Good, better, best. . .

[Smart Red]

Gouges, not gauges, all the way down the center of my new basement steps -- caused by Geo-guy's totally appropriate dolly being used wrong -- when he brought the 500 pound geo-unit down.

 

[catjac1975]

I'm sorry, but, for him to say he is not responsible for the snow meant is absurd. Of course he should have sealed the holes. And ruin your cellar stairs???

 

[Smart Red]

The holes -- no longer leaking -- will be filled tomorrow with concrete and silicone. The stairs? We're still debating this one. The stairs are whole oak boards -- not laminated as I thought, but they are screwed AND glued down in place. Who would have thought two old folks would ruin new stairs?

Son says sanding and re-varnishing would only leave a low spot on the front edge of the steps and still look damaged. He suggested carpeting the steps. NOT what I wanted to do -- hide those beautiful stairs -- but perhaps some sort of covering would work best to hide the damage. Boo Hoo.

Because of all the problems on our site, I know the Geo-guy didn't make nearly as much on this job as expected, but I shouldn't have to bear the extra expense of his carelessness. I was sitting nearby and could hear each and every grating scrape along the steps. I mentioned being careful with the dolly after the first (and worst) step was cleared, but he said he didn't think they were doing any damage.

As I mentioned, his dolly was totally suitable for the delivery. Heavy weight-rated and complete with its own motor to move the wheels down each step. I am sure he has carried that much weight down many other stairs with no problem. The damage occurred because he held the top end right on the steps and let that part slide rather than be carried a bit. That was done because he had his young (early teen) son at the bottom end and feared his son wouldn't be able to control the dolly from that end. Had his usual worker been assisting, the damage would never have happened.

What do ya'll suggest I do about the stairs? I can forget the damage they did to our new pool table cover. Something cut two holes in the vinyl cover where they used the table as a work surface. At least there was no damage to the newly covered felt top. THAT would have been nearly as disastrous and the step damage. We just replaced the felt recently.

 

[thistlebloom]

I'm not a perfectionist when it comes to utilitarian furnishings. I was even a little disappointed when dh refinished our dining table and sanded out the scrapes and scratches made by the boys doing their schoolwork at it over the years, so keep that in mind with my advice.

I would live with the gouges because I would rather look at the beautiful wood than carpet or vinyl. Of course I haven't seen your damaged stairs when I say that.

 

[majorcatfish]

i knew you had southern roots in yeah....congrats...

 

[Nyboy]

I'm not a perfectionist when it comes to utilitarian furnishings. I was even a little disappointed when dh refinished our dining table and sanded out the scrapes and scratches made by the boys doing their schoolwork at it over the years, so keep that in mind with my advice.

I would live with the gouges because I would rather look at the beautiful wood than carpet or vinyl. Of course I haven't seen your damaged stairs when I say that.

DITTO

 

[Nyboy]

A month after I put in hardwood floors, my nephew and his friend where carring in a desk for me. Some how they put a deep starch in the floor, both had a look of fear when they realized what they did. I said relax it's a floor not meant to be perfect.If the starch was on desk would have not ended as well for them.

 

[ninnymary]

Red, I'm one of those people that something like that is going to bother me a long time. I would definitely not cover the steps with carpet. I would probably try to minimize the look by sanding and re varnishing. Can you post a picture so we can see how bad it looks?

Mary

 

[bobm]

I would Turn a claim in with the geo- installer's insurance ... it is why this type of people buy the insurance in the first place.

 

[flowerweaver]

Rube Goldberg would have been proud of your solution! Sorry all this is happening.