This is in reference to the company:
Lacina Leafaway
Minnesota Window Outlet
2104 N. Riverfront Dr.
Mankato, MN 56001
www.lacinasiding.com
612.706.4165

In September 2007, we hired Lacina Leafaway to install new gutters and a new roof.  We paid them $10,492.  The guy who talked to us is named Paul Wellnitz Jr.  He said that he would be able to get us new sidling too.  (We had a bad storm that summer and had hail damage everywhere).  I won't go into the siding issue, but we began to dislike Wellnitz and asked that he be removed from working with us.  The company refused but offered to remove the siding job from the list. 

The gutters and roof was installed.  An inspector came out and gave me a notice that the roof did not pass inspection because the flashing was missing.  I called Lacina Leafaway's owner, Matt, to tell him about it.  Guys were sent out to put on the flashing.  But since it was now close to November, the inspector said they couldn't come out to look at it until spring. 

In early February 2008, just a few months after the roof installation, we noticed yellowish-orangish stains on our ceiling.  Those were NEVER there before.  In the garage, water leaked onto the floor causing an icy puddle in two places.  All these water leakage spots were recorded on video, and can be seen at:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xxhm_N37-4g

I made two phone calls to Matt set a time for his men to look at the ceiling and attic.  My phone calls to Wellnitz went unanswered.  The first time I called Matt was February 19th at 10:33 am and March 11th at 7:21 am.  Two guys came out the week of the 17th.  One guy took photos of the water leakage spots.  They did not go into the attic like Matt said they would.  Why?  The one guy who spoke English said it was because he didn't have a flashlight or a step ladder with him.  But he promised to fix everything on March 24th.

I called Matt today and asked how he would like the footage of me taping the water leakage.  He said youtube.com would be fine, so that way he can review it before his crew comes out.  He also confirmed that his men would be here on March 24th at 12:30 pm.

I will keep you updated on their progress.


UPDATE:
April 7th, 2008 - the a couple packages of shingles, some rain/show protector, and a 4x8 plywood sheet were left by the side of the house on the 4th of April.  I thought that they were going to fix the roof then, but since I wasn't here, they left the stuff here and left.  No phone calls or notes were left.  I left a message with Matt Lucina today, but haven't yet heard back.  The other day that Lucina's roofing guys were supposed to be here, only Jose showed up in the morning saying that the shingles won't arrive until that Friday, and asked me if Matt had called.  I told him that he didn't call.

UPDATE:
May 7th, 2008 - Two men came out today and fixed the roof.  They were a bit late, but I'm just glad that the roof is finally fixed.  Matt said that out of five years, having to have the roofers back has only happened twice.  Considering that Matt took my calls and the roof got fixed, it says something about their company.  Also, unlike some of the companies that I mentioned on this blog, no one else reported badly on Lacina Leafaway.  So that is a good thing.

UPDATE:
July 23rd, 2008 - The water spots in the ceiling are still there. I would have thought that they would have painted the ceiling. The board in the garage that got soaking wet in the spring, never got replaced. They put new shingles in the spot above the garage, above the entry door, and near the chimney, but all water spots in the ceiling in the hallway, child's bedroom, and entry way are all still there. My main concern is about mold, since the water seeped in through the insulation to get to the ceiling. But none of them ever went into the attic to look.

UPDATE:
April 29th, 2009 - I just found out yesterday by a siding contractor that the gutters are improperly installed. Maybe Lacina's Leafway company has a reason for that? If they told me, I don't remember. But anyway, here's what I told was done wrong:

The gutters that Lanica Leafaway installed in 2008 are not flush with the trim as they should be. There is a 45-degree gap, which holds water, when it shouldn't be holding water. The water should go straight into the gutter. Lanica Leafaway did NOT install the flashing UNDER the shingles, as it is supposed to be done.

My husband will be taking photos of the gutters this weekend.

I have left a message with Matt yesterday about having his company come out to re-install the gutters correctly while the siding contractor does the soffitts. Since I haven't heard back as of tonight, I sent him an email and emailed my insurance agent as well.

UPDATE:
April 30th, 2009 - My insurance sent me an email and told me that they contacted Lucina Leafaway.  I received an email from Matt asking me to send him photos.  I will send both companies photos and post them on this blog too, by Saturday night.

UPDATE;
May 3rd, 2009 - Husband told me that the reason the gutters aren't attached right below the roof is because Lanica Leafaway needed roof to install the lids of the gutters. 

Here are the photos taken yesterday:



















UPDATE:  May 7th, I received a call from Matt today, saying that the gutters will be taken care of the week of the 18th.

Tags: gutters, lacina leafaway, leaky roof, minnesota window outlet