Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/14/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Framing issues:Sweet Interiors ************ didn't finished our framing and drywall work. We have a contract with them for all the framing and level 5 finish drywall with special type of orange peel knockdown. This knockdown is a handwriting from this company.Our house is located at *********************************************************************. It has **** sq ft under air and ****** sq ft of total area.We got an estimate of $ 34K from them for metal framing which also includes spruce strippings to level trusses.Sweet Interiors also e-mailed us the following: , Included in Price is 1"x3" wood spruce stripping on trusses to help absorb ceiling trusses not being level. Highly recommended especially for smooth Level 5 drywall.On another meeting with them we ask Sweet Interiors if we have all straight walls with the $ 34K estimate.Sweet Interiors told us, if we like to have everything straight then we need to pay an upgrade in pricing of $ 28K.We agreed to the higher price. We had a 2.5 months delay on framing because Sweet Interior made us to fix many ceilings and trusses which was included in the upgrade pricing of $ 28K . We did it and we paid another contractor so construction was moving forward otherwise Sweet Interior would not show up anymore. This was an extra out of pocket amount for us of $ ****. We also framed all the pockets for the window blinds which was also included in their contract ( on plan ) so we paid $ **** out of our pocket for labor and material.We also paid them $ ***** more on the end because of calculation error from Sweet Interior so we paid finally $ ****** ( contract amount + our extras ) + $ ***** directly to their Sub contractor. We just did this because they threatened us constantly that they will not show up if we don't fix items or pay them extra. Total extra we paid was $ 9700.We also paid $ 800 extra for their mistake on the garage door walls. They framed it and set the bunks on the garage door incorrectly so this was not passing inspection.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/26/2022

  The Flottmanns claim we did not finish the framing and drywall work in contract. The fact of the matter is we did finish as we received a final payment from them after **********, Sweet Interiors and Orange river construction all walked the job and it was satisfactory and complete. They Paid metal framing final 10/18/21
  As the Flottmanns said in their complaint, we added additional stripping to "help absorb the ceilings trusses not being level", the 1"x3" stripping does not fix These problem areas or make them perfect, but rather helps to absorb there imperfections. The Flottmanns agreed from the beginning (also stated in contract) any drywall that would have to be Floated to help the framing issues was an extra they would Pay for at any time during construction, and pay for the re- texturing of those areas.
  The Flottmanns stated many times to Sweet Interiors and Orange River construction before we started any framing or work that the Shell contractor did a terrible job with Block walls and tie beam and they wished they did not use them. Between the trusses and block walls and the Wood framing (which Sweet Interiors did not do) most of the house was out of level before we set foot on the job. For Example the upstairs guest bedroom (framed out of wood) was nearly out of square by 2" corner to corner and the Flottmans were trying to figure how this would affect their tile, and asking us for input on a solution. (not the only area they asked us for input,) all over house. The tie beam had dips in it throughout house that made the trusses unlevel.
  The upgrade in price was NOT to level their house, The reason for the Jump in price is simple. Not only did the materials increase significantly since original contract but the Flottmans added many things to the contract, which they failed to mention in their complaint. If it was all not in agreement then why did they give us the Job?
  One of the reasons for delay mentioned by **********, was the window openings were so far out of spec with the windows they ordered we waited a long time for the Flottmanns to get window issues resolved so we could finish our job. Also, materials have been in short supply. Many times we had to wait for them to be available and delivered.
  We were on the job site directly and watched as Orange river framed the Window blinds to spec. we fulfilled our contract. We have no Knowledge of Flottmanns framing these window pockets. Again, if we didn't frame them then why did they pay us the final?
  AS for the Calculation Error, it was not a error at all. It was a disagreement on wording in our contract. We clearly stated what was included in Lanai framing and what was an extra. They added extra framing on ground level which was clearly listed as an extra. The result a pricing dispute. Once again, the Flottmans failed to mention Sweet Interiors and Orange river all had to Contribute $2,000 to resolve this issue. We did that in good gesture to keep peaceful relations. WE all shook hands and were satisfied but they are bringing it up anyway.
  AS far as "threatening them we won't come back unless they pay us extra "that is an outright untruth". WE have never and would never operate in such an unprofessional way. You don't stay in business for over 25 years by being unprofessional. There were things they needed to address or how could we move further with our job? That's all.
  When we got to the point of $800 extra for garage walls, I poured over all invoices and not once did I charge them for my guys going back and repairing around the garage doors because of their not have a superintendent checking all aspects of each trade so as to not have so many problems. The insulators put insulation on garage block walls and we were asked to put PT strips over the insulation and hang drywall on top of PT.
  Which happened to end even with the Bunks on garage doors, and ***** was afraid it would not pass inspection so we fixed these out of our pocket.
  Their solution is to Finish the Job. In February 11, 2022 we turned in a Final invoice for Drywall as we were complete.
  Sweet Interiors and the Flottmanns walked the job, ********** were satisfied and they happily paid.
  5 months later The Flottmans are clearly upset that the trades they had come in after us have dinged, scratched and dented their beautiful drywall job throughout their entire house, walls and ceilings. However, it is not my scope of work or my responsibility to go back and repair for FREE damage to drywall and repair unlevel trusses, shell frame issues and wood frame walls that were a problem from before we Started metal framing.
  Again, I ask, if the job we did was not sufficient to our contract, why did they pay us in full?
  Despite our best efforts to be kind and assist the Flottmans In their issues, even giving them a lot of free labor and materials as of late as a kindness, even speaking with them in their native tongue. Sadly, they were not satisfied.
  " The Flottmans still owe us change order monies and we told them we would work with them but they refused".
  

