ComplaintsforA Better Handyman, LLC.

• Initial Complaint

  11/03/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Transaction date 09/11/2021. Total payment ********** Committed to replace rotted wood in garage. Each piece of replaced wood siding labelled "Recommended for interior use only." These are exterior walls. The contract specifies pressure treated wood. We would like our money back so we can replace the wood. Resolution has not been satisfactory. Account number is not on the proposal.

  Business response

  01/04/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2021/11/05) */ A Better Handyman has tried several times to work with this customer on these issues. There seems to be several blurred lines on communication here. The story is not as it is bring told. The framing of the shed had to be re-built in an area. We told the customer that the framing would be built out of pressure treated lumber (as it was). The exterior piece of wood that needed replacing was asked to be matched as close as possible to the others. We purchased the wood in the exterior section as we have for 20 plus years from big box stores. The wood used on the shed is absolutely suitable for the job and we have tried several times to address this with the homeowner(s). Initially they received an estimate to paint the structure and they decided not to have that done. We offered to come paint the interior of the wood we replaced...to further help them be assured it would further seal the wood & they declined - they said we should paint the exterior for free which we cannot do and will not be made to feel we should do. The biggest aspect of this job was the framing which was bad. Our pricing and workmanship were competitive and proper. It Is extremely upsetting that this was months ago & the husband and wife pick different ways to start this again. Initially the husband was happy with the work, they paid & all was well. We feel strongly that they are being unreasonable and were trying to bully us into free work (painting the whole exterior of the shed) ...and when we wouldn't do that, now this? They want all the money refunded? No way. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2021/11/10) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) BBB Complaint Case# ******** (Ref#XX-XXXXXXXX-XXXXXXXX-X-XXXX) 1. We are not complaining about "a piece" of wood. It was about two dozen planks of "wood", each individually stamped: "Recommended for interior use only". Indicating it was a "piece" of wood is at best, a completely misleading statement. 2. The framing was separately addressed in the contract and was only part of the original job. 3. The contract did not restrict the provision of pressure treated wood to the framing job. 4. Included under Q and A's on the supplier's website were countless remarks about the unsuitability of this material for exterior use, including even for covered porches, as well as a caveat that even repainting the surface annually would not render the material suitable for exterior use. Why on earth would we ever agree to pay ********* for such a repair to a garage which is constantly in the weather? Obviously, we are going to have to pay someone else to remove what was installed on the sides of the garage and replace it with proper materials. 5. As for "matching" the existing wood, that is the expected standard in this industry. The company could have simply had real wood cut to match what was originally used. There's even a lumber yard in the neighborhood. As it turned out, the materials did not match anyway, making the garage unsightly. I am attaching photos which show the interior wood (solid, probably oak), the mismatches, the parts not repaired/replaced at all, etc. 6. The company offered to paint the interior of the garage. This would have entailed our having to completely empty the garage, and still would not have solved the problem. 7. We did ask for a quote on painting the exterior of the garage at the outset, and decided that we could not afford it at this time, although the company represented it would paint the new materials to match... which obviously was not done. 8. The owner has never responded to our request to talk about this matter, or if he did call back, he never left a decipherable phone message, nor did he call from a line identified with the company. We waited almost two months after "completion" of the job before resorting to this complaint in an effort to resolve this matter. 9. We must take issue with the reference to our "bullying" the company. It is not "bullying" to report unacceptable service. We have never been rude or disrespectful in any way to the office manager. Rather, we are now feeling "bullied" by a company that expects us to voice no complaints about this inferior job performance, and then exercise the audacity to lecture us about their religious affiliations which are completely irrelevant to the issue. The siding planks used were recommended for interior use only. We never agreed to their use for our garage. Business Response /* (4000, 11, 2021/11/19) */ ***Document Attached*** To whom it may concern: I am the owner of A Better Handyman LLC. The work performed on the framing and base of the structure was a considerable amount of work which was performed in a workmanlike manor. Per the attached screenshot of the contract - the homeowners WERE advised the wood on the exterior would not match - and that the painting of that wood - would match as close as possible to the other painted areas which the homeowners opted to not have the entire structure painted. I'm not sure what us being Christian have been brought up for (other than to cast stones at us)...however I do realize per our recorded phone lines - that our office manager did articulate to Mr *********** during a conversation, that we are a small Christian Based company and that we do not rip off customers as it was being said to her that we had done. It was not our practice to be a wolf in sheep's clothes. We offered to paint the interior of the wood to further seal it (and would have moved anything out of the way) as they would have done when initially performing the framing on the inside. Given the costs of good and labor during this Pandemic we gave the homeowners an EXTREMELY fair deal on re framing and repairing more than 8 feet of wall and footer structure. I will not be made to feel as if I owe you ******* It's Ludacris to even believe that in your heart. The framing alone was worth ******* We have a family member who is in the hospital and have been around the clock at ******* ******** We will not be tied to emails and this is what took longer to reply. We are a family run business and out of the office until Dec 15th. Kindly - ABH. Joseph ********

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