Diamond Service Electric

Earlier this year we had pretty bad windstorm and some ceiling soffit panels on our deck we damaged and needed to be replaced. I hired Diamond D Contractors because they were the one hired by our home builder to do the original installation and thought they could be trusted. I have no problem with the quality of work; it is their billing that I have a problem with. The original quote was as follows:

Breakdown on the costs to repair your damaged aluminum ceiling on the
rear deck of your home at 2509 East 475 No. in Layton:
1. The existing alum. soffit will be stripped down from the west side, 27' towards the east end (only 9 panels will remain) and disposed.
2. Scaffold will be left and time allowed for an electrician to do his work.
3. New Alside (Musket Brown) aluminum soffit will be installed complete.
Total................$1685.00

The actual job only entailed removal & replacement of 13 panels instead of 27, took two trips as included in the quote, about an hour each trip. My calculations, based on the original quote, put the job at about $63 per panel removed & replaced. So I was pleased to think that since the actual job was less than half of what was expected if figured the adjusted bill would be around $850 - $950, that’s at the $63 per panel calculation plus some additional for overhead. To my surprise the revised bid came with one line indicating “Soffit on rear deck” total $1385. That’s $105 per panel, a 64% increase over what was expected. So I e-mailed their customer representative:

“Got the bill today and I am very surprised/confused. Your cost estimate below to remove and replace 27 panels was $1685, that figures to be about $62.40 per panel. They only replaced 13 panels, how does that come to $1385? That’s $106 per panel. I anticipated a bill for around $825 - $850 for 13 panels. Please provide an itemized breakdown of how less than 50% the work comes to 82% of the original estimate.”

The first response to my question was from the President of Diamond D Contractors:

“I have been made aware of a problem with your bill for repairs made to your Soffit lid. First I hope that the repairs are done to your satisfaction. The bid was priced to remove damaged soffit panels and return after electricians completed their work and then install new panels. After my conversation with you on the install you wanted that to take place on Saturday rather than the following Monday. With the Saturday install I then had to pay overtime to my employees. My installers tried to save you money by removing only the panels that were damaged and needed replacement. Our bid was not figured as a per panel price break down but as a multiple trip repair and worse case panel qty. I deducted the cost of the material that we did not use from your invoice. Repair work has more labor cost rather than material cost then add in trip costs and a sales commission I do still have to make a profit at the end of the day. I hope this explains your invoice.”

Not satisfied with the explanation of why 50% of the work of the original quote equates to 82% of the cost of the original quote I asked with regard to labor having more cost than material, are you saying that it took as long to remove and replace 13 panels as it would have for 27 panels as was estimated for in the initial bid? The bid did not specify how many hours it would take, only the price (labor & materials) to remove and replace 27 panels. I guess I am still confused as how you do less than half the job and still charge almost the same price. Also the additional cost for overtime for a Saturday install was not discussed in our conversation, had it been brought up that a Saturday install would be more expensive I would have opted for Monday. I would still like to see an itemized breakdown of the cost to include the hours. I do not agree with the overtime
charge since it was not disclosed to me in advance. If I recall correctly I was told they would be out on that Friday afternoon or Saturday morning, Monday was not discussed as an option.

Second Response from the customer representative:

“I will try to explain so that you would understand Jason's credit that was issued on your ceiling repair:
1. First of all, the proposal was to strip down 27 panels of soffit and replace the panels after your electrician made some changes. As it turns out the crew foreman only stripped down 13 total and was able to insert the new panels in the middle of the ceiling, (which rarely is possible due to damage in the removal process.)
2. To remove the additional panels on the demo trip would have only taken no more than an hour. The install of the additional panels would have only taken the crew on the second trip no more than an hour. It still required two trips with trucks, equipment, and labor to complete the task. You insisted that we return on a Saturday to finish the ceiling which ran the men into overtime for the week.
3. Jason's credit consisted of $300.00, 14 soffit panels @ $9.10 per panel comes to $127.40. The balance of $172.60 covers the labor not needed to install the 14 panels.
It still required two trips to do the job.
Hopefully this will clarify your concerns. Please pay the revised invoice at your earliest convenience.”

I think this was an attempt to itemize the job, all it did was make me more upset. First, they state I insisted on Saturday, not the case – even if I had they should have informed me that it would incur and additional cost for overtime (1 hour per his explanation).
Second is the math. My credit was $300,
14 soffit panels @ $9.10 per panel = $127.40
Labor @ $34.50 per hour (estimated*) = $172.60
Total = $300.00

*Per para 2; 2 guys x 2 hrs each = 4 hrs for 13 panels, estimate 5 total hrs for 14 panels

My actual bill then figures out to be:
14 soffit panels @ $9.10 per panel = $118.30
Labor 4 hrs @ $34.50 per hour (estimated*) = $138.00
Overhead or whatever = $1128.70
Total = $1385.00

I have not received a breakout of the $1128 overhead or whatever charge. I guess if I only needed 1 panel replaced it would have cost me at least $1200. I do not know how Diamond D Contractors do their squirrelly math but I am obviously in the wrong business. I would love to be a tax auditor about now and have a look at their books. Oh yes, I am still expected to pay the $1385 even without a satisfactory itemization of the charges. Maybe Gephardt can help.

Very unhappy ex-customer.