Solid Builders

Agreed contract amount was a lump sum of $5000.00. At the end of the project they are demanding $8000.00 I have already paid them $6000.00.Solid Builders agreed to install window systems that had dry rot for a lump sum amount of $2500. Later on I requested him to repair our deck and install new decking and railing system. He agreed to do this scope for $1500. End of the project he requested that he can finish the work for $5000 to which we agreed. Now at the end of the project he is demanding $8000.. I have already paid him $6150 as the final settlement. This is not acceptable even though he had agreed that this is the final amount. He is threatening legal action. He is clearly in breach of his verbal contract. He mismanaged the contract. Throughout the entire construction phase he was not on the job site since he was on vacation. He kept asking me his staffs working hours and since the contract was a lump sum I did not maintain a log of their hours. During our final meeting to settle the account he mentioned that his total cost to do this project was $4250. I paid him $6150. to settle the account This amount included $500 for miscellaneous items he had to buy. Hence I did pay him almost 33% for management cost which is in excess of the standard industry rates. Desired SettlementWe would like Solid Builders to accept that entire due amount is paid by us and no further action will be taken. We will also need lein waiver from them against our property.Business Response This client was referred to us by a supplier in his search for a company to provide labor only. He purchased all the materials himself and hired us by the hour at an agreed upon hourly rate. There was no written contract. We proceeded in good faith under this verbal agreement that he would reimburse us for our time invested. The client was given a few ballparks figures for what our labor may cost but it was never an agreed upon "lump sum". There were additions to the original scope of work and our carpenters were even used for other miscellaneous labor the client needed at his home. Based on the number of labor hours and roughly $300.00 in miscellaneous material and a dump fee, he has a balance of $2,140.00. We feel he is trying to use negative publicity to try and reduce or eliminate his balance. Consumer Response As stated by they were recommended by the supplier. Contracted amount was $2500 for the window replacement and dry rot trim repair. Subsequently deck was added to the scope for $1500. Hence the entire project was contracted for $4000.00 lump sum contract. One day prior to the completion of the project [redacted] who was supervising this project came to us with for additional amount to complete the project. My wife witnessed this discussion. We had a gentleman's agreement for a lump sum amount of $5000. As stated earlier during final settlement we agreed on $6150 which included $500 for miscellaneous services including dump fees plus $650 for towards miscellaneous scope they have claimed above. This is way above the contracted amount. This project was not managed well by the contractor since he was on vacation for the majority of the construction period. This management has resulted in this situation and hence we are not responsible for any additional cost over and above the contract amount of $5000.00. They are in clear breach of the verbal contract. Based on the above facts we do not owe any balance.Final Business Response Again, I will state that there were never any "lump sum agreements" on price, he agreed to pay us by the hour. We are not in "breach of any agreement." He has clearly talked himself into believing the story he has made up in his head about lump sum pricing. In addition, he has also talked himself into believing he is not satisfied when he was always very happy with the quality of the work throughout the project. Through several days of meditation regarding this situation, I know that we are being honest and fair. We are a small family run business and if this client can live with himself knowing that he has shorted a hard working family of money that is owed to them, he can just live with his on conscience. I hope he can find it in him to do the right thing.