Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2015/12/29) */
In response to Ms***'s complaint against Gabe's Home Improvement please let me state the factsA copy of the signed contract is enclosedAs it states, "Chimney needs to be knocked down and capped $extra." This contract was
signed and Line of the contract was initialed by Ms***We did exactly what Ms*** instructed us to doWhen we say remove and cap it nothing in the contract discusses rebuilding the chimney and installing a chimney capWe remove the chimney and we plug (cap) itWe just assumed she had a high efficiency furnace because it is very common to do so at this time
The so called situation about animals in her fireplace isn't trueShe was instructed by my foreman that the chimney was in such bad shape we could not counter flash it; all the bricks were looseMy foreman told Ms*** she must replace it or remove itMs***'s answer was, "Remove it because it is cheaper." Now Ms*** wants my insurance company to pay for her mistakeMs*** needs to call her insurance company and use her homeowner's insurance
I have been installing roofs for over years and removing a chimney years ago was unheard ofHowever, with the new high efficiency furnace and water heaters it is a common practice today to do exactly what we didPlease remember, we as a roofing company do not have access to your basementWe do not know what kind of furnace you may have
In closing, as a courtesy we would gladly refund the $we charged to remove your chimneyI do not think it is fair for our insurance company to pay for someone else's mistakeIt is the obligation of the homeowner to know the purpose of a chimney, not someone else
Sincerely
*** ***
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 12, 2016/01/12) */
Regarding MrChairo's reply, I certainly do not consider this case resolved
When I asked for a chimney cap, nothing was mentioned about sealing or plugging the chimneyWhen the foreman told me of the loose bricks in my chimney, I asked if they could still cap it once the loose bricks were removed, I did not say to remove itI believed that 'knocking it in' was to remove those loose bricks so the cap could be put securely in placeNo one from roofer ever asked what type of furnace or water heater I had, to confirm the chimney could be 'plugged' rather than cappedA number of contractors have informed me that this was seriously negligent on the contractor's part to assume something of such importanceThe words 'plugged' or 'sealed' were never mentioned, nor are they in the contractFurthermore, when the company removed sheeting in order to 'seal' the chimney, it was obvious that the furnace in the attic was piped directly to it just a few feet below
In addition, when I started seeing problems in my ceiling last fall, I called Gabe's Home Improvement and they sent a foreman out to look at the damageHe reviewed the cracks in the ceiling and walls and said it appeared the roof had been leaking around my chimney and they would fix itA few days later I received a voice mail stating the roof had been fixedI feel I should have immediately been notified that there was not a chimney and I was living in a seriously dangerous situation
Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2015/12/29) */
In response to Ms***'s complaint against Gabe's Home Improvement please let me state the factsA copy of the signed contract is enclosedAs it states, "Chimney needs to be knocked down and capped $extra." This contract was
signed and Line of the contract was initialed by Ms***We did exactly what Ms*** instructed us to doWhen we say remove and cap it nothing in the contract discusses rebuilding the chimney and installing a chimney capWe remove the chimney and we plug (cap) itWe just assumed she had a high efficiency furnace because it is very common to do so at this time
The so called situation about animals in her fireplace isn't trueShe was instructed by my foreman that the chimney was in such bad shape we could not counter flash it; all the bricks were looseMy foreman told Ms*** she must replace it or remove itMs***'s answer was, "Remove it because it is cheaper." Now Ms*** wants my insurance company to pay for her mistakeMs*** needs to call her insurance company and use her homeowner's insurance
I have been installing roofs for over years and removing a chimney years ago was unheard ofHowever, with the new high efficiency furnace and water heaters it is a common practice today to do exactly what we didPlease remember, we as a roofing company do not have access to your basementWe do not know what kind of furnace you may have
In closing, as a courtesy we would gladly refund the $we charged to remove your chimneyI do not think it is fair for our insurance company to pay for someone else's mistakeIt is the obligation of the homeowner to know the purpose of a chimney, not someone else
Sincerely
*** ***
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 12, 2016/01/12) */
Regarding MrChairo's reply, I certainly do not consider this case resolved
When I asked for a chimney cap, nothing was mentioned about sealing or plugging the chimneyWhen the foreman told me of the loose bricks in my chimney, I asked if they could still cap it once the loose bricks were removed, I did not say to remove itI believed that 'knocking it in' was to remove those loose bricks so the cap could be put securely in placeNo one from roofer ever asked what type of furnace or water heater I had, to confirm the chimney could be 'plugged' rather than cappedA number of contractors have informed me that this was seriously negligent on the contractor's part to assume something of such importanceThe words 'plugged' or 'sealed' were never mentioned, nor are they in the contractFurthermore, when the company removed sheeting in order to 'seal' the chimney, it was obvious that the furnace in the attic was piped directly to it just a few feet below
In addition, when I started seeing problems in my ceiling last fall, I called Gabe's Home Improvement and they sent a foreman out to look at the damageHe reviewed the cracks in the ceiling and walls and said it appeared the roof had been leaking around my chimney and they would fix itA few days later I received a voice mail stating the roof had been fixedI feel I should have immediately been notified that there was not a chimney and I was living in a seriously dangerous situation