Hail and High Water

A couple of weeks ago, we had a really nasty, ten-minute hail storm. I was across town at an event, but Jill was home with the girls. During the onslaught of baseball-sized hail, Jill ran out and moved the van into the garage. She boldly saved the van from damage, but didn't quite get that she basically ran out into the middle of a baseball diamond between the pitcher and catcher. With the pitcher throwing 1,000 balls at once. At the speed of gravity. It wasn't until she saw the massive, baseball-sized holes in the neighbor's car windows, that she finally grasped the concept that perhaps that wasn't the brightest move, at least without her bike helmet.

In fact, the Johs across the street were huddled in their front room after their skylight smashed when they saw Jill run out to get the van. They were yelling "No no no!!!", which I imagine sounds about the same in Korean.




After the storm, the neighbors came out to assess the damage. There were broken windows and tree limbs, and ice everywhere. And there was one very sad casualty in our yard.



The roofers and contractors descended on the neighborhood by the next morning. Every day we got 4 or 5 door hangers, flyers, business cards, and other litter on our door. Roofing contractor signs went up in all the neighbors' yards. We didn't see any reason to rush, until it rained last weekend, and the new wet spots on the ceiling confirmed that perhaps we needed to have a bit more urgency.

So we have been getting estimates. It seems that all of the contractors want to tell us how not to get screwed by contractors.

"It's fine if you don't choose us, but make sure the contractor you do pick doesn't actively hire convicted serial killers. We certify that we don't employ convicted killers. Here's our certificate. Not all contractors certify that."

"I understand that you want to shop around. But make sure the contractor you choose uses standard three-tier tiles. Some contractors use construction paper. We certify that we don't just use construction paper. Here's our certificate."

And today, a contractor named Tim came by and gave us a look-see. Tim the contractor spent about 45 minutes poking and prodding. He said he wanted to review his notes and then come back and talk with us at a later date.

"So...you are not giving us a quote?"
"Russell, I am a member of the Association of Upright Contractors (it was something like that). We are working to make sure that people have a good experience with their contractors. Did you know that 95.7% of people would not hire their contractors again? And their biggest complaint? Communication."
"So...you are not going to give us a quote?"
"I can come out later this week, sit down with you, and go over the steps one by one."
"Will you give a quote then?"
"Of course. I am available Thursday at 3, and Friday at 2."
"Um...we work. And that's several days away. And it's supposed to rain this week. Maybe I can get away for a bit on Thursday."
"Russell, I need to meet with both you and Jill together. Perhaps next week."
"Um...the other roofers said they could start the work and be finished by next week."
"Russell, what you need to ask yourself is why they are able to do the work now and don't have other jobs they are working on."
"Um...is it because they actually give quotes and then do the work without dicking around?"

I don't want to date the moron, I just wanted a freakin' quote on fixing our roof. I'm seriously thinking of getting some construction paper and fixing the damn thing myself!