BENNICK TILE

Frank worked directly with our decorator and made some valuable assessments on tile selection and patterns of installation. He was here before 9 every morning and quite late some days.  We are so happy with the way the project turned out.

Deitz contracted to tile a master bathroom 4/22/2010 for a total sum of $3300 with 1/3 down and the balance upon completion. He was paid a total of $3200, including a starting payment of $1100 dated 6/14/2010 plus two advances including $1500 dated 6/29/2010; plus an advance of $600 dated 7/1/2010. After receiving the last advance, Deitz left for a month long vacation in New York and failed to return to complete the work.  

When I spoke with Deitz in the middle of July 2010 to schedule the remainder of the work, he agreed to 1) complete the ?back splash? for the Master Bathroom Vanity, 2) bore holes for the faucets servicing the garden tub and correct the two holes that he left for the vented lights in the shower (the holes were not aligned properly and they were neither round nor of the appropriate diameter to accommodate the 6 inch vented lights that were to be installed). He claims now that we should have had the lights installed prior to the tile work yet he never objected at the time he was asked to do the work and he accepted the job and our payments.  

Upon returning from vacation, Deitz set three appointments to return to complete the job but failed to show up all three dates, including August 2nd, August 5th and August 9th. After the third missed appointment, Deitz authorized me to hire someone else to finish the job. He set no dollar limit and did not outline any other expectations when he made the authorization.  

August 19, 2010, I paid another tradesman $506.15 for labor and materials to complete the backsplash, bore holes for the tub faucets and correct the holes in the shower for the vented lights. Upon contacting the Deitz for a refund to cover the additional costs, he at first objected but then agreed to pay me $250. When no payment was forthcoming, I contacted him again but was told that he would not reimburse me anything at all. Since I paid him all but $100 of the contracted price to complete the job and I had to pay another tradesman $506.15, Deitz owes me $406.15 for the work he never completed. In addition, Deitz failed to grout some of the tile joints and some of the grout he applied is falling out. He also put in two pieces of tile in our shower incorrectly and they cracked under stress. I do not know what it will cost to fix the problems he created but this other work needs to be done as well.

He arrived early every day (9:00 since we were living in the work area) and stayed late every day when it was convenient for us. (6:00 or 7:00). Cleaned up after himself. No subs, did all the work himself. Supplied a heavy duty liquid coating under the shower pan and walls. Commercial grade product. Plumber had installed a rubber mat shower pan, so he left that in for good measure. I really liked the coverage of the commercial grade coating. Shower floor and shower seat both drain well and do not leave any standing water. Even grout lines. Tile is beautiful. Price did not change with surprises (harder tile, design of installation, etc.) I got 6 estimates on tile and his was very reasonable, plus he did the work himself.