Repair of Lapa

<p>Worst experience ever - I had a problem with my thatch roof of my lapa. When it rains it is leaking at the braai area. I got the number for Creative Thatch Techniques from someone else who, at that time had no problems with the work done. Johan the owner asked for a deposit and I paid more then 50% deposit of the value of the qoute to get them to start. The owner of the company kept on postponing to start with the job as he was constantly busy after the deposit was paid. Once finally started with the job, instead of replacing bad spots of grass he told his workers put new grass on top of the old grass. This wasn't stamped in as it was suppose to be done and looked terrible. The original problem was not resolved and when it rained the problem got even worse. The leak was bigger and due to th heavy weight of the grass and the extra weight of his workers working on the roof, the one bulk at the top split out of the other bulk. So badly that other bulks moved out of place and broke the smaller wood that was assisting with the support. They also spraid the grass with a sort of glue that according to him is water based. The canvas of the lapa was not covered when they spraid and all 4 canvas was damaged. The material used to spray made dents into the canvas and the only way this can be fixed is to replace the canvas. He was never there to supervise his people, this causing me to lose time and money to watch them. We asked him to fix the damage and replace the canvas. He once again only dropped his people after a month of nagging and they only put in one bracket to support te bulk that broke. I had to lend them my ladder and equipment to do the job as he just didn't care. The leak was still not fixed after they tried twice. The grass was flapping on the one side as it was not stamped in the way it was suppose to. When we corner him about all the issues he just do not take responsibility for his actions. He refuses to replace the canvas. I had to pay an additional R3500 for someone else to fix his problems. How ironic the new company fixed the leak in a morning. Where it took Creative Thatching Techniques 4 days plus and they made more damage to my property then anything else. The other comany had to put in 4 extra bulks to support all the weigt to ensure the roof doesn't collapse. This was also done in a morning. The new company also stamped the grass in properly for us and said that the Creative Thacth was not suppose to put the extra on top. They were suppose to take out the old damaged grass and stamped in the new grass evenly with the old grass. The owner of Creative Thatch Techiniquese said that I am taking a chance by wanting to replace the canvas and it wasn't that badly damaged. Really? If you damage you need to replace. He claims not to have business insurance and doesn't want to compensate us for the additional cost or replace the canvas. Be aware and do not make use of his business. All he wants is the money and doens't deliver at all. According to him the lapa's construction wasn't done correctly and that is why the bulk broke...he is the specialist and was suppose to inform me of this from the start when he qouted me. If you are a good business man you are always a step ahead and ensure your client are aware of every possible problem that could become a bigger problem at the end of the day. He also claims that we need to proof that it was due to his employees and the extra weight of the grass that the bulk broke...</p>