What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

By Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best: Getting a new roof

A number of times I’ve written about my two failed metal shingle roofs. I was fortunate to win an arbitration and get enough money for another roof.

This time I choose standing seam, panels of metal like you see on commercial buildings. I learned that the metal shingles don’t perform well in the rainy Seattle area. And, I choose a local contractor who had done a good job for a friend of mine.

The roof looks nice. It’s rained once since the roof was completed, a short but heavy downpour. The roof performed well.

My worst: Having to paint soffits

Since paint fumes make me sick, two of my friends said they’d help me paint the soffits after the roof was installed. That’s the underside of the eves where new plywood was installed to replace rotten areas. However, my friends were too busy to help me when I called about it.

So there I was, painting. I put primer on the raw wood so it wouldn’t be damaged in stormy weather. Hopefully, my friends can help me later. If not, I’ll hire a painting company.

Copyright 2011, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Comments

[Building Materials]

That doesn't sound to bad. Mine best was getting a delivery just 10 bhours after I ordered on the net. My worst was waiting 20 min to get served in a music store, only to be told that I couldn't be sold the CD because the computer did not know what it was. No wonder these stores are going out of business.

[Santo Caridine]

Choosing a better quality roof, like a standing-seam roof, is good decision because it can last for half a century, if maintained properly. I strongly recommend that kind of roof to everyone.

[Roofing Contractor]

Always make sure you check references and license credentials when hiring a roofing contractor. It will end up saving you time and money in the long run.

[Tiffany Larsen]

I'm glad that, after the arbitration, you were rewarded with a stronger roof that can protect your home from any weather. As for the paints, you may wear a paint mask while painting to protect your lungs from the harmful fumes.

[Rita]

Hi Tiffany,

I wore a mask while painting. The fumes still make me sick.

I hired a painting company to paint the eves and the back of my house, as well as the fence. It was expensive. Certainly, my worst consumer experience this week.

Rita

[Freddy Wingfried]

Wow, it's nice you got the service you deserved! A good roofer is hard to find these days.

[Jessica Rodriguez]

Congratulations on getting a new roof! You made the best choice. That metal roof will likely last you a long time. So what happened? Did your friends help you?

[Roofing Maintenance London]

Well I agree, getting a new roof is a relief especially if you're roof is there for many years. No matter how much you maintain it, there would really come a time that you need to replace it but still a good maintenance would add years to it's life span.