Gracias!

Why is it so hard to get anything done these days??

Example:

Okay I've been trying to get someone to repair that section of roof on the project house where a leak was continuing around the chimney...for a year! 

the yukky leak mess

I even went up myself and gave it a try it actually worked for a while then drip drip drip it returned.. so last summer...
I called the fellow who built the room addition  I added when I moved back here from NYC, I figured he knew me, I knew him, paid him 15-$Grand for the work he did for me, he never even returned my call! (was I that hard to work for?) I saw him in Lowes not that long ago he smiled and asked how I was I wanted to say, "why didn't you return my call?"  Since I'm pretty socially inept I could have pulled it off but decided against it.
Several weeks later... I knew this guy I went to school with was a handy man/carpenter so I called him he came out gave me an estimate of $400 to redo the flashing around the chimney and replace the damaged shingles about a 3 foot section... he would come do it a week later,
never showed! 

several weeks after that....

I called a guy listed in the phone book he sounded asleep when he answered at 10 am--ALL I could hear was John Wayne in my head saying "daylights a burning,"   He promised to call me back and set up a time to come look, never did....crash n burn that one.

then a dry spell in the weather so it went on the back burner...

few weeks ago; I called this roofing company...they said they would call me next day-- they didn't --3 days later they called...they would send a guy at 6:30 am? Excuse me its dark at 6:30 am--okay he will come at 3:30 in the afternoon.  He showed up at 5:30 right before the sun set! He reeked of cigarette smoke, and my clothes had more paint and dirt on than his.... he had a clipboard and a tape measure with him. He measured, figured, and then came up with the price of 

$1470.00

This is a 10 x 10 foot section of the roof....They might get to it in a month and it will take an entire day with 3 guys working...he said: 2 squares of shingles would cost me $500.00??? Are they made out of Spun GOLD...I'm a regular in Lowes...I see all sorts of building supplies each week when I go to get the materials for my projects I have never in all my born days seen shingles that cost $250.00 a square!! (a square is 100 sq ft)...so where is this price coming from????

It's the "stick it to the unsuspecting lady price" uh huh....

He gave me the speech about being licensed bonded yada yada yada.. he wants half up front deposit!! I look THEM up on the web that night there was 4 complaints with the BBB (better business bureau) against them..okay not going in that direction!  START 0VER!

ONE DAY...

I saw a truck at a stop light, Vadal Roofing.  A Mexicanish looking young man ...hmmmm 

I jotted down the number, I called next day..a heavy Spanish accent legal/illegal?..I don't know! I set up an appointment for 10:30 am he shows on time he has no clipboard...he was wearing those mirror glasses---- I see me when I look at him..his Ingles' very broken...I explain I want that section about a 10 x 10 ft area completely re-roofed the chimney flashed all the way around and the neighboring section has to have some new shingles woven in where the chimney sits cause its leaking on all 4 sides!...

I have MY ladder in place its been there for months as I kept worrying about the condition of that area of the roof..he readjusts my ladder shows me how its in the wrong position to be safe...up he goes like a rabbit I swear he had his hands in his pockets, so nimble so quick I knew in a moment it must be St Nick? Up on the Roof there arose such a clatter....that is what came to my mind..lol---- 

He pulled out his phone and started to play with it...wth?  Climbs back down and says "I can do the flash, this section, 30 yr shingle, take me 6 hrs for $550." His phone is also a calculator, and camera he took photos of each thing he spoke about...and explained to me what he would do....oh now I see why he had  his phone out...high tech roofer!--

"When can you do it?"

 He says" FRIDAY" (this was on Monday)

I ask, "you want money up front?"

He says "NO" 

I say DO IT..he writes the estimate gives me a copy and his business card! On it is Vidal Roofing And General Contracting, Licensed and Bonded In this area 14 years

Friday 9:30 am he arrived, he has 2 helpers and a trailer full of materials, they get busy he speaks to his crew in Spanish, they are polite, quiet, they work steady non stop, they don't smoke, they clean up completely, in 5 hrs they are done he comes with his phone in hand shows me photos of each stage of the work they did...the job looks good he says I should have no more problems!

I pay the man!! They close and lock the gate on their way out!

Rained all day yesterday NO LEAKS!! :0)   Here is the new roof section----with the snazzy flashing! 

He told me I may get 2 more years out of the rest of the old roof but this section here is 30 yrs good to go!! I'll be 92 and it won't be my problem!  He said he would work with me and divide the roof into sections and I can do it section by section as I can afford it...just call him when I want to go with that.....now that's how I like to do business!

PEACE

Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.