To be precise, I can’t fire him because I’ve never signed a contract. But I’ve told him he has the job, and now I want out.
He is a partner in a roofing and building company that is well-established and was referred to us by a former customer.
He comes by the house in August to size up a replacement of the porch and the roof for the entire house. Weeks pass; I don’t hear from him. I call and he says he’ll have the quotes right over to me. He comes by the next day and gives me figures off the back of an envelope which I cannot see.
Meanwhile, other builders come by and mail an estimate to me within a week. But, again, I don’t hear from this guy. So I call him up last month to tell him we want to hire him but we need written estimates/contracts.
He comes by the next day and tells me he has the papers for the roof but not the porch. But he never shows me the estimate. I indicate I want to upgrade to a 50-year shingle. So he leaves with the contract, which, of course, I know he has to update. But I never see it.
Two weeks go by and I don’t hear from him. Then last week I get an urgent message from him saying he needs to get going right away because the ground is about to freeze up for the winter. (Like duh.) He’s coming by, he says, the next day for me to sign things and “get everything going.â€
But then he adds he has “cleared things with the town†and is ready to go. But even a rube like me knows that is impossible. I go by the building department and ask if a permit was pulled for my address. No. I ask them to double-check their pending files to see if this guy even applied for one. The answer is no.
The next day comes and he never shows up. By now I am past spooked. I’ve caught him in a lie and his odd reluctance to show me anything written has left me angry and unwilling to entrust this guy with a dime, let alone $45,000, the largest sum of cash that has ever passed through my hands. I have not called him back.
Am I missing something here?
Replies
don't let him work. he will run away with your money
Edited 12/16/2007 12:38 am ET by andyfew322
Caveat emptor - buyer beware! Due diligence means background check, references check, look at his work, talk to his customers and business affiliates (suppliers, subcontractors, etc.).
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
You should not deal with anyone that you don't feel comfortable with.
Why are you thinking about using this fella? Is he giving you a better price that the ones that gave you prompt written estimates?
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
You said it.
you can't fire what you have never hired.
Go with your gut, trust your instincts.
In other words if You don't hire You won't have to make the decision to fire.
Can't be any simpler .
The guy may be a good contractor (very unorganized) or he may not be. The fact remains though if the chemistry isnt right maybe you should go with your gut instinct.
IMO, if he cant even give you a contract how is he going to deliver the job that you want. You both really need a written contract to go forth and it seems like he doesnt get that.
Where there's a will, there are 500 relatives
I wouldn't hire him to take out the garbage, wouldn't even let him inside my house again. When he calls I'd tell him that I was waiting on other proposals and that I'd let him know what I'd decided as soon as possible. If he tried to interrogate me, I'd hang up.
I'd wager that everyone who has replied to your post has been through something very similar, probably more than once, with a subcontractor. Some of them are well intentioned but poorly organized, others have more serious problems. Matters not the why of it when you need to get a project done.
The best thing you've done is to follow your intuition, the next was to tell your story here and ask for advice.
If you have any other questions, keep 'em comin'. Oh and take the previously mentioned due diligence suggestions to heart.
If you get bad vibes from someone, whatever the reason or even for something you can't really pin down (like just a feeling), find someone else.
I'm doing a whole house and I've had that happen twice now (painter and carpenter). Both came highly recommended, etc. Thought we had a deal. No shows, etc. I found new guys and it turns out both did a super job I was extremely happy with (and while price isn't my end all criteria, the second painter was actually cheaper).
You're already spooked even before one splinter has been replaced on the porch. Far better to regroup now rather then after the job has started.
You might have to wait until spring now anyway but that will be here before you know it.
The best of luck.
Runnerguy
> Am I missing something here?
You're missing a few marbles if you hire the guy. He may actually be relatively honest (though doubtful), but he's not at all reliable or conscientious.
I wouldn't hire him. But again he may be good busy and unorganized.
The only thing this guy has shown you thus far is that he doesn't do what he says he will; his word means little to nothing.
The fact that someone else recommended him isn't necessarily an indicator either. Different people have different levels of expectations and his former customer may find low quality work and unprofessional behavior perfectly acceptable.
Meanwhile, other builders come by and mail an estimate to me within a week. But, again, I don’t hear from this guy. So I call him up last month to tell him we want to hire him but we need written estimates/contracts.