  Business Response

  Date: 08/26/2022

  Business supplied email: ********************
  Use this address for any contact with the Better Business Bureau

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/31/2022

  (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
  All the drywall issues were found from contractors after Sweet Interiors finished their job.
  
  We found lights and smoke detectors who were knocked over (not in line anymore with other lights on the ceiling) OR buried under the drywall so that we had to search them (electric contractor)
  
  ********** (80 %) were cut out too big that they were not covered by the ** plates/covers. (** contractor)
  
  We ordered Level 5 plus a sprayed structure. There were kind of ******* in the ceiling what showed up after the ceiling was painted. The painting contractor said that it needs to be fixed by the drywallers and he has to prime and repaint all ceilings (painting contractor)
  
  We ve found a lot of drywall mud imperfections who needed to be sanded (video can be ******) all of them were marked with blue tape (painting contractor)..
  
  Another drywall company what we showed the house now after the problems said that this is not a level 5 finish! (Drywall Contractor)
  
  We are working with all contractors right now on letters! But we are on vacation out of the country. So we will bring this letters up as soon as we return (mid of September)
  
  Regards,
  ***** and *****************************
  

  Business Response

  Date: 09/20/2022

  What they are saying about all drywall issues is half truths. 

  As we have stated before, not only did *************************** walk the house with the owner of Sea Spray drywall Textures after he was done spraying and ***** said to *** the owner of texture company  that the drywall looked absolutely beautiful, The Flottmanns both ***** and ***** walked the house with the owners of Sweet Interiors and said the house looked amazing. No issues. And paid in full final invoice(Feb 22,2022) . All of us above walked the house before the texture was even sprayed and  after we did level 5 finish to make sure all was ready for texture.  We all agreed it was ready.  Even addressing their electrical changes they made and extra floating on  some walls and ceilings they asked us to do because of the Shell issues with block wall, wood frame walls and trusses. Which they happily paid for the Labor to fix these things on the final invoice.

  If you know anything about construction then you know Sometimes outlets or A/C vents may be cut out by accident a hair bigger then the frame. Its the nature of the business. WE had no idea the Flottmans were installing A/C  vents that have no frame border around them, this was not disclosed to us at all until we came back 5 months later to do punchout.   We repaired those at no charge. The painting contractor From Perfect German Painting looked at us and said if the edge was small enough they would caulk it, no problem.    The Flottmanns, the painter and Sweet Interiors all went upstairs and agreed/verified only a few vents upstairs needed attention.

  WE told the Flottmanns from the beginning that putting Crown molding on all their corners was essentially like putting a straight edge on the walls and ceilings and because of the severely flawed trusses and block walls they were going to need floating that was an extra cost to them. They understood and said no problem , they would pay for it,  if and where it was needed.  Verbally and contractually.

  yes we were contracted for the metal  framer to apply spruce stripping on their unlevel trusses, in the very words of the Flottmanns, to help absorb the imperfect trusses NOT to make them perfect. Yes even after level 5 finish there may have been some  possible buckles and dips in parts of the ceiling because of the truss and tie beam company ********* used.  And ********** knew there would be, hence them agreeing to pay us extra to Float!

  Yes.. there was an excessive amount of blue tape on walls and ceilings when we returned 5 months later, what the Flottmanns are neglecting to reveal is the vast majority was from their careless trim contractors. From what we gather the Flottmanns have been through multiple trim contractors.

  Sweet Interiors donated 17 hours of free labor as a kindness touching up walls and ceilings from other careless sub-contractors. A very small amount was from finish imperfection. Which we would never charge a customer for.  The other 17 hours we charged them for (3 guys for 3 days) floating areas the Flottmanns made changes to  ( i.e.  kitchen beams and bathrooms and  electrical outlets moved) and floating of trusses that they agreed to pay for.

  When it came time to pay for the floating that the Flottmanns agreed to pay for, on site before we started , they simply refused to pay. They also refused to pay for the Spray texture company who was scheduled to return and finish up. All of this the Flottmanns verbally contractually agreed to.

  So, in response to them not paying for what they agreed we pulled our guys off the job, as any self-respecting contractor would do.

  Im sure that one of our biggest competitors would gladly come in and say that we did not do level 5 finish, especially when youre paying them. That statement is neither revealing or definitive especially coming from a competitor. WE have many high end builders we do level 5 finish for regularly and NEVER one complaint. They all will vouch for our quality and professionalism  if needed.

  AS shown here, ( and as you will see we were willing to forego all of our charges except for Texture company).  Our final interaction via email August 10, 2022 with ********** goes as follows:

  
  Hello ***** and *****,
  
    Would you be willing to meet next week to find a peaceable, amicable solution for all of us?
  If youre willing to meet, the three most important things that we would like a contracted agreement on, is as follows:
  
  1. Once the spray is finished, you will pay Sea Spray his full amount. (As he is a third party, we want to make sure hes paid in full for any work) 2. No future damages are attempted or incurred on us.
  3. This will end our scope of work 100%.
  
  If you think that you can agree to these things, then by all means, lets meet next week, schedule work/spray and move on from this. I hope you find this agreeable.
  
  Sincerely,
  Damian/***************
  Sweet Interiors Drywall

   

  They even refused this very generous offer. And decided to go this route of contacting BBB.