Real-Life Decision Making
As a terrazzo craftsperson, you are asked to quote a price for refinishing
an old terrazzo floor in a restaurant. Terrazzo is now coming back into fashion.
It is beautiful, easy to clean, does not absorb moisture like carpeting does
and is resistant to heavy traffic.
You make arrangements to meet the owner at the restaurant so you can see
what will be involved in the restoration of the floor. When you arrive at
the restaurant, the owner is waiting for you. He leads the way into what he
hopes to refurbish as the grand dining room.
He has had his son peel back a layer of heavy commercial carpeting, a layer
of vinyl tiles and a layer of wretched old linoleum. Underneath the section
that has been torn up is the intricate design of a beautiful old-fashioned
terrazzo floor dating back to the 1940s.
You tell the owner that in your opinion, he has a real treasure here, the
cost of which installing today would be prohibitive. But you tell him that
without being able to inspect the entire area, you cannot quote a price for
restoration.
You give him the option of having your company remove the old floor coverings
in a careful manner so as not to harm the terrazzo beneath. He declines, claiming
that it would be too expensive and that in any case, he has promised the job
to his son.
You give him a list of instructions as to how his son should go about removing
the carpeting, tiles and linoleum so as not to harm the terrazzo surface beneath.
He assures you that the terrazzo will be carefully preserved as is.
A week later the owner calls you to come to his restaurant and view the
entire floor so that you can quote on restoration. You arrive at the restaurant,
prepared with your camera and portable lighting so that you can record the
present condition of the floor.
To your horror, you see that his son has obviously gouged and scraped the
surface of the terrazzo. You point out to your client that the surface has
been newly scratched. He denies that his son has been careless and maintains
that the terrazzo must have been scratched years ago.
You had asked that the surface be swept carefully with a soft natural bristle
broom to remove as much dust as possible. It has not been swept. You set up
your lights and take photos of the floor a section at a time. You discover
some old stains. Some appear to be rust, and some appear to be red wine, paint
and water stains.
After your thorough inspection, you tell the owner that you will have to
bring in at least two helpers and a heavy terrazzo grinder to remove the damaged
surface. Any deep gouges you will have to clean and fill by matching the content
and color of the old terrazzo. When the repairs are complete, the surface
will have to be polished and treated with a protective sealer. He agrees to
this and then asks how much all this will cost.
He insists on a ballpark figure. You look at your notes and make
some calculations as to materials, labor and equipment costs. You have a feeling
this client is going to be difficult to work with. But you would very much
like to refinish this wonderful old floor and take credit for restoring it
to its original beauty.
What do you do?