ComplaintsforTerrance Mann Finishes

• Initial Complaint

  09/24/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 9/14/2021 we signed a contract and mailed a check to Terrance Mann Finishes for an extensive exterior staining and painting job. The contract required 35% down to "hold a calendar place". We mailed $3,255.00. Over the course of the last 13 months, ********** (owner of Terrance Mann Finishes) has come by our house to discuss the project and drop off paint samples. He removed several pieces of our siding that were damaged but has never replaced those and as winter approaches again we have places where there is no siding on our exterior. We have emailed him several times and received no response. We have requested our deposit be returned, as he has had it now for over a year, and it does not appear he has any intention of completing the project we contracted. No response from him. We want a full refund of our deposit.

  Business response

  10/12/2022

  This exterior project was committed to our schedule on 9/14/2021 for the 2022 Summer season, this was discussed during our client meetings fall of 2021 since we were already full for the season.  This booking got the project a spot in line which as also discussed with client that there were already several projects scheduled ahead of these for **********************************************************************  Beginning Spring 2022 we had been in good communication and I had made several trips over the the site to meet and present sample colors on 2x2 pieces of plywood for review (I believe at point of start up colors had still not been decided). We had also communicated that we were being challenged with severe labor shortages this season, operating at approximately 1/3 the staff we had the previous season.  
  
  This exterior project had two components, first was the painting work order which the deposit was paid to be on the 2022 summer schedule, but there was also significant carpentry/ wood replacements that needed to be addressed before paint, we offered to perform this work as well on an additional time and materials basis.  The style of siding to be replaced on the house was pretty standard verticals shiplap siding readily used on this era of 50s 60s modernist homes and typically available at lumber suppliers we use, however, upon start up of bad wood removal we discovered that the only matching siding the lumberyards stocked (after checking every lumberyard in the metro) was 1/8 of an inch narrower than what the house was sided with and would have to be custom milled with a 2-3 week estimated turn around time.  The lumber was ordered immediately before more siding bad siding was removed and the North facing side of the house which damaged siding had been removed was re-sheathed and protected with Tyvek house wrap until the new lumber would arrive.  This was all communicated and explained daily throughout this process.
  
  Once I received a call from the lumberyard that the lumber was ready for pick up I emailed client to inform them that we would be picking up lumber a returning to continue carpentry in a couple of days.  All communication had been through and threaded though one email account and some phone calls and txt messages.  I was later surprised and hurt to find out that the same day I emailed the client through our threaded chain on email correspondence, I had received the first of two emails that were in my junk/spam email box demanding a refund from the husband which came from a different email account.   I was not reached by the client with this request by phone nor email through our regular chain of email correspondence.  
  
  Once we arrived on site with lumber and equipment trailer to begin the following day I was called by client that evening and informed of the emails, I checked my email history only to find the emails in my junk folder.  I explained again the cause for delay which seems to be widespread this year throughout the building trades and requested the opportunity to continue, however unfortunately this didnt work out for us.  We were super excited to a part of this project, especially since I had painted the interior of the house with wood restoration years earlier for the previous owner as well as the exterior of the neighbors house years earlier, both with high praises.  
  
  We take great pride in our work and are full service home restoration shop, which is hard to find, we are meticulous and do great work, however this year challenged by issues market wide that have been out of our control.  I tried my best to communicate as I do with all my clients, all while working daily in the field and try to have adequate time left over for family and rest. 
  
  Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
  
  ***********************
  

  
  

  Customer response

  10/19/2022

  9/14/2021, we made a deposit of $3255.00 understanding work to be done Spring 2022. Contractor (C) did not communicate to us that there were several projects scheduled ahead of ours for 2022. C did not communicate that work wouldn't start until Fall, if at all in 2022. Had we known, we wouldnt have entered the contract. C indicates our project was committed to the schedule. When work had not really begun 12 months after deposit, we contacted C to cancel our project on 9/15/22.

  
  Contract states Carpentry needs to be assessed at time of power washing. Powerwashing never took place, 10 siding boards were removed from the house. 
  What C states as significant carpentry/wood replacements refers to removing 10 boards, & stapling Tyvek into gaps. This is the only work completed. Lumber Yard indicated replacement siding ready in late August. We contacted C on 9/6 requesting that work begin before winter. C claimed he did not receive email. However, that day we received an email stating he would come to our house to start work in a day or two, yet C  failed to come.

  
  After not hearing from C for an additional 9 days, we decided to terminate our contract. 9/15/22 sent an email indicating our intention to terminate the contract. C did not respond. 9/26 C indicated he would be coming by soon to start work. 

  
  On 10-1-2021 C invoiced us for $3217.82. We calculate labor cost is actually $1917.82.

  
  Invoice claims 32hrs of Carpentry labor @ $65/hr= $2,080. Actual carpentry labor was one employee on 2 partial days (4-6 hrs per day). Total carpentry labor hours did not exceed 12 hours. At $65/hour the labor charge should be $780, not $2,080. The invoice overcharges carpentry labor by $1300. The work on these 2 days represents all of the on-site work ever performed.

  
  Therefore, we are asking for a refund of the balance of our 09-15-2021 deposit of $3,255 (ck #***), minus $1,917.82 for the materials and carpentry work performed, for a total refund of $1,337.18.

  Business response

  11/08/2022

  
  I would like the client to acknowledge that this project, a ****s architect custom built house, used materials and profiles that are no longer available or very hard to source if they are available.  On a project where we are preserving existing wood and doing replacements rather a full re-siding of a house with current readily available materials cause much time spent searching and sourcing.  This was discussed with client. 
  
  I know my invoice for work performed is accurate, much of this time was spent myself and I stand behind what was billed.  We spent a day taking measurements and counts of individual boards to be replaced and walked around several time with client to demonstrate where and why there should be replace for approval before we began any removal.  There was at least a full work day of my self visiting several lumber yards in the metro in person to consult and search in person to put eyes on availablity if any, this requires actual footwork which are billable hours.  After checking with all the lumberyards in work with, finding their profile was no longer made and stocked, I return to my original lumberyard to have them match and set up a sample piece to be custom milled. 
  
  We also, had time spent, purchasing sheeting plywood for repairs to backing and house wrap, setting up equipment etc.  Here onsite hours account for about half the time spent on the project, in it early sourcing, planning and prep stages.  
  
  Therefore, again Im confident with hours billed and would stand behind them. 
  

  
  

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