J R GATES CARPENTRY & CONSTR

Service Provider Response

The original agreement with [member name removed] was to side half of the house, based on the estimate to side the whole house which I had given him, because of his limited budget. In this I clearly stated that unforeseen repairs such as rotten boards around patio door, nailing of boxing, priming of wood, and furring out trim, would be extra based on time and material. However as we tore the siding off on the North and East sides of the addition, we found that, • There was no boxing with non-standard framing. With the approval of [member name removed] we installed all new ½” CDX plywood boxing (the non-standard framing required extra blocking to achieve a solid frame). • [member name removed] also agreed to remove rotten patio door and repair the damage around it. • Rotten flooring was discovered underneath which necessitated building a new treated floor frame section. • It was necessary, in so doing, to remove part of the adjoining deck and deck floor frame; • It was also necessary to remove and reroute inside and outside wiring in this area at the same time) • A new low E 6’ patio door was installed, and deck frame was built back. • Some areas needed insulation before boxing was applied. • The main meter base on the exterior of the house was substandard with old weathered service entrance cable strung up on the side of the house. This was connected to substandard and overloaded fuse box with one large (having conduit on outside of house), and 2 small subpanels. • It was agreed by [member name removed], after making “an estimate”, to install a whole new underground conduit service entrance from pole to the house (excavated in for approx. 90 feet), and a 200 Amp Meter base. • It was agreed also to install a new 200 Amp breaker panel inside. • New service entrance cable was installed to feed the large subpanel in the North addition through the basement and crawl space (removing all old outside conduit). • All old subpanels were disconnected and replaced with proper breakers. • A ground rod with proper connection to the meter base and breaker panel was installed. • Then as I tore off the siding of the southern end of East side of house (old two story area) we discovered only loose black board (fiber) boxing with no insulation underneath. It was agreed with [member name removed] to remove this loosing boxing and insulate this entire area with its tall gable end and install new 1/2” CDX plywood boxing. • I applied # 15 black felt to all the new boxing on these north and east sides. • I installed PVC white alum wrap to all trim (3 old windows required new furred out boards). Then I applied ½”, ¼” and/or 1”” Styrofoam to these entire areas (surfaces were uneven with each other requiring differing thicknesses. • I installed all F- channel for future soffit. • Finally I applied, upon request, a higher priced than estimated Certainteed Monogram, double-4 siding with all the necessary trim to the North and East sides. Aside from having to take off a day for a dental appointment, and other previous commitments, I lost my helper unexpectedly in the middle of the job. I had an accident off the job while running, injuring my left shoulder badly. The pain and stiffness that remained for several months greatly impaired my speed at siding towards the end of the job. Being aware of all the problems we encountered, the repairs that became necessary to do as the job progressed, and the resulting slowness of progress, I took $600 off from my $25 an hour wage charge. Obviously I did charge by the hour, but never for break times. I admit to being slower than some other workers, but on the basis of the above record of my work and the fact that he is a witness of all this, my bill, was justified and fair. Though [member name removed] was overwhelmed by the extensive need for repairs (as I was too) and its subsequent cost, he was cordial and approving throughout job, and he never complained that I took too long at the submission of my final bill on 12/8/12. When I found out 15 months later of his almost total dissatisfaction with my work and the cost, I visited him and told him that the amount he still owed, $1481.20, was cancelled. However, he was very apologetic and gracious and did not want to accept a cut in the bill saying he had acted in frustration and anger over the weight of a number of other circumstances. Then I offered to at least take off $481.20, to which, at this time, he has declined to accept.