"The only time money is totally worthless is when it sits inside a mattress and no one knows it's there." I disagree. And so do those who are probably never going to see their money again due to all the dirt dealing on Wall Street. At least one consumer group is trying to do something about it. So What Is The Big Deal About Auction Rate Shares Or Auction Rate Preferred Shares? * The big deal is pretty simple. According to Americas Watchdog, " it was all $320 billion dollar lie on the part of name brand US banks, financial institutions and stock brokerage firms". Americas Watchdog is demanding US Banks, Financial Institutions or name brand US stock brokers refund the $320 billion dollars they cheated tens of thousands of US consumers out of. This stock broker, US Bank, financial institution fraud is characterized an auction rate preferred shares or an auction rate shares scheme..... "safe, or just like a CD". Not one small investor was ever given a prospectus. Small investors, including retired people were told by a US bank, a name brand stock brokerage firm or financial institution that they, "could get their money out when ever they wanted, there was no risk, the investment was 100% liquid", etc. Now thousands of US citizens cannot get their money out of these "safe" investments. Americas Watchdog has called for the resignation of SEC Chairman Cox over this national outrage. $320,000,000,000 representing the life savings of thousands of innocent US citizens and the SEC does nothing? Americas Watchdog has characterized the auction rate preferred shares and the auction rate shares flim flam as, "the single worst case of fraud in US history". Victims are welcome to call Americas Watchdog at 866-714-6466. How did this happen? According to Americas Watchdog, "it was all about greed and tricking mom & pops into thinking these exotic investments were just like cash". * If Wall Street, A major US bank or stock brokerage firm would lie to small US investors about the liquidity an investment that was supposed to be liquid, what else have they failed to tell US citizens? Consumers who feel created by the auction rate preferred shares or auction rate shares fraud are welcome to call Americas Watchdog anytime at 866-714-6466. A link that might be useful: ARSWatchdog.Com

The point of my post is that a plumbing business with a poor reputation is advertising their services in a deceptive way. The ad sounds like it's from an individual, somewhat desperate, seeking work. This might be of general interest to consumers on this forum, and I'm also curious to hear what the pros think of it. How do I know the firm has a bad reputation? First thing I checked was the local consumer magazine, which asks its readers to rate their satisfaction with service firms. This firm's rating is shockingly low. These ratings are hard to game, since only subscribers are surveyed. Next thing I did was a web search. It found a rating site with some extremely negative stories about the firm. Given the poor rating in the consumer magazine, I'm inclined to believe the stories. Do I need a plumber? Well, I do have a particular plumbing job I want done. Even if I didn't need anything right now, any homeowner (excepting plumbers or heavy-duty DIY'ers) needs a reliable plumber or two in his address book. Do I have too much free time? Well, I am writing this post...

Hi Jan, I would imagine that you may have decided upon a course of action by now but being that I am a pressure washer and before that I was a roofer for several years I just couldn't help throwing in my two cents. First of all as far as cost goes I would say that the rough estimate you received was a pretty a competitive price, it's hard to be certain without seeing the job though. As far as questions to ask I would definitely ask about the insurance, license and bond; fortunately most people never have to use it but it does say something about the contractors approach to his work (operating legally is a good thing). If you choose to clean the moss off your roof by hiring a pressure washer you want to make sure that you hire an experienced professional and ask them what precautions they take against damaging your roof. People never ask me for references but I sure will if I ever hire a pressure washer when I'm too old to do my own roof. It is very true that pressure washing can do serious damage to roofs but when used correctly it can be a safe means of cleaning. As far as the absolute safest way to clean moss off of a roof though I would have to say that the advice previously posted is good; to put moss killer on it and kill the moss first. You'll still usually have to clean the dead moss off but it comes off easier when it's dead. The best thing is to put moss killer on it every year whether or not you have moss and just prevent it from ever growing. Hope this is helpful, Shawn

Oh boy. This is where things get ugly. We have to 'split' the blame into small measurable units. Here we go. The homeowner picked the tile (was it rectified? Square edged or eased edge?) and the grout (I'm assuming you picked the COLOUR and not the quality?). You picked the FINISHES. OK. The 'look' is on you. The GC chose NOT to QUOTE for the subfloor work (preparation should be $2-$4/sf x 2200sf = $4400 - $8800 for this job). Which means you did NOT pay for subfloor work. A wonky subfloor = wonky tiled flooring. As cruel as this sounds, you got what you paid for. $0 paid subfloor prep = $0 owing for subfloor prep offered. Next point: The GC picked the STRUCTURAL MATERIALS. That's on HIM. His choice of 'thinset' (LFT requires a different technique) was wrong. That one's on him. His installers did NOT use the proper spacing requirements. Again, the GC OWNS the work his subcontractors produce. Again, this is on him. At this point, this requires a redo. And I mean complete gut and removal, repurchase (if the grout has not gone down you might be able to salvage ++ of these tiles....*might) and reinstall. The GC owes you: Replacement tiles for the one's that cannot be salvaged Proper thinset/mortar materials PROPER TILE SETTERS not just 'some guys' who use a trowel!!! His workers = his headache! Proper leveling system and staggered 1/3 off-set tile setting Quote for subfloor preparation What you owe the GC: 1. Payment for subfloor preparation (budget for $2 - $4/sf...just to be safe) You did not pay for subfloor prep. Sadly, both of you owe this to one another. The GC needs to FINISH his quote and you need to PAY the price for subfloor prep once the final bill (labour + materials) come in. As someone in the flooring industry, I have seen enough flooring mistakes to last a lifetime. This is an expensive lesson that the GC MUST LEARN. Don't feel 'bad' about this. Obviously he's skated by on flooring up to this point. He thought he could do it again...but he thought wrong. Now he pays the price for not knowing something he ought to have known. What you owe yourself: A critique of the overall work of the GC. You need to ask yourself if your GC messed up on such a massive job, is there anything else they messed up on? I do not wish to scare you, but a bad flooring job could be the indicator for other problems with this build. Please make sure you move cautiously with any of the other work that has been done or is supposed to be done in the future. Obvious places to look: Plumbing and Electrical. These require expensive professionals (in a hot Canadian market a Red Seal Plumber or Electrician bills $180/hr = more per hour than a Family Physician = $122/hr). A PROFESSIONAL tile setter is one of the other BIG EXPENSES on a build. They are so expensive that many GCs (yours included) will try to save money by using 'guys who swish a trowel'. If your GC cheaped out on tiling, what else did he cheap out on?