Response from Kriste Maintenance Service
Amazed that this customer would write a partial review and slant it in his favor. HERE IS WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. This customer found me on Angies List, my profile clearly states that I do not do any painting. I do have a painter I refer people to, but this customer never asked. The customer called me to look at his deck as someone covered it with vinyl siding and it was falling off. I recomended removing the vinyl and replacing it with Hardi Board. I gave the customer a price and he agreed to having me doing the work. When I removed the vinyl from the front of the deck, I found the main beam supporting the deck was dry rotted and was sagging almost 2" in the center. I brought the customer outside and showed him the problem ( the deck was ready to collapse ).. I called the lumber yard and gave the structural engineer the span between the two post. He did the calculations and told me that the existing 4x8 beam was undersized. He recommended an engineered beam. The lumber yard quoted me a price of $492.00 for the beam. When I gave the customer the price to replace the beam, he complained about the price. He then went to Lowes with his carpenter friend to get a price on a 4x8 beam. He called me that night and said he could get a beam for $86.00. He said the other beam lasted 28 years, and he wanted to put the same thing back in there. I told the customer that I didn't care if the beam was in there for 100 years. I was not going to install a beam that would not carry the load, and he could let his carpenter friend install it. The next morning, after thinking about my conversation with the customer, I called and told him that I know exactly what I was doing and that I felt he did not trust me. I told him to get someone else to replace the beam and I would just install the Hardi Board. He then stated to me that he talked with his wife and he wanted me to replace the beam with the proper sized one. He then told me that he wanted his friend (someone who does odd jobs) to help me... I told him NO thank you, I have my own helper. So, I ordered the Engineered Beam and came out to install it. I even showed the customer the reciept from the lumber yard so he could see how much the beam cost. By the way, I didn't make a dime on the beam or charge for my time to go across town to pick it up. We jacked up his deck with two 20 ton jacks. installed the beam and bolted it into place. His deck is perfectly level and will support a live load as it is designed to. If this customer has a party and 40 people are on the deck, my beam will support the load. If he sells the house, the next owner will also be safe. This customer just doesn't get it. He just wanted to cut corners with no regard or respect for human life. I want everyone who reads this to understand: I TAKE PRIDE IN MY BUSINESS AND WORKMANSHIP. I WILL NOT CUT CORNERS JUST TO MAKE A DOLLAR. I WILL NOT CREATE A LIABILITY ON ANYONES PROPERTY THAT WOULD CAUSE PHYSICAL INJURY TO YOU OR YOUR FAMILY OR YOUR HOME. I CARE ABOUT QUALITY SO DON'T ASK ME TO LOWER MY STANDARDS. I WOULD RATHER NOT WORK FOR YOU IF THAT IS HOW YOU OPERATE. I'M A PROFESSIONAL AND THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR !!!