Could you be missing a load of common sense?? The other builders act in a professional manner and are responsive to your request for bids. In spite of that, you chase this yo-yo and go so far as to verbally give him the job.
There has to be something missing here. Why are you trying so hard to hand this guy your checkbook?
Edited 12/16/2007 9:53 am by Dave45
I was intrigued by the fact other contractors are mailing estimates. That's not something I would do if I wanted the job. Could it be that he knows everyone else is mail bidding and why bother? If you called me for this job, I would meet strictly with you and your wife and a follow up meeting would be set to give you proposal. Either we negotiate and you sign or it's over between us. Why is any party here prolonging this process. Its just a roof and a porch right?
The ball is in your court. You need to take action NOW, to prevent this clown from making thins worse.
First of all, call AND write him, telling him that you do NOT want him to proceed with the job. Do NO work, buy NO materials, etc. Tell him, honestly, that you're having second thoughts about the whole thing.
Secondly ... it's your house. If he, or his crew, show up, have them leave. Do NOT let them place, store, leave tools and materials there.
Finally, when you do hire someone, tell them of this misunderstanding. If nothing else, this will encourage them to get the permit right away - protecting their interests.
"Past performance is the best predictor of future performance."I agree with the prior post. Notify him in writing, and verbally if he shows up, and get on with your life.
Hire another contractor and when he calls let the phone ring. I figure if he's going to pretend to be a contractor then you can pretend to not hear the phone.
Let your being spooked talk to your head and move on.
Nailer
Am I missing something? No signed contract, work hasn't started, no money exchanged. How can you fire someone that hasn't done anything? And of course based on your investigation the guy wouldn't be a good horse to bet on.
He can claim he has a verbal contract. But any such contract has been breached by his non-performance.He just needs to be sent a certified letter and given a phone call.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
I'm not sure you have a contract:
He has not made and offer and you have not accepted it.http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/ObjectID/EEF92280-11CF-4910-8DECF67369130844/
But he can claim otherwise, and really mess things up.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
Not a chance. OP is in Ct. which has a very stringent Home Improvement Act. Without a clear written contract, the contractor is SOL even if the contractor has done the work. Although it was enacted by the legislature to protect unsuspecting homeowners from unscrupulous contractors, it often has had the opposite effect...sleazy homeowners stiffing unsophisicated or unorganized contractors who have done perfectly acceptible work. What's amazing is that many contractors continue to work without contracts even though the law has been in effect for over 30 yrs.
I have been stung too often by people who I haven't had bad vibes about. Dealing with someone you have reservations about is just inviting trouble.
>So I call him up last month to tell him we want to hire him
Why? Why are you appearing to chase him? So far I don't see any way in which he's earned it.
Go for it. Hire this clown now.
Haven't had a good story here since the guy with the half burned house was completely demoed by mistake. Still waiting for him to come back to tell us the rest of the story.
This sounds promising, hire him today.
Joe H
When you aren't defending indefensible politics, you crack me up. <G>
You're thinking of Bob, not Joe.
Joe H
Of all the thoughts in my head, trust me that that ain't one!This could be a wellspring of stories if he goes through with the hire. We should start a pool on how quick before the first "he stood me up" post.
Thanks to every one for your help. You’ve confirmed my suspicion that this dude is bad news.
I wish the tradesmen I dealt with on this restoration were as conscientious as the people on this forum. My interactions with those builders suggests that my local market suffers from a shortage of builders and a surplus of consumer demand for fixing things or adding on to something. Nobody seemed enthusiastic about taking the job. Two turned me down flat.
To the writer who advised I exercise due diligence by checking his background and references, looking at his work, talking to his customers and suppliers and subcontractors, I say I wish it were that easy. “References? Do ya want the job done or don’t ya?” Even finding builders was tough. They don’t advertise and they don’t have Yellow Pages listings so I talked to people we knew who had had work done.
To the two writers asking why I was “chasing” after him, keep in mind that when I chose his from among three bids, I initially thought his bid on the back on an envelope was an informality; it would be followed up by actual paperwork in a day or two. At that point I wasn’t alarmed and his was the lowest bid (though close to the others). Things became clearer over time.
Edited 12/17/2007 12:02 am ET by DabblerBabbler
"To the writer who advised I exercise due diligence by checking his background and references... I say I wish it were that easy. “References? Do ya want the job done or don’t ya?” That was not an avoidance of an answer, that was a definitive answer-- the WRONG answer.
