BRUSHWORKS PAINTING

I hired Ahmed from
Brushworks to paint the interior of my Unit.
I was out of the State but I have worked with Ahmed before and based on prior
experience I trusted him to do the work with minimal supervision.
It was difficult to get an estimate from him but finally he faxed one to the
person who was helping me coordinate the painting.
When I returned home August 2 I inspected the work and found that in two bedrooms
the painting was incomplete ( the shade is lighter) and in some walls the prime
was showing ( the prime being while and the final color blue) I also noticed
that the bathroom ceiling was not painted at all. There was not indication that
he has fix the cracks on the walls or ceiling. I called Ahmed and express my disappointment
and surprise at the poor work done. He told me he would come over and see. He
came that very day and looked around. He argued that fixing cracks was not
included in the price (which it is I have his signed estimate) . He said he would
return to paint the bathroom ceiling and the walls on the bedrooms. He asked me
to please call him in a week to remind him.
I called him 10 days later and there was not response only his answering
machine so I left a message. I called him several times in September, October
and November leaving messages to please honor his word. To this date I never
heard from him again.
Brushwork painted a lot of homes in this community a while back. Based on his
work and recommendations from other I used him to paint the exterior of my home
some years back.
Is totally incomprehensive
to me the low quality of his work now and his total disregard to honor his
signed estimate. I have the feeling I have lost that investment money.

Less than a year after work was finished gutters fell down this winter due to poor workmanship: they used screws too short and they were not attached to ends of rafters, they were actually randomly screwed into the wood. Painting is now peeling-less than a year later!!! I have pictures if you need them. Before I contacted Angie's list I sent a certified letter to Brushworks to the address in their profile.  This letter was returned to me yesterday April 14th.  A post-office notice was left at the right address on 3/31/2011, Brushworks never picked up the letter.  In my letter I offered him to repair the gutters in the presence of my friend or he can reimburse me.  I also asked him to "promptly scrape and paint areas where paint has failed".

Update 4/14/10: Ahmed the owner of Brushworks showed up unannounced around 10am on March 17.  I previously asked him weeks before she showed up to call me the day before so I could arrange to have my male friend present for the installation of new gutters.  I am a single woman and in my experience with some contractors they will do a good job in the presence of a male in the house.  I wish it was different but unfortunately with some contractors it is like this.
 
When he showed up without any previous call or any type of communication, he called me on my cell phone from downstairs.  I was very  surprised he did not call at least the night before, I told him I needed my friend here to check on the job.  Then Ahmed started telling me he was leaving and he was not doing the gutters job.  I asked him about the new paint already peeling and he said he was not going to do anything for me and that I could take him to court if I want it.  He offered me $700 for the gutters; I told him I paid $1,100 but I would accept $1,000 and he hang up.  He did not offer any reimbursement for the paint job or to fix it.
 
My view of this is that he wanted to install the gutters in his own terms without me or my friend having a saying in the process.  Therefore he showed up unannounced.  So, it was a take it or leave it situation.