,000 lbs and the standard wood pile has a load of only 16,000 lbs
-The pilings are what he agreed to. He held the pilings in his hand before we installed. He commented on how good they looked.
-The pilings are designed for this job. We have signed engineering drawings and the City of NSB has approved the drawings.
-The pilings are installed per the drawings approved by the city and our engineer
-There was no vegetation growing under his old boat house. It was shaded by the old boat house and we demolished the old boat house.

Thank you

WARNING, DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY: they do not deliver as promised, they do not pay sub contractors or suppliers and now our home is being threatened with liens against our property even though we promptly paid this business. There was an overflowing dumpster on our property for 6 months because he wouldn't pay the dumpster company. We called them directly. THIS COMPANY IS IN THE BUSINESS OF RIPPING EVERYONE OFF.

Fortress Marine Construction Response

Shelly

We do pay our sub-contractors and suppliers. We had to fire a sub-contractor and he told you he was not paid, but he was not paid the total amount because he did not finish the job. We had to send another team to finish the job. The dumpster was removed 5 weeks ago and the job is complete except for the boat lift and metal roof. We appreciate your patience, but we are very short handed because of Hurricane Irma.

You have not been ripped off, you still owe over $20,000 and the lift and roof is less than $14,000.

We appreciate your patience.

Brian H

Customer Response

The construction of the dock excluding the roof and lift was about 98% complete when you fired the sub-contractors, who did quality work. "Your team" finished out the dock with sloppy work and the EPA came to my house for debris in the river. "Your team" was apparently belligerent to our neighbor when he asked them to retrieve it, according to the EPA report.
I know when the dumpster left because we made that happen, after calling the dumpster company repeatedly and offering to pay personally, and them telling us no because you owed them too much money. We called the city and they called a tow company. The dumpster company then was forced to remove it that day. It sat on our property from Feb.-Aug. overflowing with trash all over the ground. On your invoice you charged us for 3 dumpsters at $599.00 each totaling $1797.00. You need to refer to your invoice for pricing on the lift and roof. The invoice you gave us states the lift is $11,800.00 and the roof is $13,328.00. By my calculations that is $25,128.00 not $14,000.00. So yes we have been ripped off.
Lets go back to permitting. On 1-26-17 you took your money telling us that you had a permit. On May 19th we received a notice of violation case # 17-00112555 for no permit. So you began construction with no permit.
You also stated it would take you 3 weeks to build the dock. Those were your words. I asked you to simply be honest with us and that never happened. So 8 months later you received the Cease and Desist order from our attorney. We simply just can't deal with you anymore. Pay your sub-contractors, they have families to support. Stop being so dishonest. If the Revdex.com would like to see my invoices and notice of violation I can provide all this evidence.
Shelley T

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Address: 230 Deer Island Road, Winter Garden, Florida, United States, 34787

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