|
Here is the original Description of Work for my eggress window that I posted on Craig's List
Experienced contractor needed to install 36"x36" egress window in 78" high basement. Minnkota or better quality window. Corrugated metal well roughly 54"x37"x36". Extra dirt, if needed, around well to raise grade as appropriate to shed water. Layer of plastic sheet over dirt, then gravel over plastic to match existing scheme. Rock in well as appropriate for drainage. Foundation is brick in top 1.5 feet and 18" thick or greater limestone in remainder. Lay plywood on lawn to protect it from equipment. Cut brick/rock/concrete and frame in with 2x12 treated lumber. Remove all extra dirt and clean up per original condition. Handle permits and meet code. All above to be included in payment of $800 at start of work (equipment set up and digging started) and $1700 at completion.
Here's Corey's email to me from 3-30-08, in acceptance of my proposal
Hi, I am Corey with Lexar construction. If you are still looking for someone to do this project for you, give me a call and we can discuss it further. You WILL be fully satisfied with our workmanship. Thanks!!
Corey Girtz
Lexar Construction
So, how did it all work out?
Corey did a very nice job on the window. We WERE pleased with his craftmanship. However, there was one important part that needed to be done better. Due to my limestone foundation and the problematic grade, there needed to be dirt added around the window well and plastic over that (and landscape rock over that) to shed water away from the well. Even in the couple of rains since he did the work, there were sink holes developing along the sides of the corrugated well and water was collecting like a funnel at the window well. This requirement about grading was specified in the original work description, so I thought it was reasonable to request resolution.
In my first phone conversation when I discussed this with him, Corey told me he understood what I was saying and he'd get it done, but could he please be paid $1500 of the $2500 for the work he had accomplished so far? I was fine with that because I felt there was only a small portion of work remaining, so I paid him the $1500.
Roughly two weeks later Corey still hadn't come back to add the dirt and rock to fix the grade. That's when I got a note from his subcontractor saying that he was not paid by Corey and he will take action with a lien on my property if I don't resolve this. The subcontractor told me Corey was spinning the story that I was holding back payment on some minor technicality and he didn't have any money to pay the subcontractor for his work.
To make a long story short, I told Corey to forget it -- I'd finish the grading, landscape plastic, and rock on my own and pay his subcontractor directly. I went to Menards and picked up some top soil and rock and finished the remaining work, all in about 2 hours with the help of my daughter. If Corey had returned my phone calls, I'd have asked him "why not just push the ball over the goal line, dude? I know you have to take a little hit because you under-estimated the job, but isn't your reputation more important than that?"
Corey could resolve this issue by paying back a reasonable amount in consideration of the extra labor and materials and the amount over $2500 that I paid. If he pays back the amount, below, I will take down my web page. Otherwise, if you are reading this story, you know that the issue has not been resolved to my satisfaction.
Here's how the number's break down
$2500 Amount to be paid per the work description accepted by Corey
-$1500 paid to Corey
-$1225 paid to Corey's subcontractor
$225 overpayment on my part from above
$35 soil and rock from Menard's
$60 additional labor for finishing Corey's work (2 hours of my time @ $30/hr, plus an hour of my daughter's time for free)
$30 additional labor for the time it took to create this web page (collection fee).
------
$350 requested to be paid by Corey in order to resolve the issue to my satisfaction.
|