GEORGE T MARTINEC BLDG & RMDLG

First the owner arrived and we viewed the problem and possible issues that may be causing it. Went on the roof to check out the sewer vent stack - as that was the only pipe above the area of concern. It appeared that the rubber seal around the vent pipe was pulled slightly away from the pipe - hence the conclusion that rain was most likely running down the outside of the vent pipe, running along the horizontal pipe as is crossed the kitchen and, at the elbow above the dryer in the adjoining pantry, was dripping onto the ceiling and causing the mildew. The estimate we received was based on the "worse case scenario." At $1800 this included 3 days of work - first cutting open the ceiling & checking out the problem, correcting whatever the problem was (after all it may not be water outside the pipe - it may even be a roof leak for all we knew), removing insulation and replacing it with new insulation, closing the opening in the ceiling and painting it and replacement of the rubber seal on the roof. When the workers arrived (along with the owner who got them started and then left) I was reassured that the dryer did not have to be moved - they could work around it by putting a piece of plywood on it and using it to reach the ceiling. The first day all went exceptionally well. A small 1 foot square hole was cut out of the ceiling to check out the problem. They immediately found the issue: the elbow for the sewer vent pipe was fastened to the pipe coming up from the basement, but the horizontal pipe heading across the kitchen to the vent stack was not attached to the elbow. Rain water was coming down the vent pipe and exiting onto the ceiling instead of down the pipe. In other words they simply had to glue the joint - a matter of minuets. No materials needed to be purchased for the repair. This also indicated that the rain was NOT running down the outside of the pipe as we once thought. The two men quickly and easily glued the pipe to the elbow, put some new insulation in the hole, added a new piece of drywall and sealed the hole back up, plastered it and as it dried, checked out the roof vent. There, they decided the rubber seal was not an issue, so they caulked around it, and added some caulk under a couple of surrounding shingles to seal the area and complete the job. They were then finished for the day. The next day (second day) one man came out to the house to sand the ceiling patch and paint the small ceiling in the pantry. He was finished before noon. Unfortunately the guy on the second day did not use plywood on the the dryer and after he left we discovered the entire top of the dryer was full of dents from him standing on it all morning. When I got the bill i was surprised that I was charged the full amount from the estimate, especially since I had been told the estimate was a "worse case scenario" - after all it might involve roof repairs and other unforeseen issues. Even the workers had said this was an easy fix. It certainly didn't take 3 days (nor 3 trips out - with mileage, etc). I called and talked with the owner. I was concerned that he charged me for 3 days instead of 1 and a half days, and the rubber seal wasn't replaced (per the contract) - although I feel fine that the caulk around the seal was enough (He charged $450 for the 10 minute caulking job). I also mentioned that my dryer was now dented from his worker walking on it without protecting it. He insisted it was 3 days (apparently when 2 men are working for the day it's considered 2 days). He took $100 off the bill for the dents in the dryer - and provided no solution to repairing the dryer.