Avoid Lindholm Roofing
The information provided is a public service for helping Chicago area
homeowners make informed choices for selecting a Chicago roofing contractor.
Information is from former customers of family-owned roofer Lindholm Roofing.
The information provided is a public service for helping Chicago area
homeowners make informed choices for selecting a Chicago roofing contractor.
Information is from former customers of family-owned roofer Lindholm Roofing.
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Roofer Lindholm Roofing Failed to Replace Cracked Skylight
The Situation:
When raccoons chewed major damage in my 20 year old roof, I decided it was time for a new roof. Lindholm Roofing was referred to me by a responsible friend who does home inspections.
Lindholm responded promptly to patching the raccoon damage. I received a reasonable quote for the full roof job. With the referral and a good initial experience, I gave Lindholm Roofing the job without getting additional quotes or further due diligence. The job was performed timely on April 16 & 17, 2007 and the crews cleaned up and left.
Response
In May it rained hard. The roof in our kitchen leaked through a recessed light fixture, traveling down a vaulted ceiling from the skylight. Wallpaper and ceiling began to peal. We called our project manager Mike Huston. We were astonished to get no response. None.
On June 18, the roof leaked again, filling a hanging light fixture with water and causing the light bulb to explode. We sent Federal Express letters to Tim Lindholm.
On July 17, after three attempts at unsuccessfully patching the roof we learned from the workman on the job that they had noted the cracked skylight when they originally did the roof. Although I was at home during the work, this was never mentioned to me.
Since our calls to Tim Lindholm were always ignored, we’ve never spoken to him, we sent a Federal Express letter requesting a quote to purchase and install a new skylight as well as compensation for the interior damage. We never heard further from Lindholm Roofing. The roof did not seem to be leaking.
A year later, September 4, 2008, the tail of hurricane Gustav blew an all day rain into Chicago. Our skylight leaked in late Thursday afternoon. Lindholm Roofing’s answering service said there was no emergency number and they opened at 6:30. I also called Mike Huston’s cell phone. I received a call Friday at 10 AM from the firm. No action. I called at 4 PM and was put off again. Pray for dry weather for the weekend.
Unfortunately, it didn't stay dry and the skylight continued to leak. Four days after my call, Mike Huston showed up at 6PM, climbed the roof and put some more tar on the skylight. Then, for some unknown reason, he stuck his business card into the tar. Here are the professional results you can expect from family owned Roofing Contractor Lindholm Roofing:
This is how Lindholm Roofing expects the skylight to last for the next 20 years. I suppose the business card stuck to the tar will help to stop the leak.
Outcome (in process)
I made a mistake selecting Lindholm Roofing. I wasn’t shopping price. I just wanted a good job done right. The referral seemed valid, the initial response raised no flags and I bought into the “family owned” marketing pitch. I will incur about $2,000 in decorating repairs. About $1,000 for a new skylight which I would have been happy to replace had I been advised. And, at the moment, I worry that it might rain and create more damage. I've called another roofer. The second roofer referred me to a skylight specialist who installed the new skylight in a matter of days. This is a solution Lindholm Roofing could have achieved if they had cared enough to take care of business properly. And they would have made money doing so!
October 2008 update:
Currently, we are attempting to get our money returned so that we can have our roof done again and have the security of a quality roof and a warranty that will be honored. Tim Lindholm has acknowledged my existence. We have had discussions. He is threatening me with a lawsuit to silence me so I don't tell others of my experience. Do you want to engage a roofing contractor who will sue you if you complain about his service? I mean, really.
December 2008 update:
We have agreed to engage in binding arbitration through the Chicago Better Business Bureau. It will cost me another $375 to go to arbitration. But we are confident in our case and look forward to presenting our facts to an independent third party for evaluation. We've repaired our kitchen water & electrical damage for $1,500 and we've got quotes from other roofing contractors to re-do our roof this spring. We plan to use the money from the arbitration decision to pay for the new roof.
************
Here is the Lindholm guarantee: "If for any reason you are not satisfied, we will return at no additional charge labor and materials."
What does this say to you? It seems like it says that if you are unsatisfied they'll return your money. Am I wrong? What do you think. Let me know.
