I didn’t tell you this, but when our hardwood floors were refinished two weeks ago, some of the finish sloshed through the heater vent in the floor,
out the heater vent in the ceiling of the basement,
and onto our new dining room table that we thought was well out of harm’s way.
Just let that sink in for a second.
The poor guy came out and tried to fix it last week. When he couldn’t, he took it to his friend who refinishes furniture professionally, and we got it back today.
It. Isn’t. Good.
The matte finish on the right is our leaf, which wasn’t refinished (although it was spilled on). The shiny finish on the left is the table top. (The legs are still matte). The new finish ran down the sides of the table, so when you pull out the leaf, there are drips showing along the edges.
This is a spot in the center of the table that rubbed off almost immediately when we were examining it.
On the edge where there’s some finish missing in a big, broken streak, there are rub marks in the finish that run perpendicular to the grain of the wood. It really stands out, although probably not in the picture so much.
The bottom of one side edge is all chewed up from being moved/transported/whatever.
I think the worst part is that on the entire tabletop, there are what seem to be little pin prick bubbles or something that you can both see and feel. Everywhere.
I want to cry. This is our first nice table. Ever. We’ve had it for three months. It represents the most $$$ we’ve ever laid down for any one piece of furniture.
I’m not yet sure what we’re going to do. I’ve called the furniture store for ideas and they’re mulling it over. I’ve called a reportedly reputable refinishing business, and they ball parked $1000 for the top and leaf over the phone, and it’ll be at least 3 weeks from the time they receive it until we get it back. A salesman will come out and give us a more exact figure if we go that way.
All the while, I’m feeling bad for the hardwood guy, who didn’t take the remaining 40% payment for the job and said if it costs more than that to fix the table, to let him know.
I hate this. He deserves to be paid for the great job he did on our floors. At the same time, we shouldn’t be stuck with a messed up table that’ll NEVER be like new again through no fault of our own.
Dangit.
This is our bathroom. The prep is almost done, I think. The whole project was supposed to be finished by Friday, and that’s SO not happening. Our tile guy has personal problems, so he keeps not showing up and not calling. And now, I hear that he’s concerned about our shower structure supporting the weight of the travertine. Or something. I don’t know.
I once read an article in the paper about an older couple that bought a cool old building in Seattle and were their own General Contractors on its renovation. The wife said something about how it was THE hardest, most trying experience they’d ever had to go through in their life. Based on my life experiences at the time, (car accident resulting in permanent injuries and treatments, marital therapy, seemingly incurable obesity, childhood family disfunction), I thought that was completely pathetic.
Well, it’s still kind of pathetic, considering where a home renovation figures on the scale of things that really matter in life, but I have to say that after the last four months, PLUS the nightmare we went through in January and February trying to get our old house fixed and ready to sell, I’ve at least gained some respect for what she’s talking about.
It’s a legitimate pain in the butt.
August 23rd, 2006 at 8:41 am
A furniture refinisher, who can make things look better than new, lives across the street from my parents?the catch is that’s in California?so it is possible to find people who know what they are doing.
Sure hope you find one who lives in Seattle.
August 23rd, 2006 at 8:51 am
As a contractor, he should carry liability insurance and that should cover this….maybe that might not make you feel so badly about him paying for the repairs…..good luck.
August 23rd, 2006 at 9:15 am
Ooooh. That’s so incredibly unfortunate and unfair. I hope that obvious solutions start appearing.
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:29 am
I agree that the contractor should pay. This is legitimately his responsibility. For finding refinishing places … do you have a school that teaches furniture building and repair? They would know who does good work …
August 23rd, 2006 at 11:39 am
My mother (who worries constantly) always says this to me when I’m stressed; “Will it matter in 100 years?” The answer is almost always, “No” and helps me put things in perspective.
That being said, if your girls broke something of someone else’s you would most likely have them replace it. It’s the same thing with the contractor. He needs to fix the damage he did to the table or buy you another. I know it’s just another thing and you have 4 kids to take care of, plus Nate and then yourself and it’s just another hassle you don’t need…
Hang in there. Don’t fret over it. And get a new table. 😉
August 24th, 2006 at 2:07 am
I could not wait to finish your post before commenting—NO, NO, NO, don’t feel sorry for the person who ruined your table. Or feel sorry, but make him pay. The alternative is that YOU pay, and that is not fair at all.
Now back to your post.
August 24th, 2006 at 2:48 am
Aughhhh – That’s horrible! I’d feel a little bad for the guy too, but the truth is that it is the contractor’s responsibility – besides I agree that he should have insurance to cover these things. If you find the table needs to be replaced however, and for some reason you don’t get the money you need from him, you could try your homeowners insurance also. I’m so sorry that you’ve had to deal with so much of this nonsense in the past year! (At least you have some nice shoes to show for it though, right?)
August 24th, 2006 at 5:15 am
Oh Dear! (reapeatedly!)
That’s horrible Laura, I’m so sorry that this is all happening (and all at once). I wish there was something more I could do then offer sympathy.
August 24th, 2006 at 6:04 am
So sorry you are going through this! And that fact that you feel sorry for the contractor shows what a great person you are. Our floor guy messed up our bannister when he was finishing the floor, and he had to replace the bannister. Still….right is right. I hope it works out for you.
August 24th, 2006 at 11:03 am
I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this added stress. I totally feel for you. Katie and Suzanne are right though, he should have insurance to cover the damage. And if not, you should let him go good for it. Granted it wasn’t done on purpose, but he should have taken precautions to prevent the finish from leaking to the lower floor. I hope everything works out well and you have a great table to gather around again soon!
September 2nd, 2006 at 3:27 pm
Has the contractor purchased a new table for you yet? If he’s professional, he should be insured and should have been aware of possible spills. Not to make things worse, but what is going to happen when the weather gets bad and you turn on your furnace? Do you really want to intoxicate your family with the fumes that are in your vent as they heat up and melt away for the next however-many-years? Or do you need to replace the inside of the vent?