Business ProfileforColumbia Tile & Grout Services

This company came out and gave us a bid on redoing our walk in shower as it had not been properly cared for, Columbia Tile and Grout came out and gave us a bid for caulking our walk in shower but on-pond inspection by his tile lead man it was apparent it needed more then just caulking and we agreed and Columbia Tile & Grout gave up a bid on completely re doing our walk in shower and the owner of the company said that the price was high bu it was easier to explain a lower price then a higher price. This was the last time we ever saw the owner of said company he never once came out to see how work was progressing and he never came out after the job was complete in fact his lead man had to call the owner of the company and ask if he had a price so he could pick up a check from us. Needless to say the price was sky high and so end the story...

ORIGINAL ESTIMATE COVER LETTER

Dear _________,

Your estimate for removal and replacement of your master bathroom shower is attached. This is a time-and-materials based estimate, which means you will be billed for the number of skilled labor hours and the cost of the materials (including sales tax) needed to complete your project. Glass, plumbing, and painting services (if necessary) are not included in our estimate, as we are unable to provide these services. Also, the cost of the replacement tile is not included. We have tried to be conservative in our estimate, meaning we hope the final tally will be less than our estimate rather than more, but either outcome is equally likely.

We expect this job to be completed over a period of seven business days. Generally, we do not work on weekends or major national holidays. We expect the project to breakdown as follows, for a 2-man crew:
* Dust Management Prep & Demolition - 1 day
* Waterproofing - 1 day
* Float mud for shower base beneath shower tray - 1/2 day
* Shower Bench construction & waterproofing - 1/2 day
* Tile installation - 3 days
* Grouting, caulking, and sealing - 1 day
TOTAL TIME: 7 business days

The total time to completion could be extended by factors such as time waiting for a plumber (if necessary) and the amount of water damage repairs (if any).

Please call me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

ESTIMATE
SERVICE: R&R Shower
Remove tile and tile substrate in shower walls and floor; place debris in Bagster. Install shower waterproofing materials, tile backer board, shower tray, shower drain kit, tile, grout, caulk, and grout sealer. Price includes demolition labor, installation labor, tools, and equipment only. Materials and water damage repairs are covered separately below.
NOTES: (1) Touch-up painting may be necessary after conclusion of this project.
(2) CTGS DOES NOT provide painting, plumbing or glass installation services.
$85.00 per labor hour. Number of labor hours shown here is an estimate; actual number will vary.
84 labor hours @ $85.00 per labor hour = $7,140.00
SERVICE: Water Damage Repair
Remove and replace water-damaged wood, insulation, sheetrock, and other materials, as appropriate, at $85.00/labor hour. Cost cannot be estimated until demolition phase has been completed.
4 labor hours @ $85.00 per labor hour = $340.00
JOB SUPPLIES:
MATERIALS to be provided at CTGS's cost, including sales tax. Amount shown here is a rough estimate, DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF THE TILE. Actual charges will vary.
1 each @ $1,000.00 = 1,000.00
SERVICE: Materials Surcharge
30% MATERIALS SURCHARGE on materials supplied by CTGS to defray the costs of acquisition and delivery
1 each @ 300.00 = 300.00
SERVICE: DEBRIS DISPOSAL
1 each @ $145.00 = $145.00
TOTAL $8,925.00

INVOICE
R&R Shower
Remove tile and tile substrate in shower walls and floor; place debris in Bagster. Install shower waterproofing materials, tile backer board, shower tray, shower drain kit, tile, grout, caulk, and grout sealer. Price includes demolition labor, installation labor, tools, and equipment only.
NOTES: Hidden costs that significantly increased number of labor hours were the unorthodox way in which the bench was attached to the slab, which significantly increased demolition time, and the amount of mortar bed prep needed to repair resulting damage to the slab.
$85.00 per labor hour.
103.25 labor hours @ $85.00 per labor hour = 8,776.25
Water Damage Repair
Remove and replace water-damaged wood, insulation, sheetrock, and other materials, as appropriate, at $85.00/labor hour.
11.25 labor hours @ $85.00 per labor hour = $956.25
Materials
MATERIALS to be provided at CTGS's cost including sales tax.
1 each @ $883.18 = $883.18
Materials Surcharge
30% MATERIALS SURCHARGE on materials supplied by CTGS to defray the costs of acquisition and delivery
1 each @ $264.95 = $264.95
DEBRIS DISPOSAL
Debris Disposal
1 each @ $145.00 = $145.00
Discount
Discounted hourly rate to $75.00 for labor hours; discounted number of excess hours over original estimate by 50%.
26.50 labor hours @ -$10.00 = -$265.00
Discount
Discounted number of excess hours over original estimate by 50%.
13.25 labor hours @ -$75.00 = -$993.75
BALANCE DUE $9,766.88

TOTAL DISCOUNT APPLIED = $1,258.75

SUMMARY

Nearly all of the variance between estimated and invoice amounts was due to unknowns that became apparent only during or after demolition. But he refused to come into the bathroom to see what was taking place or to learn about the water damage and the unusual construction issues that led to higher costs. After he lodged unjustified complaints, I decided it was not worth a fight and offered a steep discount, which he accepted. Since he accepted the settlement as fair, he has no grounds for a BBB complaint.

He knew from the start that I was quite sick with bronchitis and sinusitis, and that kept me from being present. But I was available to him by phone, and talked to him on several occasions during the job.