June 18, 2007 letter to Tim Lindholm (Sent by FedEx with proof of delivery.)
July 17, 2007 letter to Tim Lindholm
Send your feedback to us by email (click)
When raccoons chewed major damage in my 20 year old roof, I decided it was time for a new roof. Lindholm Roofing was referred to me by a responsible friend who does home inspections.
Lindholm responded promptly to patching the raccoon damage. I received a reasonable quote for the full roof job. With the referral and a good initial experience, I gave Lindholm Roofing the job without getting additional quotes or further due diligence. The job was performed timely on April 16 & 17, 2007 and the crews cleaned up and left.
Response
In May it rained hard. The roof in our kitchen leaked through a recessed light fixture, traveling down a vaulted ceiling from the skylight. Wallpaper and ceiling began to peal. We called our project manager Mike Huston. We were astonished to get no response. None.On June 18, the roof leaked again, filling a hanging light fixture with water and causing the light bulb to explode. We sent Federal Express letters to Tim Lindholm.
On July 17, after three attempts at unsuccessfully patching the roof we learned from the workman on the job that they had noted the cracked skylight when they originally did the roof. Although I was at home during the work, this was never mentioned to me.
Since our calls to Tim Lindholm were always ignored, we’ve never spoken to him, we sent a Federal Express letter requesting a quote to purchase and install a new skylight as well as compensation for the interior damage. We never heard further from Lindholm Roofing. The roof did not seem to be leaking.
A year later, September 4, 2008, the tail of hurricane Gustav blew an all day rain into Chicago. Our skylight leaked in late Thursday afternoon. Lindholm Roofing’s answering service said there was no emergency number and they opened at 6:30. I also called Mike Huston’s cell phone. I received a call Friday at 10 AM from the firm. No action. I called at 4 PM and was put off again. Pray for dry weather for the weekend.
Unfortunately, it didn't stay dry and the skylight continued to leak. Four days after my call, Mike Huston showed up at 6PM, climbed the roof and put some more tar on the skylight. Then, for some unknown reason, he stuck his business card into the tar. Here are the professional results you can expect from family owned Roofing Contractor Lindholm Roofing:
This is how Lindholm Roofing expects the skylight to last for the next 20 years. I suppose the business card stuck to the tar will help to stop the leak.
Outcome (in process)
I made a mistake selecting Lindholm Roofing. I wasn’t shopping price. I just wanted a good job done right. The referral seemed valid, the initial response raised no flags and I bought into the “family owned” marketing pitch. I will incur about $2,000 in decorating repairs. About $1,000 for a new skylight which I would have been happy to replace had I been advised. And, at the moment, I worry that it might rain and create more damage. I've called another roofer. The second roofer referred me to a skylight specialist who installed the new skylight in a matter of days. This is a solution Lindholm Roofing could have achieved if they had cared enough to take care of business properly. And they would have made money doing so!
October 2008 update:
Currently, we are attempting to get our money returned so that we can have our roof done again and have the security of a quality roof and a warranty that will be honored. Tim Lindholm has acknowledged my existence. We have had discussions. He is threatening me with a lawsuit to silence me so I don't tell others of my experience. Do you want to engage a roofing contractor who will sue you if you complain about his service? I mean, really.
December 2008 update:
We have agreed to engage in binding arbitration through the Chicago Better Business Bureau. It will cost me another $375 to go to arbitration. But we are confident in our case and look forward to presenting our facts to an independent third party for evaluation. We've repaired our kitchen water & electrical damage for $1,500 and we've got quotes from other roofing contractors to re-do our roof this spring. We plan to use the money from the arbitration decision to pay for the new roof.
************
Here is the Lindholm guarantee: "If for any reason you are not satisfied, we will return at no additional charge labor and materials."
What does this say to you? It seems like it says that if you are unsatisfied they'll return your money. Am I wrong? What do you think. Let me know.
June 18, 2007 letter to Tim Lindholm (Sent by FedEx with proof of delivery.)
July 17, 2007 letter to Tim Lindholm
Send your feedback to us by email (click)