As I write there's scraping noise on the roof above my office. A young man named Mat is working on the capping with his trowel, repointing. He will also today replace broken and cracked tiles. Yesterday he pressure cleaned the tiles, tomorrow the plan is to paint the roof Monument Grey, the colour Lib selected, sealing it against the elements, we hope, for the next decade or two.
This roof job has been quite a saga. On December 2 last year a salesman from a large SA company knocked on our door. He said he was working in the area, his company, which advertises regularly on TV, was offering a 30% discount for jobs signed up in that time period. I had known our roof at some point would need attention, being 27 years since build, and having seen cracked tiles here and there patched with silicon glue when I cleaned the spouting. There were no leaks obvious in the ceiling inside, but I was aware that small leaks can be soaked up by the insulation and not be an issue. Until that is, a rain bomb or severe storm dumps down and water can build up inside. A ceiling collapse can occur without prior warning at worst, or water dripping all over the place. With all these rainstorms happening round Australia I thought it was only a matter of time till we had one here in McCracken. I visited the Eyre Peninsula with Rick in January and a week later they had floods, so it can happen anywhere.
Our job we were told, was scheduled for late January, after the Christmas break, or early February. Someone would call us to arrange the start date. A call did come late January, saying Covid had caused delay, and our job would be done late Feb, early March. This was OK, Lib and I planned to do a trip away for a couple of weeks around mid March so the roof would be done beforehand. In February there was another knock on the door, and a salesman from a different company said our roof needed attention. I told him I had signed with the other company. He offered to give me a quote anyway, and said the paperwork I had signed with the other was not legally binding. His quote came out $3500 more than the one I'd signed for, which seemed about right considering the 30% discount, if that was fair dinkum. He said the other mob would do a lousy job, his company's work would be more thorough, a better job. I spare you all the details he explained re the work.
I decided to stick with the first company, not only because it was a big saving on company 2's quote, but also because I had agreed for them to do the job. I rang them, told them of the development, and asked for assurance the job would be done well. Yes, I was told, they are a big company with decades of industry experience, the work would be done with all assurance of excellence and guarantee. February went, we waited patiently into March. Mid March I rang the company and asked when was our start date. They told me the contractor allotted to me would ring me directly, I was next on his list, his paint machine had broken down, he was sourcing a new one. Late March I rang back, asking again for a start date so I could organize our trip away. I was told the contractor had not yet got his new paint machine so they couldn't give me a start date.
I googled and found a number to ring. I spoke to the bloke who is now on my roof. He said yes he can do my roof within two weeks. He said he can come today and give me a quote. He said he'd probably save me thousands, and do a better job. He came that afternoon. I said I'm not looking for rock bottom price, I want a good job. His quote was $1000 more than the first company's discount price. I liked him, and thought, here goes, no more mucking around. He reckoned those who employ salesmen to drive around looking for work are just out to make a killing, paying contractors peanuts, and taking the cream. He said they get young blokes and give them a six week training course, and send them out. He said he's a roofer, experienced in all aspects of roofing, a one man band small business, local, with reputation to build and protect. I believed him.
I rang the the first company and said I didn't need them, please cancel. The next day Friday 1 April, an officious person from the "contract department" rang to tell me their contractor was coming next Wednesday to start the work, and apologized for the delay. I said, "Sorry you're too late, I've made other arrangements." I said in my opinion his company had let me down. The work order (contract?) I signed, dated 2 December, had ASAP as start date. I had signed that on the understanding that the work would be done late January, early Feb. I said I rang on March 28 looking for a start in April, only to be told they couldn't give me one. He said, "OK, I'll cancel." He apologized on behalf of the company that they hadn't done the job by now. I apologized, if it appeared I was impatient. I hope I don't get a legal letter in the mail chasing some compensation.
I rang the the bloke who is now on my roof and told him I'd cancelled the other. He said, "I'll be there Monday."
