Pete's Handyman Services

When I came to look at the job to be done, I saw the worst taping and mudding work I had seen in twenty years. I brought this to her attention and explained that the worst thing that you can do is try to correct a bad taping and mudding job on drywall. I explained to her what would have to be done to correct such a bad first coating of taping and mudding. I told her it was possible to be done and I would give it my best--which I did. As Stephanie says, the job was supposed to begin Wednesday, and it did begin on Wednesday. The masking began on Wednesday about 12:00pm. Everything that wasn't being sanded was completely covered in the prep. On Thursday morning, at 8:00am, I and my crew were on the job. I explained to her how the job could be completed on time because I was using quick drying mud, so that the sanding and painting could be done in time, especially since the area was small. I have been doing this kind of work for twenty years and I know what procedures to use. I took time to explain this to her, but she persisted on dictating how I should do the job because of what she read on the internet. I had all of the materials I needed for that phase of the job. I was to pick-up all of my materials before the job even started, but Stephanie refused to give me the down payment to purchase materials before job started which was part of the signed contract. The reason she gave to me for not giving me the down payment after signing the contract was that she had had other contractors before me who had received money and "messed" over her. I responded to her "As bad as I hate that happened to you, what does that have to do with me?" She then asked me if she could give me the down payment ($500) the next evening. I responded by saying "okay" since I and my crew already had put in a day and a half work. The ceiling had been sanded, skim-coated over existing bad taping joints and textured. The PVA primer was to be applied over ceiling and new textured walls. I did not get opportunity to do this because I was asked to stop work and return Monday at 12:00 pm, so they could ready for the holidays. I could have applied PVA and painted on Friday, but I agreed to return on Monday. I received a phone call on Sunday from the husband saying that his wife was disappointed about the way I responded to her about procedures and it would be best that I didn't return to the job. I told him that I was 3/4 finished with the job and if his decision was based on lack of finances, I would return and complete the job, and they could pay me later. His response was, "Have a happy holiday, but I think it would be best if you don't come back out". So, I had completed the hardest part of the job, but received no pay. Concerning my crew leaving a mess, it was impossible that water could have been standing on the hardwood floors because the floors were completely covered with floor-covering masking paper. If there was any mud left on the ground, it was water soluble. It was raining and snowing that day. The $500 deposit that I received a day and a half late, throwing off my whole schedule, was used for the materials and equipment on the job up to that point. So, Stephanie is not out of $500. It was used for the materials on the job. All of the work that I and my workers completed, we haven't been compensated for. In my twenty-plus years of working, I've heard of situations where people hire contractors to come out, have them to a portion of the work, create a false conflict where they let the contractor go, thereby getting their work done for free. This is the first time it's happened to me. My reputation means more to me than any money. I will go the extra mile to keep it intact.