Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  05/03/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I recently contracted with ******** Painting to paint a trellis at our ****************. The trellis was severely weathered due to exposure to the elements. **************** was painting all the buildings out there and so it seemed expedient to hire him to do this separate project. He sent me a bid estimate for the painting and it was accepted. The painting was completed and I observed that the top boards of the trellis looked very rough and should have been sanded as is normally done in paint preparation. We met yesterday about my concerns and it didn't go well. Two things were mentioned by him: he stated that the contract never included any mention of sanding the surface to smooth it out and he stated that the boards were so weathered that they likely needed replacement. I told him that we should have had that conversation before the work was ever done in order to avoid having a very poor result. He said that I've been around the block and should have known that the boards needed replacement. I am not a professional painter, he is, and he should have helped us achieve a good result from the project. When we hired a painter for our Spokane house, the contract never said anything about sanding, yet he sanded in order to properly prepare the surface. Preparing the surface for painting is fundamental in painting and so it shouldn't have to be specified in the contract. There were many aspects to the job that weren't specified, such as the color, type of paint or tools to be used. I, as a ****** should have every expectation that the surface would be prepared in a professional manner. It wasn't. He states that the price was so low and anticipated not having to do any sanding. How was I to know that? **************** should have told me in advance that the paint job was not going to achieve a good outcome due to the condition of the boards or he should have properly prepared the surface. As it is now, the result is very poor.

  Business response

  05/16/2024

  Proposal for work approved and contract is attached along with several photos and a letter from the construction and remodel contractor that Bayview *********** currently has remodeling/replacing decks, etc.  ******** Painting is awaiting final payment from *******************. 

  ******** Painting has provided painting materials, labor and supplies per the attached proposal and documentation: pressure wash prior to paint, scrape where needed prior to paint and apply; cut & roll (2) coats SW super paint satin (although applied 3 coats) to Unit #** Bayview Trellis between home and garage.  Nowhere in the proposal nor verbally was ******** Painting to perform sanding on the existing *********************** nor ************************* Painting sand any existing wood.  ******** Painting is a painting contractor and not a ********* contractor.  If ******************* would like to replace the entire trellis that is his decision and not what ******** Painting's was contracted to perform per the attached.  A final payment of $250.00 is hereby demanded for work completed as of 04/23/**24.

  Business response

  05/16/2024

  I received a letter from the BBB on Monday May 13, 2024.  The letter was dated May 3, 2024 though post marked May 6, 2024.  The letter was mailed to the city of *******, however our mailing address is ******.  I have responded as of May 16, 2024 well within the 10 calendar days of receiving the letter though noticed a 2nd letter was mailed.  Please respond and update the mailing address to

  ******************* Dr

  ******, ID  *****

   

  Kindest,

  ***************************

  Customer response

  05/22/2024

   
  Complaint: 21656883
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  

  It is apparent that **************** is comfortable with his work and site preparation given the age and condition of the trellis. **************** also apparently knew that the result would not be good given the condition of the trellis. **************** is doing other painting at ******* and I believe he notes which boards need to be replaced before painting them in order to achieve a good result. He should have informed us that our trellis was not in satisfactory condition to paint just as he is doing with the siding at *******. We were never given this option until after the painting was already done. Had I known that the condition was so poor, I would not have had him paint it. He knew what the result was going to be before he painted, yet painted it anyway. If he had our interest at heart, he would have worked with us to obtain a good result, similar to what he is doing with the poor siding at *******. We rely on professionals to advise us and in this case there was no advice given. All that happened is that there was a complete waste of time and money.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

  Business response

  06/05/2024

  ************** continues to refer to painting and construction projects that have no relevance to the trellis repaint complaint he has filed against ******** Painting.  I do not have any control or interest in carpentry work and/or am not a carpentry contractor nor do I have any knowledge of his prior painting projects or what others are contracted to complete on a mutual jobsite.  ************** requested a a proposal from ******** Painting to repaint his trellis.  ******** Painting provided him with a proposal.  He reviewed and approved the proposal; we entered into a agreement to do so.  ******** Painting executed and fulfilled the contract to repaint the trellis per the agreement.  
  
  
  It appears that ************** is not taking responsibility for his intentions to make an old trellis look exactly like a newly constructed trellis with repaint painting services.  Unfortunately, he had failed terribly to communicate such wishes and/or his specifications to ********, ultimately resulting in a BBB complaint about the quality of appearance once the trellis was repainted.  ************** also continues to express his opinion that ******** Painting believed that the condition of the trellis was not in satisfactory condition to paint. (An opinion; a belief not based on absolute certainty or positive knowledge but on what seems true, valid or probable to one's own mind; judgment; an evaluation, impression or estimation of the quality or worth of a person or thing.) when in fact the paintable surface was inspected and determined, by reasonable and visible evidence that the finish would satisfactorily adhere to the surface under the slightly deteriorated surface rating, prepped and repainted for such, per industry standards.
  
  
  The level of surface preparation performed was completed under the industry standards for repainting previously painted surfaces in order to achieve a properly painted surface.  The trellis is old not deteriorated.  The trellis surface preparation level required basic cleanliness of surfaces to ensure the adhesion of new finishes to the surfaces to which they are applied with less concern for the adhesion of existing paint coats and quality of appearance of the finished surfaces. Preparation for such surface includes the removal of surface dust, dirt, obvious loose paint and other surface contaminants by washing, light power washing or pressure washing, hand cleaning including the use of a duster brush or broom, and mildew treatment. This level of preparation should ensure that subsequently applied coats of paint will adhere to existing paint coats. This level of surface preparation does not warrant that previously applied paint coats are well adhered to each other.  Under this level of preparation, no alteration of the existing surface profile shall be attained.  
  
  
  The proposal that ************** approved clearly states:  
  Exterior ******************* Services providing painting materials, labor and supplies per the detailed description
  Pressure wash prior to paint - 
  scrape where needed prior to paint -
  Apply; cut & roll (2) coats SW super paint satin -
  
  
  ******** Painting is not in the business to educate customers about what their quality of appearance should or should not be and/or change their opinion about what they believe to be aesthetically pleasing especially when requesting a $500 repaint of an old trellis.  The repaint was requested, the repaint was complete under industry standards, ************** received repaint services and simply does not care for the look of the repaint.  ************** was given the facts of the surface, prep and agreement terms and simply does not wish to accept the facts.  There is no reasoning with the unreasonable and wish to end this complaint immediately.  We have nothing further to provide.

  Customer response

  06/12/2024

   
  Complaint: 21656883
  
  I am rejecting this response because we are never going to agree that Lowery's Painting LLC did a professional job. He is going to insist he did. I think we are at a stalemate. We have worked with other painters that are ten times better than ******** and care about the job they do. I've had enough of this going back and forth but will not ever accept his explanation.  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