Buh-bye.
I don't understand your message, What's Wrong?
Are you speaking about #32:Dabbler Babbler: "To the writer who advised I exercise due diligence by checking his background and references... I say I wish it were that easy. “References? Do ya want the job done or don’t ya?”msm-s: "That was not an avoidance of an answer, that was a definitive answer-- the WRONG answer.
Buh-bye."either you are getting really defensive, or i misunderstood your post :-)
I was replying to the above quote that if you ask for references, a very reasonable and standard request, and you get an answer back like “References? Do ya want the job done or don’t ya?”, that should send off alarms and you should tell HIM buh-bye, bye-bye, adios, au revoir. It's a really bad sign that someone not only avoids that question but also tries to intimidate you. You say you wish it were that easy. The way i see it, that was the easiest reason i've ever seen to cross a guy off my list.
pay no attention to Buck... he's just pizzed cause his Stillers lost again
look... your specs are kind of a give-away that you are not familiar with the work that is going to be done
let's rewrite them....
do yu have plans ?
what do they look like ?
2d.... where do all of the lumber trucks come from that make deliveries in your area ?
is there some place that it looks like the pro's use more than others ?
go see the manager.. tell him you're looking for a good builder ... ask him who he would trust with this work
ask him if he has any back-ups
go to the Building Inspector's office.. ask for a plan review
make him comfortable with you ... because you are going to ask him a question that most building inspectors will not answer
after the review.. ask him if there is any builder in town that he would use if it was his project
ask him for back-ups
now you have 2 sources:
call that guy and see if he's available for a site visit
if not ... call the next guy
you already have three bottom line numbers.. let's assume that they guy you are looking for is going to be higher than those bottom feeders... but .. maybe not
when you find a guy / gal who will make and keep an appointment.... and the interview / site visit goes well..... ask them how they will present their Proposal
based on the Proposal.... and your feel for the guy... hire someone
i know they are out there... let's make sure we're not going to scare them off
you already know how sensitive these guys are
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
"go to the Building Inspector's office.. ask for a plan review
make him comfortable with you ... because you are going to ask him a question that most building inspectors will not answer
after the review.. ask him if there is any builder in town that he would use if it was his project"
I've done this three times.
The first, they told me there ain't no way they're gonna recommend anyone, because they don't wana get pulled into a pizzing contest over someone failing to perform. The second, the clerk wanted me to use her husband's company. The third, I was told, "everyone who works in this town must be licensed by us. Theorically, anyone on this list can help you." And I was shown a booklet of hundreds of names.
And I tried my best to sweet talk them.
I've also dealt with those that meet the OP's original description of her guy. Respect begets respect. If her guy won't show her respect now, he won't later. She owes him as much as he's given her - not much.
c'mon pete.... you're a smart guy... if i was looking for a financial advisor ... how would i go about finding one ?
like i said... most building inspectors will NOT make a recommendation.. cause "no good deed goes unpunished "
the task here is making the BI comfortable with this not comming back in their face
how would you go about doing that ?..
or.. ok... pass on the BI...
the real task is finding a Builder that fits with your personality and the project..
i always try to get a meeting with all parties.. ( as in wife & husband )... sometimes whien i'm selling my self & my company.. i get a vibe that this is not going to work.. or one of them gets the vibe...
better now.. before any commitments.. that later after everyone has made an investment of time, money & expectations
so... other sources of meeting a good builder.. well..... over the years.. we've had guys make recommendations of people right here on BT.. and that didn't always work out either.. but .. it's better than shooting in the dark
so.... we've got some sources:
BT
BI
Lumberyards
Builder's Association
other trades ( plumber with a favorite builder , electrician with a builder, painter with a builder )
drive -by... drive by a job.... look at the organization... watch the progress.... like it ?get a number off the job sign .... no job sign ? well.... that alone must say something ( new to the business, doesn't like to advertise )
how about organizations you are involved in .... none of those people are builders ?
Dabbler got three responces: none of which seemed like they were interested.. or perhaps the other two were and he made a mistake with the one he sort of stuck with
if i were looking for a financial advisor and you were telling me how to find one... you'd have a whole list of things i should do.... none of which would guarantee success... but they would all be good advice , right ?
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
So here's where I've had my luck finding people...
1. My recent tankless water heater: I determined my specs and called the favored company's local distributor and asked for a referral to a plumber that does the most of their product. Worked out well.
