Precision Paint Plus

The problems began on the very first day when the Precision Paint Plus crew arrived, and I took Eddie, the head of the crew, around the apartment. I pointed out a few issues that needed to be addressed. He started taking pictures of a crack in the living room ceiling (which was not on the work order). Then I took him to the bathroom and showed him the ceiling, and explained it was asbestos and had to be “skim-coated” and painted smoothly, like the ceiling in the hallway, in the same manner I had done with Alan after we met with the superintendent during the second walkthrough. Eddie immediately called Alan and said that he refused to paint the ceiling. Alan called me and said that all work would stop on our project unless I agreed to this change in the project, and not have the bathroom ceiling painted. After the conversation, all the Precision Paint Plus workers immediately put down their tools and sat down, waiting for further instructions. I contacted my superintendent who confirmed that Alan had been advised about the asbestos in the ceiling and how the work had to been done. We had ordered the special paint that was required to use on the ceiling to prevent further damage. However, Alan would not let any work proceed until we took the bathroom ceiling paint off the work order. At about noon the work started again when we acquiesced. The men painted the small front bedroom and began to scrape the wallpaper off the walls in the kitchen and the bathroom. They completed painting the small room and left. On Wednesday, day two, Eddie told me that there was going to be a second problem with our project. Their Precision Paint Plus carpenter had to return unexpectedly to his country the evening before as his father had died suddenly. The carpenter told Eddie that he would stay there for an extended amount of time and might not return to the United States for a while. The sliding doors had not been constructed, in the hall and this part of the project could not be completed. The cost of installation was on the estimate, but not the cost of the door itself. Eddie also said the company would install the doors in the bedroom as they did not have to be custom-built. The cost of installation was on the estimate also. The actual cost of the door was to be provided later. The crew began to paint the living room. Both the living room and hall were completed by day three. (Alan’s version of the story in his email was not true as Eddie told Alan about the problem on day 3). I called early Friday morning, day four, to find out if the crew were coming, and what work they would be doing. I was told they would be painting the bedroom on Friday and starting the wallpaper on the following week. We were to provide the next check for $1, 659 when the crew left for the day. My husband wrote the check, # 7546. Under general notes for the bathroom, the work order states, “prep walls”. After the crew arrived, Alan Blanchard called me back to tell me that Precision Paint Plus would not guarantee the wall papering because of the condition of the walls. He emailed and said they needed to be skim-coated for the company to guarantee them. Alan’s email said Eddie informed me of this yesterday (which was not true). Reviewing my records, I emailed back that “was not what I said. And I wonder why you are telling me this now since the wallpaper was partially removed two days ago”. This was after Alan had written that “Either way fir us to skim coat the two area walls only or will be $1,800). We were to be charged $,2000 to remove the wallpaper in the kitchen, re-wallpaper and paint woodwork (minimal) as well and another $450 for the bathroom walls. The total cost would be $4, 250 to wallpaper both rooms. Alan Blanchard did not ask for any additional amount to be added to the check for the skim-coating on the walls by early morning. Eddie, the crew manager disappeared after I was told “he had to move his car”. He never returned that day. I left for work and my husband told me received an email that Precision Paint Plus had completed the large bedroom and left before two o’clock. The crew did not take the check that my husband had written for $1, 659 and had left on the table. When I returned that evening, I told my husband that we had paid Precision Paint Plus sufficiently to reimburse for the completed work as well as Aura paint and other materials what were provided. Damage Left There was some damage to the rooms that were painted. The damage is as follows: • A small Paint on the floor under door to small bedroom • Paint on the floor of the large bedroom • Paint on the bedroom floor; • Small amount of paint on the quilt on the Murphy bed as they did not cover the top of it, and it dripped through; • Paint chipping in wall in large bedroom in one spot as it was applied too thickly; • Paint chipping off the bathroom door; • Slight amount of paint in hallway around the built-ins and in hall by door. The crew did remove some paint in the doorknob in the bathroom at my request on Friday. They would not paint a portion of the wall behind the Murphy bed, which is still the original green. Our Project Follow up • Janovitz Paint Store provided me the name of Gracious Interiors for the skim-coating and wallpapering of kitchen and bathroom. Felix Herman provided an estimate of $1,500 to skim-coat the walls, wallpaper the rooms and paint remaining trim. • My husband Richard took a photo of the bathroom after the Gracious Interiors crew was skim-coated it and looked perfect; • Woodcraft scraped and varnished the large bedroom and kitchen floors. All the paint on the floor left by Precision Paint Plus was removed from the large bedroom. Their crew figured out how to separate and move the furniture in 15 minutes, a task that Precision Paint Plus staff could not do; • Home Depot has charged us $1, 747 to purchase and install the sliding doors in the hallway. The installation is scheduled for February 10th. Comments About Precision Paint Plus, Misrepresentation Mr. Blanchard misrepresented his company’s ability and willingness to perform the work, and then claimed the damage that existed was not there. Mr. Blanchard, the sales representative was explained everything about any problems in the apartment on two different occasions. He also spoke to my superintendent with me present on building requirements for the ceiling. The second walkthrough was done at my insistence because I wanted to ensure that Precision Paint Plus had a clear understanding of the work that was required. Mr. Blanchard told both my husband and I during the walkthrough that all damage and unsmooth areas would be repaired. The work order described existing surfaces to be “slightly deteriorated” and Repair Level “Standard”. My husband would have spackled several walls or we would have building staff do it for us. Staff in our building have scraped, spackled and repainted he bathroom ceiling before, as have previous contractors. They have wall papered. Your staff did not remove wallpaper correctly and completely and did not patch it as described. Eddie told me that he always had a problem with clients on Alan Blanchard’s projects and had asked to be able to be the walkthrough with Mr. Blanchard. Eddie told me that the company guaranteed their work for one year and it seemed as if they had to do repairs without being paid. The crack in the living ceiling that Eddie photographed was caused during the subway construction that was completed over two years ago. The damage to the bathroom ceiling was also over a year old. Staff from out co-op came into our bathroom, and all bathrooms on our line on October 1, 2020 to ensure that moisture would be removed as there would be no more damage there. Our building will no longer permit your company to work there as they keep lists of contractors who perform well. Only after the project did I look more carefully on the internet did I find similar comments and complaints about shoddy workmanship and mendacity. Your workmen did not cover or remove doorknobs, use fine brushes. They did not always apply paint correctly and it is chipping in a few places because they did not smooth paint We have other contractors over the years, and they have made mistakes, and corrected them. Your company does not. We used other contractors to complete your unfinished work. It was completed quickly and professionally for less expensive prices and they proved that your company is over-priced and should not be named Precision Paint Plus. The work order that Mr. Blanchard had my husband sign did not include the following legal requirements; • The approximate start and completion dates, including any contingencies which would change the completion date; • A specific description of the work and materials, including brands, model numbers and other identifying information, along with the price; • It did have the consumer notice about having three days to back out of the contract, but since the work order dated correctly it would have been impossible to back out of the contract. • Finally, Mr. Blanchard did not provide copies of the receipts for charges for paint and other materials. We will arrange to have someone come to the house to repaint some areas of the walls and paint the green wall space behind the Murphy Bed. I would also appreciate have Mr. Blanchard calling me at work and making threatening telephone calls, especially since he ordered staff to end the contract. As importantly, I did not sign the undated work order, without prices lists or project start, or completion dates attached. Lois Vigilante