Trying to arrange to get my 3-sheet drywall repair done has turned into the most frustrating, irritating task I have had in a very long time. It is not a whole-house job, but one might think it would be worth doing. Apparently, it is not.
First, it started with two "professionals" on Home Depot's list of referred workers. Neither of them wanted the job because it was "too small." Then contact with a handyman organization I have used for years resulted in a waffling response from the customer service agent to whom I spoke. It became clear that she did not want the job, either, even if I combined it with other small repairs I had to meet the 4-hour minimum. Getting no response from them, I contacted the fellow who arranged to build my new deck in April; his company mainly does roofing and decking, but he also has many other contacts in the trades and has done well for me in the past, so I figured he would come through again.
He did not contact me for a month, so I kind of gave up; after all, summer is the busy season for roof repairs and replacement, their main job.
Thinking I had entered some kind of alternative universe where up is down and good is bad or if my breath smelled over the Internet, I wearily contacted a fourth provider of handyman services I found using an online search. I was pleasantly surprised! I was immediately put in touch with an installer, with whom I made arrangements to begin the job today at 8:00 a.m. I was confident my worries were over, so I cleaned the area and moved some objects around to give the worker plenty of room.
Then, at 7:30 a.m., he called.
First, he asked to verify that "all the supplies" were on-site...even though when I originally contacted the company, I told them I had NO products for the drywall repair - no drywall, no tape, no mud, no drywall screws, nothing - and that I had originally agreed to pay $35 to have the worker pick them up. I told him I was home all day, so even if he was late, that was okay with me.
He then asked if I could call Home Depot and get them delivered because his SUV was not big enough to carry 3 sheets of drywall.
Seriously? You are a drywall installer and do not have a VEHICLE that can carry drywall sheets? So I declined the appointment and put that company on hold...meaning cancelled...and out of my mind.
Finally, the fellow that built my deck - remember him from earlier in the story? The one who did not respond to my initial inquiry more than a month ago? - well, he called to say he has a guy who can come look at the job later this afternoon. While I am happy to hear that, considering my luck in this fix-your-drywall business, I am not going to hold my breath or bet the farm on him showing up or being able to do the repair any time soon.
I might just have to learn to do drywall repair myself. At least I know I will show up on schedule.
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