2. Referrals from other tradesmen. Although this is iffy, sometimes it works well.
3. I, I mean my wife, had this interior decorator once. When my contacts and approaches failed, she could call up someone in a second and they'd be there that afternoon. Worth every penny.
4. Working on my kid's house out of state. Called up the original builder and asked him if he could do some things. Not only did he, but he introduced me to his stable of preferred subs for the others. Not only did I get great help and great service, but great prices, cause they all figgered he was the contact guy to buddy up to. And he introduced me to his inside sales guy at the real lumber yard, whom gave me nice discounts.
5. The local fire academy. The young students all wanted some form of side cash job. And they busted their butts!
6. Myself. There ain't no one willing to do what I want done the way I want it done.
7. Friends in the trades. They tell me they love to work for me cause I always got some new method or product they're not familar with. So's they get a paid lesson plan.
i like your 1, 2, 4 & 7...
#6 is a cop out....
#5 willing doesn't equal neccessary skill..... it's just another version of #6
#3.... what can i say..... you're blessed... if son... why bother with the rest ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
"had this interior decorator once."
That was 1,000 miles and 5 years away...
And I paid for the privilege.
But more importantly in that case, was the decorator's ability to understand the difficult remodeling/rebuilding going on and assist my wife with her inability to do the same.
What I mean, is this woman decorator really should have been a licensed builder/decorator/marriage counselor. This rebuild in S. Cal I've mentioned several times took 5 years and some tough circumstances. Fortunately, the Queen was involved with her work most of the time, but when she wasn't, she was pizzed about something or another about the remodel. When this decorator came into the picture, her bitchin' stopped. On a dime.
She turned a battle into a joint goal/project without the hassles. I firmly believe her ability to communicate with my wife made all the difference and she completely understood everry issue of construction. She got well rewarded for the skill.
From my perspective, it was great cause I didn't have to fuss with colors, textures, all that gurl stuff and tradesmen not showing. And the wife got what she wanted.
But I've been thru 4 other decorators that were either jokes or clueless.
And that cop-out is absolutely necessary - for me. There are some things pros won't/can't/shouldn't do. But I still need them done. Then it becomes a matter of time and skill.
Edited 12/18/2007 10:27 am ET by peteshlagor
Mike,
Thanks for the heads up. I do know of a place where builders go -- Miners, about 15 miles from here.
I guess you're right about my specs being a giveaway. I don't know what the hell I'm doing. Here are two drawings I did of the porch, which measures 14 by 11'. Pay no attention to the spacing of the joists and rafters. They're too close together.
well.... good start... but the drawings would scare me....
i'd be offering to redraw them , for a fee, if not , i probably wouldn't bid
someone with a drafting/ design background should redraw them
you have the dimensions , and the upper roof pitch correct... most of the other details are not
the "flat " roof portion with the built-up pitch... what is that ?
do you have a picture of the house that you're going to tie this into ?Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
cmon ya gotta give him credit for at least putting some drawing out there that tells them what he wants. let the bidder go over it and correct the details and materials list,and presenting him with a rough estimate,if accepted then the builder could do a final drawing.
thats a whole lot better than the guy standing in his front yard going "i want a 10 x 20 porch with a roof,and then expecting a bid.
if he knew everything about this he'd be out here building it.larryif a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
larry, this is someone's house...
what we are about to do is going to determine how the front of this house will look from this day forward
here's the deal:
bad builders are too many to count
good builders are numerous
good design is the key
combine good design with a good builder to get a good project
this is not good design..... so we are going to leave teh project to the tender mercies of someone comming up with it on the back of an envelope ?
it worked for the Gettysburg Address... but i don't think it will work here...
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I can't believe how often I get people wanting me to bid projects without working drawings. I tell them the first step is a legitimate set of working drawings and spec's, and that I can provide them, or refer them to someone who will, and I get a No thanks, I just want a bid, I don't want to pay for working drawings. Go figure.
edited to add: Even had one guy asked me to bid a large T.I. job - had no drawings. When I asked, he said "include that in your bid". Huh?
View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Edited 12/20/2007 8:25 am by Huck
the "flat " roof portion with the built-up pitch... what is that ?
See the attached. This is the way the house was built in1850.
do you have a picture of the house that you're going to tie this into ?
No. But I do have a diagram which gives you the idea if not the precise scale.
