Business ProfileforBuilders "R" US

I made a verbal contract with ***** after he came to look at the cement pad that needed sealing, and deck that I wanted him to stain. He said it would be about $200 for the cement pad (I provided the sealant) and $1000 for the deckthat he wanted to do 2 coats on both, and said I needed to get 2 more gallons of stain ahead of time for the deck. So I agreed. ***** did a good job sealing the cement and did 2 coats as agreed. It didn't take him long. His second coat was the day they came to do the deck. He and a young helper were here for 8 hours for the deck; ***** did the front of the railings, stairs and upper posts, and his helper did the inside rail and the floor of the deck with a brush instead of a roller (not sure why but I assumed they knew what they were doing). What I could see from the ground that ***** did on the rails and the 2 stairs looked really good, but I wasn't able to walk out on the deck for a couple of days. Before leaving that day ***** decided he wasn't going to do a second coat after all, but didn't offer to adjust the price. He sent me the invoice that night, and because of the "goodwill" I felt from what I could see, I unfortunately paid it. When I did get out on the deck, I found stain on the pillars, on many of the brackets holding the rails, smeared on a large portion of the lip along the deck on the house, on most of the spindles in the railing (even though I'd taped them top and bottom), splashes on the Hardy board siding (one was SMEARED by a cloth for about a foot) and on the cement foundation...and the floor looks like a patchwork quilt of thick overlaps here and there and barely any stain in between. Some of the boards weren't stained all the way down between boards and there were tiny areas with none. I contacted ***** and he said to let it set for a while and then he would try to get back to fix it. I didn't hear anything for 2 weeks and I was running out of time to get it done (fall weather, and construction coming that would not allow me to use the back door so this had to be done prior so I could use this front door). So I started to ask when he was coming, and got no response for another week. Finally I threatened to post a bad review and showed him some of the pics I'd use for it. Still nothing. I found their business number on ******** and spoke to his wife. She said she would see what they could do. I spent 2 hours cleaning the lip along the house and the spindles off myself. ***** finally texted to say they were coming "Sat a.m." (a month after the first job) I said that was fine. They arrived at NOON and got out of the car to say "We have a wedding at 2." She made comments that I was being far too picky about cleaning off the black brackets, that no one has ever been this picky, I can expect some to get on there (professionals and amateurs should know to wipe it off as you go), and I asked ***** if he was going to return this year to do the 2nd coat. "No." Next year? "Maybe." So I pressed him. He said it's getting too cold at night for a second coat now. I said I need a guarantee he will do it next year, and he wouldn't commit. He said it looks fine to him, tried to suggest that the overlays were the kid covering up what was on there from before! I reminded him that when he came to quote he told me it was so faded all along the deck that I didn't even need to pressure wash it. (there was only faded stain left along the inside edge and under the railings) Then he said we didn't have a contract! I have a paid invoice that constitutes a "contract" in my mind. He also used a steel bristle brush on my Hardy board siding to remove the smeared stain - leaving a grey smudge AND the stain, and when I pointed it out he blew it off saying there are other marks on the house! I was stunned he did it. He said I had "blown up his phone" but I reminded him he should have enough respect to answer his customers, especially given these circumstances. He said there is a lot going on in their lives. I said that wasn't because of me and he still needs to respect his customers. He may not be doing this business next year, according to his wife. By the end of the conversation he told me I'm being unreasonable, far too picky, he did what I paid him to do, maybe I will hear from him next year, and he got in the car and they drove away. He was making it about ME and not him. My neighbor came over and looked at the deck after he left - there is no way she would pay $1000 for that mess. SO I paid him $1000 for ONE coat on the deck that now needs to be sanded and redone to look right. That is $125 an hour! I have 2.5 gallons of stain to store and an irreparable mark on the siding. No apology and only a horrible attitude about my being upset. After he left I sent another text telling him that he has to return this week or refund me $500 to pay someone else to fix the deck next year. If he didn't do one or the other, I would post a bad review on Facebook and at the BBB. I was very disappointed in him that he wasn't more concerned about a professional job. Today I gave him a last chance to send me the money. He hasn't even had the courtesy to text me. I will have to hire someone else next year to sand then use a roller. I got stiffed and accused, when it was his helper that made the mess.