We hired the owner of Latitude 54 after an interview; reading his reviews and looking at pictures of his work. He explained that he was a finishing carpenter and very good at the detailed work of trim, etc. The job was to replace an existing deck on a 1954 house on the North Shore of Kamloops. The joists from the deck were re-used, with three new joists added. He started the job on September 28, estimating the job would take 2 weeks, possibly 3. He let us know that he had leave town for approximately 2 weeks and may not be done before he left. We agreed to this. He just finished the job on the 24th of November.
We agreed at the onset to haul away the old deck material. We also provided all the staining and paid for the stain. Additionally, we picked up the decking as the owner did not have access to a truck. Today we cleaned up all of the wood ends and sawdust which was not discussed as a part of the arrangement. We also discovered unused decking and siding materials under a tarp in the backyard which will have to be stored properly. This was not discussed.
In summary, the deck itself is very nice. It is a very simple deck (8x20) but I am pleased with the look. The finishing is very standard - not exceptional work. It was not what I would have expected from a finishing carpenter in terms of attention to detail. I clarified with the owner at the end of the job that he is not certified as a tradesman but has 33 years experience in the work. I have to say I was frustrated by the process of getting this work completed in a timely manner. The owner is aware of our concerns as we have spoken to him a number of times and shared this feedback. (photo below is a before and after)
- Approximate cost of services:
- $10,500.00