Deep Roots was contracted in fall of 2014 to build a deck and small paver walkway for complainant after 2 months of negotiations. Contracted price of job was $10,500 (which I have email proof of and can be provided if necessary) not $15000 as described in complaint. Complainant claimed to be an...
architect or engineer and did all designs, was responsible for and pulled the permits for job, which are available at South Brunswick township if necessary. After an agreement had been reached, home owner asked if as a courtesy, we could build him a small bench. With the assumption it would be a small favor, we agreed. During negotiations, we told home owner that the height of deck was cutting it very close to the maximum allowable height before hand rails would be needed(30") but home owner didn't want to pay for them and was hoping that township inspectors would pass the final inspection. Towards the end of project, home owner began talking more about the "free" benches I agreed to build, and with his description we realized we would need to be compensated, so we asked for $500. In late November, all contracted work had been completed aside from home owners dissatisfaction in the benches and flower pot, we were paid the initial contracted price of $10500. We told him benches were a lot of work and if he'd like more time spent of the details we would like an additional $500 and we would come back in spring to finish. In early spring we called for final inspection and it failed. We had made a slight miscalculation on the height of a step and inspector also said that hand rails were required on steps(which I had previously mentioned to homeowner). At this point home owner asked us to come back fix the steps(which we did at no charge), add a small addition to paver walkway( for an additional $1100), and install handrails(additional $300 w/ materials purchased by homeowner). The home owner did not know what he was doing and purchased the improper materials, which forced us to go to local supplier and buy what we needed ($190). At this meeting in spring, homeowner made a few remarks to things he felt were done poorly, claiming the 4x4 posts holding up deck frame weren't cut low enough and were protruding into deck flooring, and a piece of fascia board had popped a screw head off. It was at this time that we realized homeowner didn't calculate the weight of the bench and flower pot structure into his framing design submitted to township and bolts holding girder to 4x4 were not sufficient. We decided we did not want to complete bench portion of work and called for another inspection. Inspection failed again because deck height exceeded the maximum allowable 30" and would require hand rails all the way around which I was never informed of. I realized some time later that a worker had left some tools at homeowners house. Worker was sent to retrieve tools and homeowner said tools can not be taken back until homeowners money had been returned. At this point homeowner was in debt to Deep Roots $2100 ( $500 for initial bench work, $1100 for patio extension, $300 for step rail install, and $200 for step rail materials). We went to meet with homeowner to see why he felt he was owned money, this turned into a large argument between Deep Roots and homeowner and homeowner agreed to pay $700 and no more to Deep Roots. At this time homeowner claimed we destroyed a significant potion of his Trex material and had to purchase more to have someone else finish. while not built to his standards, the bench and flower pot were at the proper size, and no materials were unusable. 2 months later(mid summer), homeowner called Deep Roots claiming we broke a head of his sprinkler system. When we were first negotiating contract, homeowner was asked if there were any sprinklers in vicinity of digging and we were assured no. Home owner went on vacation some time in November, and there was a frost before homeowner had sprinklers winterized and I believe this to be the problem with the system, not us. We will not be reimbursing homeowner for any costs as we were not paid in full for our services. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to tell our side of story. if there are any questions please call. Thank you.
Deep Roots was contracted in fall of 2014 to build a deck and small paver walkway for complainant after 2 months of negotiations. Contracted price of job was $10,500 (which I have email proof of and can be provided if necessary) not $15000 as described in complaint. Complainant claimed to be an...
architect or engineer and did all designs, was responsible for and pulled the permits for job, which are available at South Brunswick township if necessary. After an agreement had been reached, home owner asked if as a courtesy, we could build him a small bench. With the assumption it would be a small favor, we agreed. During negotiations, we told home owner that the height of deck was cutting it very close to the maximum allowable height before hand rails would be needed(30") but home owner didn't want to pay for them and was hoping that township inspectors would pass the final inspection. Towards the end of project, home owner began talking more about the "free" benches I agreed to build, and with his description we realized we would need to be compensated, so we asked for $500. In late November, all contracted work had been completed aside from home owners dissatisfaction in the benches and flower pot, we were paid the initial contracted price of $10500. We told him benches were a lot of work and if he'd like more time spent of the details we would like an additional $500 and we would come back in spring to finish. In early spring we called for final inspection and it failed. We had made a slight miscalculation on the height of a step and inspector also said that hand rails were required on steps(which I had previously mentioned to homeowner). At this point home owner asked us to come back fix the steps(which we did at no charge), add a small addition to paver walkway( for an additional $1100), and install handrails(additional $300 w/ materials purchased by homeowner). The home owner did not know what he was doing and purchased the improper materials, which forced us to go to local supplier and buy what we needed ($190). At this meeting in spring, homeowner made a few remarks to things he felt were done poorly, claiming the 4x4 posts holding up deck frame weren't cut low enough and were protruding into deck flooring, and a piece of fascia board had popped a screw head off. It was at this time that we realized homeowner didn't calculate the weight of the bench and flower pot structure into his framing design submitted to township and bolts holding girder to 4x4 were not sufficient. We decided we did not want to complete bench portion of work and called for another inspection. Inspection failed again because deck height exceeded the maximum allowable 30" and would require hand rails all the way around which I was never informed of. I realized some time later that a worker had left some tools at homeowners house. Worker was sent to retrieve tools and homeowner said tools can not be taken back until homeowners money had been returned. At this point homeowner was in debt to Deep Roots $2100 ( $500 for initial bench work, $1100 for patio extension, $300 for step rail install, and $200 for step rail materials). We went to meet with homeowner to see why he felt he was owned money, this turned into a large argument between Deep Roots and homeowner and homeowner agreed to pay $700 and no more to Deep Roots. At this time homeowner claimed we destroyed a significant potion of his Trex material and had to purchase more to have someone else finish. while not built to his standards, the bench and flower pot were at the proper size, and no materials were unusable. 2 months later(mid summer), homeowner called Deep Roots claiming we broke a head of his sprinkler system. When we were first negotiating contract, homeowner was asked if there were any sprinklers in vicinity of digging and we were assured no. Home owner went on vacation some time in November, and there was a frost before homeowner had sprinklers winterized and I believe this to be the problem with the system, not us. We will not be reimbursing homeowner for any costs as we were not paid in full for our services. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to tell our side of story. if there are any questions please call. Thank you.