Dabbler... you have defined the design scope admirably...
with some dimensions, and some digital photos...
a good designer or a talented draftsman could come up with some nice plans that will tell everyone exactly what you want to accomplish..
i think this is where you should start.... get some better working drawings for the project... then we'll find the builder..
OR... find a good design / build firm Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
What a fascinating read. Been awhile, realize I miss Breaktime. I never noticed how impatient I was until I had to have work done by what I hoped to be reliable contractors. If I wanted/needed a porch &/or roof in August and the outfit I'd chosen still hadn't gotten back to me with anything concrete and doable by September 1, I'd been a nut case. And costs do matter with to me. but time is also worth $. And skill must be rewarded, so I'm suspicious of underbids.I resorted to ads in local paper in area where place was. Right away I wondered why anyone would have to advertise for work in July when building was still hot and heavy in mid-coast ME. I asked carpenters in Portland area for recommendations but they had none and all admitted it wouldn't work out for them to travel the 50 or so miles to the project site. I knew nobody in small town where property was, hence the newspaper. The town's Codes officer was known to be in the pocket of a reknown builder with costly project - couldn't afford to check out either avenue there.Anyway I took a chance and lost. That was last year and I sweated thru lots of delays but whenever action was necessary & I could take it, I did. Including getting out of a verbal contract with the crummy lst "builder." It's Maine law that any work over $3K must have signed contracts. Seems like your state may have similar requirements.Finally, I have a guy who downplayed his talent, calling himself a maintenance man, who has turned out to be a jewel and able to take on just about everything from carpentry to plumbing/heating, roofing to finish work. Best thing for me is that we think alike. He lets me ask questions and make suggestions. We both research whatever we don't have a handle on. I pay him what he asks, which is the going hourly rate for most contractors around here, knowing I am getting top value for my dollar. also, he knows how anxious I am to see the results of fine workmanship. He sends me photos of his work in ME down here to Florida where I work until May.Good luck. Hope your porch and roof make it thru what looks to be a hellava winter in Northeast.
I loved your story! I'm more optimistic this second time around.
To the writer who advised I exercise due diligence by checking his background and references, looking at his work, talking to his customers and suppliers and subcontractors, I say I wish it were that easy.
That was me. View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
dab..... there are builders / remuddlers / roofers in your area that will treat you professionally...
and at this stage of the game ( Christmas.... snow on the ground & roofs ) there is no rush to get it done before winter...
where is Tarrifville , CT ?
bet we can find someone who wants this job
Mike,Hi. I'm a big fan of yours. I followed the project in which you showed from start to finish your building of a house in RI. It was fascinating.Tariffville is a village in the town of Simsbury in the western suburbs of Hartford.DB
well, let's see what shakes out... there are a lot of guys on this forum from CTMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Yeah,He's looking for the lowest bidder.Who wouldn't want to jump all over that
Barry E-Remodeler
barry.... i guess you didn't read the thread...
it sounds to me like he's NOT looking for the lowest bidder... just looking for a pro who gives a red rat's azz
you know... someone who will return a phone call........ look at the job... submit a written Proposal... and show up
if he were just over the line... i'd be all over itMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
"To the two writers asking why I was “chasing” after him, keep in mind that when I chose his from among three bids, I initially thought his bid on the back on an envelope was an informality; it would be followed up by actual paperwork in a day or two. At that point I wasn’t alarmed and his was the lowest bid (though close to the others). Things became clearer over time."They were close and he still decided to chase the one who showed the least professionalism?I don't think that we should be "all over him" but he does need some education.
Barry E-Remodeler
And if you read earlier in the thread he did indeed receive some written proposals
Barry E-Remodeler
but in the beginning not as much of the questionable stuff had come to light yet.
It was if you read between the lines. you just knew there was more to the story. <g>
Barry E-Remodeler
hey, barry.... you're just jealous cause he didn't say he was a fan of yours...
mebbe if he stroked you , you'd have a different outlook
you know.... my mammy always tole me ... you catch more flys with honey than you do with shid
how about it dabbler ? care to elucidate ?
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
We can't all be Mike Smith <G>and my mammy told me not to eat flies or shid, so why waste the honey on them. she's a practical sort.
Barry E-Remodeler
Mike,What, I go away for a few hours and my fans turn on me? Why?? I’ll try to answer their beefs.1) Some of you are insinuating that I am a low-baller looking to patch something together cheaply. “If you read between the lines, you just knew there was more to the story,” says Barry E. “Sometimes,” Jeff Buck says, “there's a reason no one is that interested and everyone else just mails it in.”
