Response from Avatar Painting Inc
We appreciate the feedback from [removed member name]. I have noticed over the course of the past year that with these coupons, there is a greater degree of dissatisfaction when the age of the home indicates that there is likely lead paint present. With a house built 100 years ago, there is basically a guarantee that lead paint is present. So, when a customer asks for painting, there are certain things that the Environmental Protection Agency sets forth as guidelines for the behavior of contractors. Since we are a certified EPA renovation firm, we abide by these guidelines. For example, it is illegal to power wash a house built before 1978 unless extensive lead testing and documentation occurs. This process also has to occur before sanding and chipping occurs, and there is a cost involved with it. Sometimes it's cheaper, like 100 dollars, but it can go up to 500 or more. Also, in order to sand, the vacuum has to be connected to a special vacuum with a 108 dollar filter that has to be thrown out when the job is done. Also, the crew has to wear forced air respiration, and thick 6mil plastic has to be laid out in wide sheets beneath the sanding. Warning signs have to be posted on the perimeter, and a special form has to be filled out 7 days in advance by the homeowner. Also, the visible paint chips on the entire perimeter of the house become our responsibility, etc, etc, etc. That is why when someone buys a coupon, we don't chip and sand a 100 year old house unless specifically asked to, and then there is definitely a substantial added cost. In this case, 449 dollars bought a band-aid, and the crew did as they were directed within the bounds of EPA regulations and I don't remember even being asked to estimate the work at a more invasive and extensive level. Also, sometime the old paint will bubble out after a coating is applied, and could have not been visibly present before. All in all, we did what we could at the price with the time we had. We are thankful to [removed member name] for the work, and wish him all health and happiness in the future.