Home Contractors Never to Contact Again: Crestwood Painting

[rowyn]

So, since my ceiling collapsed, I've contacted six different contractors.  I have thus far gotten exactly zero estimates. Response has been:

• Two contractors who called me on 7/7 and said they would call back to make an appointment. Never heard from them again.


• Two contractors that I left messages for and never heard from.


• One contractor that made an appointment, showed up on time, told Lut how he'd recommend fixing it, and did not give Lut a price. He said he would write up an estimate for me and send it.  That was a week ago. Never heard from him again.

And then there's Crestwood Painting, whom I'm going to call out because I am especially unimpressed by them.  On Thursday morning, 7/7, I used their web form to make an appointment.

Yesterday, I got a confirmation email from them that they would be out, to remind me to be home for the appointment at 1:30PM.

Today, three hours before the appointment, I got an emai saying "oh, your job is too small for us. We're cancelling the appointment."

Because at no point in the last 11 days could anyone look at my message and see what my request said.  Bear in mind that they didn't get any new information from me: they are responding to my original request for an appointment.

Also, PRO TIP: do not have your system send reminder for appointments you're not going to keep. >_<

In the meantime: I have no freakin' idea how to get my ceiling fixed, since "contacting firms that say they do ceiling repair" is obviously not the way.

I'm gonna try my friend who used to work in construction.  Maybe he can tell me. Oh, I could try calling my insurance agent, too.  (I have a high deductible so I doubt insurance will pay for anything, but perhaps they'll know people who don't just say they do repairs but, y'know, ACTUALLY DO THEM.)

Right now, Terry's suggestion of "just never look up" is looking better all the time.

Comments

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Eep. Good luck! That is really poor behavior on those guys' part.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

I don't suppose Lut remembers how they were going to fix it, and it's something simple enough to do it yourself?

[(Anonymous)]

I do, and its not. Recommendation was to place a layer of drywall over the ceiling, covering the entire room instead of just placing a drywall patch in the hole (which was a common recommendation on the various websites I visited during prior research.) And then place molding around the walls to both support the new ceiling, and avoid the need to paint the walls. The drywall would be anchored to the ceiling beams, so the molding wouldn't be the primary support. The remaining plaster ceiling would be left in place, the drywall would serve to stabilize it, in the event it cracked and separated from the lathe beams. Effectively this would lower the ceiling by most of an inch, which I can't see as being a problem.

This requires equipment and skills we lack, so sadly not something we are up to doing.

[canis-lupus03.livejournal.com]

Ugh, that's such a pain! It's like, don't they need to earn a living? Good luck finding someone to fix your ceiling, maybe your friend can help.

[elbren]

you could ask them to, when they do the ceiling repair, to do a structural inspection for other items that may need attention, hinting at the potential for a larger job. this is not completely forthcoming in the honesty dept, but may help?

[tagryn]

Sympathies. I've contacted three local companies here to try and get our driveway resealed - two never called back (including the top rated one on Angie's List here), the other said they'd show up for an estimate and never did, and then stopped replying to texts. Very odd. I'm glad they're doing so well that they can pass on new paid work, but geeze...reminds me of the "shut up and take my money" meme, except apparently nobody wants to.

[aminita.livejournal.com]

I worked through this referral company to get a tree trimmed. They list all types of repair work. I had good luck getting response. HomeAdvisor.com

[kagetsume.livejournal.com]

I wish I were closer. I know how to do this AND I have all the equipment for doing it, including a drywall lift. I did the drywall for BoingDragon's entire workshop, including its ceiling. For reference:

Cost of drywall: $60
Cost of plaster: $20
Cost of tape: $5
Cost of molding: $100

Cost of a drywall lift. Harbor freight: $120.

Cost on your shoulders and neck: They will hurt for a WHILE.

If you want advice on how to do it yourself I could try to write up step by step instructions. Do you have the exact room dimensions?


....


And this is also why I learn how to do everything myself. I have rarely found a contractor worth a crap. Your experience with them never calling back or missing appointments? That's normal.

[kagetsume.livejournal.com]

Also, you do want to fix this. Here's why:

You're now open to an unheated/uncooled space. It could also contain mold. Not only can you get unhealthy air down, you will be losing a lot of heat and cooling through the hole, which means your utility bills may spike and cost you a fair amount more money.

It also leaves you open to wildlife invasion.

All in all, not a good situation. :(

Gah, I want to fix this, but I'm 1K miles away.

[rowyn]

♥ ♥

I have a friend who used to work in construction and he's been fixing it for me. Slow going (turned out the whole ceiling needed to come down & be replaced), but we've relocated the den to the living room for the moment. It's mostly done now; some gaps need to be spackled and some mud needs to dry, and then it can be sanded & painted. Almost!