2) That’s insulting. Listen up: I took the low bid from among three; the other two were higher, but not by much. All things being equal – their workmanship, quality, reputations, etc. -- were equivalent to those of the guy I hired. So, yes, price was a factor. But it wasn’t determinative. (I hadn’t yet found he was a scoundrel.)
3) I want the porch and roof to be done professionally using new materials and I'm open to new techniques. Attached you can read my specs sheet just for the porch.Specs
• All appropriate permits to be obtained.
• All structural lumber under the deck will be ACQ-treated to prevent water and insect damage; cut ends will be treated.
• Joists under deck to measure 2x8” and be placed 16” on center.
• Beams under joists to measure 2x12”.
• Deck will be independent of house and not tied to a ledger.
• Concrete footings to go down to a depth of 4’ or code.
• All fasteners in non-visible areas will be Simpson Strong Tie.
• All fasteners touching treated lumber will be Simpson Z-MAX extra galvanized.
• Beams under deck joists to be fastened to posts with stainless steel carriage bolts.
• All fasteners of trim, porch floor and other visible areas subject to moisture will be stainless steel.
• Porch floor will be made of Tendura-brand T&G composite flooring, trimmed out in Tendura bullnosing.
• Porch floor will run perpendicular to porch length and be on a slight grade to promote drainage.
• Columns, unless synthetic, are to rest on vented plinths.
• Roof will be vented and attached to house by two ledgers.
• Porch will be trimmed in Azek PVC wherever needed (such as skirt).
• Railing around porch to be made of paintable PVC — not vinyl— and to contain rounded, lathed balusters.
• Bead board ceiling to conceal joists and rafters and either be natural or man-made, such as Azek. Scotia moulding or equivalent to go around perimeter of bead board to keep out wasps.
• Gable end to be covered in lap siding.
• Gutters to be installed along eaves (especially over front steps).
• Bug-proof screens will enclose porch.
• Porch will be painted in Benjamin Moore primer, exterior and porch paints.
• To protect house from water damage, the roof of house and porch will be covered temporarily until new roof is installed on entire house.
Dabbler
I am not a big fan of Tendura, have only done repairs on botched jobs. I know others here have had success installing product, but I am not convinced yet. I know of other builders in Connecticut that were less than satisfied. From what I understand, Tendura was acquired by the owners of Correctdeck. I am very satisfied with CorrectDeck products, and hope they work on improving the product.
Why are you tarping entire house until porch is done?
Did you develop all the specs yourself, or did the contractors give you some input?
Thanks
Greg in Connecticut
I did the specs myself. I wanted to establish that the porch was to be high-quality and that it wouldn't rust and rot apart after 10 years. Maybe I just ended up amusing them.Thanks for the word on Tendura. My idea for that came straight from this forum. A few people here raved about it.
I AM a fan of Tendura, but it does have a narrow range of application. I find numerous times where I wish I could use it but have to pass as the conditions are not just right for the product. Hadn't heard about Correctdek owning it now, but they are indeed a good outfit ASAIK
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Dabbler,
I sent you an e-mail, did you get it? Haven't heard back from you. I live in the town right next door to you (Farmington).
Geoff
Sorry. Haven't been in the email for a day or so. I got your message. I'll definitely give you a call, right after the holidays.Thanks.
Dabbler,
No problem, Have a Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year!
Geoff
"bet we can find someone who wants this job"
read closer ... bet U can't!
sometimes ... there's a reason no one is that interrested and everyone else just mails it in.
speaking of mailing it in ... I got the goodies ... I'll address the envelope right now ...
should hit the bottom of the mailbox tomorrow AM.
ya cheatin' bastidges ... * * *
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I give a "free" estimate on my bizness card but when givin the job write up a contact, This is for roofs, Why??? because some people took my written estimate turned it into there insurance company got the money and hired the low bid and signed my name to the check, I found this out when the insurance company wanted my tax id numbers. does not sound like this applys to what you wrote but if someone said my bid looked flaky there was a reason for it
That you are an honorable man, willing to stand by his word, is apparent.
But look at a couple of facts: Your guy is irresponsible, and he is a liar.
Your conscience will forgive you for backing out.
-Groucho Marx