Eastman Hardwood Floorings Ltd

[redacted] I have received a copy of the complaint filed by a past client of mine by the name of [redacted] I was introduced to [redacted] by a mutual friend (an architect) to both consult on methods of construction and help renovate an old farm house that he had recently purchasedAfter several site visits it was obvious that the structure was in need of major repairs, the foundation was (is) collapsing at the north wall, it had appeared that someone(he) had removed structural collar ties at second floor, causing the structure to lean out of plumb towards the north wall by 4” from grade to second floor sill plateMy initial recommendation to him was to either tear down the structure and use the site, or to do a proper renovation and remove the skin off of the house, siding, sheathing, down to the post and beam skeletonThis would allow for the proper jacking, installation of turnbuckles, and proper foundation repairs, which would improve the overall integrity of the structure, which was basically a barn type structure with several additions added over the yearsI recommended to [redacted] that he should have his architect friend provide a set of plans, showing demolition, structural repairs as well as calling out new finishes and applicationsThis way we could put a realistic budget number together for him and he would know what his costs would be before we startedI told him just by observation that he would easily be above the $50,markHe said that he did not have the funds at the time to do that much work, but there were several items he wanted to address right awayHe had his frie nd draw a basic a sketch of the southern wall, no dimensions, where he was eager to put a wall of glassAgain, I recommended that he make structural repairs to the building first before proceeding with any type of finishes, including glassHe was very adamant about proceeding and I proceeded as a favor to the architectWe installed a monolithic slab in the basement, installed steel columns and steel C channel to create an opening for future glass, which he said he could buy cheaper elsewhere and have installedWe provided the opening, that is what was agreed uponThen he asked if we could repair his North wall of the houseI again asked him to have his architect friend provide a detail that we may provide a cost for and followAfter not hearing back for several weeks, he asked me if I had an architect he could useI met my architect on site twice, she came as a favor to meOnce she wrote up her scope of work and provided a fee for her services, [redacted] was unwilling to pay for the proper plansI then told him that I would at least need structural plans for the foundation repairs and collar tie replacements for local town inspectionsAgain, he said he did not want to have to pay a lot for the plansI asked my engineer to stop by the site, which he did twice, and to provide us with a structural solution for the issues to the buildingHe basically said the same thing I had previously mentioned, remove the skin, support, straighten and reskin [redacted] then said please provide the bare minimum, so that he and his family could stay there witho ut the building falling on them!!! Not kidding! He said he was not sure if he was going to keep the structure or take it down and build something else in the futureMy engineer came up with a steel turnbuckle solution for collar ties and also recommended, digging out north wall foundation, pouring a new retaining wall alongside existing and installing a 18’-x 8” steel beam to be set on existing wall to help carry the load to the corners, as the middle of wall was(is) collapsing due to pressure from grade and a large tree directly alongside the houseWe were also in the process of preparing to renovate another wing of the house, which would be directly affected by this renovationAn initial deposit was agreed upon to keep moving forward with structural repairs, while plans, which he said he would provide (he ended up sketching them himself, nothing to scale, structural, etc.), so that we could continue workingI ordered the steel, it sits at my shopWe purchased and installed all steel post to beam brackets, we purchased and installed steel 1” rod and turnbuckles for collar tie repairs, I paid my engineer for his site vis its and recommendationsI paid my architect friend for her time to come and do a site visitI myself do design build, and I have many hours meeting with [redacted] and consulting on methods of construction, which I never billed him for, as I was doing this as a favor to a mutual friendWe were very busy with other projects and I made time for him in our scheduleWe were working on site and progressing as per plan and then he said he wanted to stop and pick it back up in the spring time, that he may have other “ideas” by thenI was not happy, as I had turned down other work and going into winter, you try to keep your men busy for as long as you canI told him fine, we will stop, I will hold the balance of your deposit until we pick up in the springSpring time came and he said that now he did not want to do the repairs agreed upon, that he wanted to just do repairs to the one wing, which did not make sense to me, but it was his money, so he can do with it what he likes, so I said we will apply any balance to that portion of the project! We again mobilized, setting up scaffolding and preparing to begin demolishing the wing, when he now said that he did not want to do that renovation, that he wanted to remove a doublewide behind the house and prepare that site for a future home! That was the last strawLike I said from the beginning, please provide a set of construction documents, we will price and proceed once retainedThis is what favors get you, no good deed goes unpunished! At the time we left, [redacted] had a credit with me of $1,700.00, not factoring in what I spent on my engineer, architect, my consulting regarding construction methods and re mobilizing my menI can deliver the steel beam to his site when and if he is ready for itWe are currently under contract for several million dollars worth of work on several other projects, it is not the money with me, it is the principal! Sincerely, Ray S***

