Re: [gardeners] Texas garden

Allen and Judy Merten (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Wed, 11 Aug 1999 23:15:04 -0500 

Hi Penny,
    Having been a painter and a paint contractor most of my adult life, I
have spent many years using ladders or employing men that do. This type of
behavior is inexcusable. You should be able to recover damages to your
plants and to your roof, gutters or anything else that was broken,
trampled, scratched or other wise adversely affected by the use of a
ladder.
    We protected plants, grass, driveways or what ever when we painted the
exteriors just like we protected carpet and furniture when we painted
interiors.
    Please, report these contractors to the BBB and the Contractors
Council in your area. Take them to small claims court for damages. A kick
in the a** or the check book is often the only way to keep contractors
like this from damaging other peoples property in the future.
    I was fortunate in having several sets of great grandparents and
grandparents live into their 90's. Several times contractors took
advantage of them because of their age and physical condition. However,
these incidents occurred before my back injury, and I was able to show a
couple of contractors the error of their ways. I wish you had someone that
could do the same for you. Down here in Texas a well deserved a** whipping
is not going to wind up in court especially where the elderly are being
taken advantage of, and retribution is visited upon the wayward.
   Sorry, I have no idea how to solve your problem with draft inducers.
Allen
Bastrop Co.,
SE Central Tx.

penny x stamm wrote:

> Allen, we have to wait 'n see if they turn off our water before
> we plant anything new....  thanks for the suggestions. I'll
> hold the list and pray.
>
> On another subject, I'm  really feeling persecuted.
>
> Three weeks ago, the roofer came to caulk a split gutter, and
> his helper rammed the extension ladder into my two most prized and
> showy royal blue rhodies, the Starry Nights. They are no longer alive,
> besides which the ladder leg fractured a water supply line. In former
> years, Jimmie would have made the repair, but he has gotten too
> wobbly, unfortunately.
>
> Now we are having major problems with the flue from the hot water
> heater which has a down draft up the chimney instead of an
> updraft, so any time the heater turns on, water condenses in the
> flue and spills backwards into the brand new furnace!  OK, today they
> sent over a chimney sweep to see if the flue were blocked, and the
> helper just plain stuck his ladder down into the bed of red begonias
> by the front door. Goodbye begonias.
>
> And in 12 days, all the Master Gardneners are coming for lunch, a
> business meeting, and a walk-thru the garden. It isn't enough that
> we are suffereing from a complete drought, but also from the
> onslaught of detached individuals who shouldn't need a college
> education to realize that you   just  don't   stick   ladders   into
> flower   beds.....................
>
> Does anyone have any experience with "draft inducers" in flues
> with an inadequate draft..?
>
> Penny, NY
>
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