Birch Valley Construction

I initially hired a contractor to do this work for both kitchens in a rental duplex I own. I was to assist with the installation to save costs. Two weeks prior to work starting, I fell from a ladder, suffering seven fractures. My original contractor had worked a coupled of jobs with Birch Valley Construction and given my injuries, asked if Birch Valley Construction could assist given my injuries. I agreed to this. I met with the company owner, Jim Borkenhagen, along with my original contractor. They prepared an estimate for the work in good faith, but also we all agreed to the work being billed time and materials with me paying both contractors separately. The work was quite satisfactory and was completed in the time allotted. Both contractors were willing to take on changes I asked for as the work proceeded, again, any additional costs as far as time and materials to be paid by me. When I was billed by Birch Valley Construction, he included a 10% overhead charge. All work was done on site and this charge was never discussed nor agreed to, either verbally or in writing. I paid the bill minus the overhead charge. He called me on this and I explained that this was a charge that never was discussed or agreed to. He became quite indignant, demanding that I pay the overhead charge which he claimed was routine with everyone he deals with and challenged me how I expected him to buy new tools when necessary, replace unserviceable components (drill bits, saw sharpening, etc.). I told him that was his to figure out, but if I was to be expected to pay a charge for this, it needed to be discussed and agreed upon in advance, not added as a hidden charge. Additionally while the work was being done, there was a legitimate need for a plumber to be hired to lower the drain pipe as the sinks were installed from underneath and the garbage disposal was then too low to be drained at the height the drain entered the space. Birch Valley Construction said at the time he would hire the plumber, pay the bill and add the cost to my invoice, which I agreed to. When I received his bill for the plumbing work, the cost exceeded what was reasonable for what was done. I called Jim and asked him if he could give me an itemized copy of the itemized invoice he was given from the plumbing contractor. He refused and said to me, “Just pay your **** bill.” I called the plumbing contractor and they sent me a copy of the invoice. Birch Valley Construction charged me an amount quite a bit higher than the plumber’s invoice and within a few dollars of the amount of the “overhead charges” I refused to pay. I paid the plumber for his work as invoiced and informed Birch Valley that I indeed paid “all my **** bills” that included paying the plumber directly and that I had paid him everything that I agreed to. The only contested charge was the “overhead charges.” Birch Valley Construction is not a contractor that can be trusted — demand from him a written estimate along with any and all additional charges he might deem necessary, Specifically ask him about “overhead charges.” Does good work, but is not honest nor a customer-friendly person. My original contractor was quite upset with the “overhead charges” by his partner and refused to ask me to pay him overhead charges that Birch Valley Construction urged him to bill me for.