[redacted] I have received a copy of the complaint filed by a past client of mine by the name of [redacted]. I was introduced to [redacted] by a mutual...

friend (an architect) to both consult on methods of construction and help renovate an old farm house that he had recently purchased. After several site visits it was obvious that the structure was in need of major repairs, the foundation was (is) collapsing at the north wall, it had appeared that someone(he) had removed structural collar ties at second floor, causing the structure to lean out of plumb towards the north wall by 4” from grade to second floor sill plate. My initial recommendation to him was to either tear down the structure and use the site, or to do a proper renovation and remove the skin off of the house, siding, sheathing, down to the post and beam skeleton. This would allow for the proper jacking, installation of turnbuckles, and proper foundation repairs, which would improve the overall integrity of the structure, which was basically a barn type structure with several additions added over the years. I recommended to [redacted] that he should have his architect friend provide a set of plans, showing demolition, structural repairs as well as calling out new finishes and applications. This way we could put a realistic budget number together for him and he would know what his costs would be before we started. I told him just by observation that he would easily be above the $50,000.00 mark. He said that he did not have the funds at the time to do that much work, but there were several items he wanted to address right away. He had his frie nd draw a basic a sketch of the southern wall, no dimensions, where he was eager to put a wall of glass. Again, I recommended that he make structural repairs to the building first before proceeding with any type of finishes, including glass. He was very adamant about proceeding and I proceeded as a favor to the architect. We installed a monolithic slab in the basement, installed steel columns and steel C channel to create an opening for future glass, which he said he could buy cheaper elsewhere and have installed. We provided the opening, that is what was agreed upon. Then he asked if we could repair his North wall of the house. I again asked him to have his architect friend provide a detail that we may provide a cost for and follow. After not hearing back for several weeks, he asked me if I had an architect he could use. I met my architect on site twice, she came as a favor to me. Once she wrote up her scope of work and provided a fee for her services, [redacted] was unwilling to pay for the proper plans. I then told him that I would at least need structural plans for the foundation repairs and collar tie replacements for local town inspections. Again, he said he did not want to have to pay a lot for the plans. I asked my engineer to stop by the site, which he did twice, and to provide us with a structural solution for the issues to the building. He basically said the same thing I had previously mentioned, remove the skin, support, straighten and reskin. [redacted] then said please provide the bare minimum, so that he and his family could stay there witho ut the building falling on them!!! Not kidding! He said he was not sure if he was going to keep the structure or take it down and build something else in the future. My engineer came up with a steel turnbuckle solution for collar ties and also recommended, digging out north wall foundation, pouring a new retaining wall alongside existing and installing a 18’-0 x 8” steel beam to be set on existing wall to help carry the load to the corners, as the middle of wall was(is) collapsing due to pressure from grade and a large tree directly alongside the house. We were also in the process of preparing to renovate another wing of the house, which would be directly affected by this renovation. An initial deposit was agreed upon to keep moving forward with structural repairs, while plans, which he said he would provide (he ended up sketching them himself, nothing to scale, structural, etc.), so that we could continue working. I ordered the steel, it sits at my shop. We purchased and installed all steel post to beam brackets, we purchased and installed steel 1” rod and turnbuckles for collar tie repairs, I paid my engineer for his site vis its and recommendations. I paid my architect friend for her time to come and do a site visit. I myself do design build, and I have many hours meeting with [redacted] and consulting on methods of construction, which I never billed him for, as I was doing this as a favor to a mutual friend. We were very busy with other projects and I made time for him in our schedule. We were working on site and progressing as per plan and then he said he wanted to stop and pick it back up in the spring time, that he may have other “ideas” by then. I was not happy, as I had turned down other work and going into winter, you try to keep your men busy for as long as you can. I told him fine, we will stop, I will hold the balance of your deposit until we pick up in the spring. Spring time came and he said that now he did not want to do