Remember that saying? The quality remains long after the price is forgotten. Isn’t that the mantra that we all strive for? And one of the reasons we don’t feel ashamed to ask decent money for good results.
I am getting close to the end of a project, down to touch-up painting, door knobs, switchplates, etc. And this part of the work gets me close to the sheetrock again, and it remionds me how pi$$ed I am about two sub that works for me. My bloodpressure rises every time I think about it. The rockers were absolute bozos, way oiut of their league. But at least the cost was right, cuz I payed them way less than they asked. It was like ‘take this and don’t ever come back’.
But the mud guy … that’s a different story. Ross was his name. He came in on a recommendation of sorts, and basically screwed me and the project. He was in way, way too much of a hurry, took lots of short cuts, and said the primer and paint would cover all of the blemishes. Yeah, right. And, on top of that, he charged a premium price. I almost choked when he named the price. My fault, we didn’t agree up front, and my understanding was that he was looking for a small job (90 sheets in my case) to break into the market, so i thought he would be reasonable. Not only was it not reasonable, it was highway robbery.
Without a doubt, the conditio of the walls and ceilings are by far the worst part of this project. BTW, this is the one in the photo section under ‘my floor’ and ‘my ceiling’.
Well, I feel better now that I’ve said that. Doesn’t help the sheetrock, but I still feel better for having ranted a little. And if any of you ever happens to talk with Ross, give him my worst.
I’m sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Replies
You didn't pay him up front, did you? Made him redo the job to your satisfaction BEFORE PAYING?
I paid him when he said he was done, which was after the second coat ... he said he was good enough that a third coat wasn't needed. It had not been sanded at that time ... the second dsanding and the primer paint revealed lots of problems. He left town then ... actually he left the state. He was referred to me by a person I met through Breaktime.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Is this beyond the point of getting someone else in to skim and sand the walls, and then repaint them? I'd have to do that if it were any of my customers. I'd probably think about locking the original sheetrockers in the porta-potty and then pushing it over, or some other juvenile behavior.
Seriously, it can happen to any of us, and you just have to suck it up, pay for another round, and move on to the next one. And never pay any sub until you have thoroughly scrutinized their work. Make up some excuse about how you have to go back to the computer and print their check.
last project with a good bit of drywall ...
got a "great guy" to come in. Refered by one of my best friends ... who knows all the great subs. Never let me down before ...
so ... this guy comes in at framing ... quotes a price ... coupla weeks later ... he's ready to start ... "oh, the price is almost double" ... I was stuck at the last minute ...
so I said what ever .. just start and finish on time.
had plans to go out of town for the holidays ... left his "final check" ... had the HO give it to him on his last day ... came back ... saw I got ripped off.
his final check was $800 ..
and that's exactly what it cost me to get the whole place re-skimmed.
he never did answer my calls ... my buddy came by ... looked ... just had to say Sorry ... and he was actually planning on using the guy the following week! Had prices and everything .. until .. he saw his latest work.
called the next day ... said the guy stopped by his site to fight ... after he got the call he lost the job ... stinking drunk crying about his wife leaving him ... business bankrupt ... etc. He decided to leave when my buddy said if he wanted to fight he'd call me and let me know where he was. He was sober enough to know he had the money and was ahead of the game ...neither of us have heard from him since.
On the plus side ... I lucked into finding the guys that did the final cost ... HO went from thinking I was an idiot to thinking I was a savior ... as he wanted "as good as the upstairs" ... and in the end ... he said time and time again ... Upstairs was as good a drywall as he'd seen ... till his basement was finished.
bad part ... the "good guys" .. said they'd have done it for the very first price quoted!
so ... I only lost $1,600 .. and time ... and ... and ...
But hell ... that was over a year ago. I'da lost that $1,600 by now anyways?
that's why we make the big bucks ... right? Or why someone makes the big bucks ...not us at this rate.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
There's an ad running on the radio frequently, one of those credit fix-it companies. They know how to do it, and banks don't want to tell you the secret process. We're here to help you ... we're a non-profit company ... call today.
So? I'm a non-profit company too.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.