the repairs agreed upon, that he wanted to just do repairs to the one wing, which did not make sense to me, but it was his money, so he can do with it what he likes, so I said we will apply any balance to that portion of the project! We again mobilized, setting up scaffolding and preparing to begin demolishing the wing, when he now said that he did not want to do that renovation, that he wanted to remove a doublewide behind the house and prepare that site for a future home! That was the last straw. Like I said from the beginning, please provide a set of construction documents, we will price and proceed once retained. This is what favors get you, no good deed goes unpunished! At the time we left, [redacted] had a credit with me of $1,700.00, not factoring in what I spent on my engineer, architect, my consulting regarding construction methods and re mobilizing my men. I can deliver the steel beam to his site when and if he is ready for it. We are currently under contract for several million dollars worth of work on several other projects, it is not the money with me, it is the principal! Sincerely, Ray S[redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:1/ I believe that, as a client, I should be able to decide and change how I allocate my budget to a given project even if it goes against the contractor’s agenda and this is especially true when tackling the renovation of a 100 year old + farm house where priorities often shift as you progress.  2/ Ray S[redacted] constantly mentions doing us favors and paying things out of his pocket but there is no business worth of that name which operates like this and I doubt his is an exception. As a client I’m expecting invoices not favors and any invoice submitted by Ray S[redacted] and agreed on was fully paid.He has indeed been fairly paid a total of $25,952 for the work he has actually performed. But sticking to the facts he also has been paid an additional $4,400 for work he has either not fully completed like the "Mahogany Frames for Glass Curtain Wall" or not started at all like the "North Wall Structural Repairs".  That work was not completed because of our unwillingness to proceed but because all our attempts to communicate with him from Spring to mid-summer 2016 were met with close to no answer.We know and understand that the reason for his silence was new bigger more lucrative projects and that he had the right to terminate the relationship but we do not accept his lack of communication and his refusal to refund us. In truth, if Ray S[redacted] had refunded us, which he actually mentioned himself a couple of times this Spring and Summer, we would have been happy to part ways or, better, if he had kept communicating with us, we would likely still be working together. But instead he choose to ignore us making us also lost the best construction time period of this year. Going back to Ray S[redacted]’s partially erroneous account of our relationship timeline, I would also like to correct a few facts: 1/ The solution the engineer came up with regarding the "North Wall Structural Repairs" back in the Fall of 2015 never included the use of a steel beam as per its visit and the subsequent stamped sketch (attached here) he provided us with and that we, not Ray S[redacted], paid for. As explained in our initial complain the steel beam was part of a previous solution Ray proposed and that we didn’t feel comfortable with.  But upon pressure from him,  we did gave a conditional approval and deposit of $3,400 specifying to him to not deposit the check until the structural engineer had indeed reviewed and discussed with us such a proposal. Against our verbal agreement Ray S[redacted] deposited the check and bought the $1,400 steel beam required by his proposal which was indeed abandoned after meeting with the structural engineer and hearing his proposal. At that time though, winter being so close, we decided to put that new proposal on hold until Spring 2016, and we asked for a full refund of our deposit but Ray said he had already purchased the beam so it was not possible. When we then asked for at least a partial refund of the remaining $2,000, he refused and said he will hold that amount as a credit. At that point unfortunately the relationship became untrustworthy since there was absolutely no base for Ray S[redacted] to hold onto our deposit against our will.  2/ We indeed did not hire his friend architect but we did follow on his recommendation and produced a perfectly to scale existing floor plans as well as a 3D model of the projected renovation. 3/ Ray S[redacted] never “again mobilized, setting up scaffolding and preparing to begin demolishing the wing” because he had left his scaffolding at the property all winter anyway and we were never able to properly reach him to start on any renovation whatsoever. This is the reason we finally offered him in August the demolition job hoping that he could indeed “mobilize” for that simple job we could pay with our credit and that eventually, pressed by time and tired of its vague promises, we completed with somebody else.
 
Sincerely,[redacted]  
 
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