These Terms of Service (the "Terms") apply to your use of the stoptherot.ca website and to any inspection, estimate, quote or repair work provided by Eeeasy! Service Agency LTD., doing business as Stop The Rot Co. ("Stop The Rot Co.", "we", "us" or "our"), a company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Please read them carefully. By using this website, booking an inspection, accepting a quote, or allowing us to start work, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the website or book our services.
1. Definitions and how these Terms fit together
"You" and "Client" mean the person or entity that requests or receives services from us, and anyone who signs or accepts a quote on their behalf. "Property" means the home, building or structure where the work is to be performed. "Services" means any inspection, assessment, estimate, repair, carpentry or related work we provide. "Quote" means a written price and scope of work we issue to you. Your agreement with us is made up of the accepted Quote, any written change orders, our invoices, and these Terms. If a signed or accepted Quote and these Terms conflict on a specific point, the Quote applies to that point.
2. Free 20-point inspection: what it is and what it is not
Our free 20-point inspection is a limited, non-invasive visual assessment of accessible exterior wood components for signs of rot and moisture, using tools such as a moisture meter and probing of suspect areas. It is offered so that you can decide whether to book repairs. It is not a home inspection, building code inspection, engineering or structural assessment, pest or mould inspection, insurance inspection or real estate inspection. We do not open walls or remove finishes during the inspection, so we cannot see or report on hidden conditions. Our findings reflect conditions we could see and measure on the day of the visit. You should not rely on our inspection as a certificate of the condition of your Property, for a sale, purchase, insurance or any other purpose. The inspection is provided at no charge and without obligation. Receiving an inspection does not create an obligation for you to hire us, and it does not create an obligation for us to perform any work.
3. Quotes and estimates
After an inspection we may provide a written Quote. Unless the Quote says otherwise, a Quote is valid for 14 days from the date it is issued. After that date we may revise or withdraw it, because material and labour costs and our schedule change. A Quote is based on the conditions we could see and access at the time. It covers only the scope of work written in the Quote. Anything not listed in the Quote is excluded. Quotes are prepared in good faith, and a verbal figure given at the Property is an estimate only until it is confirmed in writing. A Quote is accepted when you confirm it in writing, including by email or text message, by signing it, by paying a deposit, or by allowing us to begin work. Unless the Quote states otherwise, prices are in Canadian dollars and are before GST and any other applicable taxes.
4. Hidden conditions and change orders
Wood rot often extends further than it appears on the surface. Once we remove damaged material we may find rot, moisture, mould, pests, previous poor repairs, structural defects or other conditions that could not be seen during the inspection. These are called hidden conditions. If we find a hidden condition that changes the scope, cost or time of the work, we will stop work on the affected area, show you what we found where practical, and give you a written change order describing the additional work and price. We will not carry out additional work that increases the price without your approval, which may be given by email or text message. If you decline the additional work, we may complete or stop the original scope as agreed, and you remain responsible for work done and materials supplied up to that point. Hidden conditions are not defects in our work, and we are not responsible for causing or failing to detect them.
5. Prices, payment and taxes
The payment schedule is set out in your Quote or invoice. Unless the Quote says otherwise, the balance is due on completion of the work. We may require a deposit before we order materials or schedule a start date, and we may require progress payments for larger projects. Payment is accepted by the methods listed on the invoice. If an invoice states an interest rate for overdue amounts, interest accrues on unpaid balances at that rate. You are responsible for our reasonable costs of collecting overdue amounts, including legal fees where permitted by law. Until we are paid in full, we may withhold the workmanship guarantee described below. We also reserve all of our rights under British Columbia's Builders Lien Act and other applicable law. Payment disputes must be raised promptly and in writing, and any undisputed portion of an invoice remains due on time.
6. Scheduling, delays and weather
Start dates and completion dates are estimates unless the Quote says they are fixed. Our work is mostly outdoors, so rain, wind, snow, low temperatures, wildfire smoke and other weather can require us to reschedule. Some repairs, coatings and sealants also have minimum temperature and dryness requirements, and we will not apply them when conditions would reduce the quality of the result. We are not liable for delay caused by weather, material or supplier shortages, illness, access problems, hidden conditions, change orders, strata or permit delays, or other events outside our reasonable control. We will tell you as soon as we reasonably can when a schedule changes.
7. Your responsibilities
To allow us to do the work safely and on schedule, you agree to: (a) give us safe, clear and timely access to the Property, including the work area, ladders and scaffold positions, and a place to park; (b) clear the work area of vehicles, furniture, plants, decorations and valuables, and secure pets and children away from it; (c) provide access to electricity and water if we need them; (d) tell us before work begins about anything we should know, including known leaks, previous repairs, hazardous materials, buried utilities, irrigation lines, security cameras or alarm systems; (e) obtain any approvals needed from your strata corporation, landlord, property manager, lender, insurer or heritage authority, unless the Quote says we will do so; and (f) be reachable, or have an authorized representative reachable, while work is in progress so that we can get decisions quickly. If you or a third party prevent or delay the work, we may charge reasonable standby or return-visit fees and we may reschedule.
8. Authority to hire us
By requesting or accepting our Services you confirm that you own the Property or are authorized by the owner, strata corporation or landlord to have the work done. If you are a property manager, strata council member, agent or tenant, you confirm that you have written authority to give instructions and to bind the owner to these Terms, and you agree to give us proof of that authority on request. If you do not have the authority you claimed, you remain personally responsible for payment and for any loss or claim that results.
9. Permits, engineers and building rules
Some repairs, particularly structural work, may require a building permit, an engineer's review or approval from a strata corporation or authority. Unless the Quote says otherwise, you are responsible for obtaining permits and approvals and for any related fees. If we tell you that a permit or engineer's letter is needed, we may pause work until it is in place, and the time spent waiting is not our delay. We perform carpentry and wood rot repair. We do not provide engineering, architectural, plumbing, electrical, roofing, mould remediation, pest control or asbestos or lead abatement services, and we are not responsible for the design, performance or condition of those trades or components unless the Quote expressly includes them.
10. Hazardous materials
Older buildings can contain hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead-based paint, mould and other contaminants. Disturbing these materials is regulated, and in British Columbia a hazardous materials assessment may be required before certain work begins. We do not test for, remove or remediate hazardous materials. If you know or suspect that such materials are present, you must tell us in writing before work starts. If we discover or reasonably suspect them, we may stop work immediately, and we may require testing and, where needed, removal by a qualified specialist before we continue. The cost of testing, abatement, the delay and any additional mobilization of our crew are your responsibility. We have no responsibility for hazardous materials we did not bring to the Property.
11. Scope limits and natural variation
Wood is a natural material. Grain, colour, knots and weathering vary, and new wood will not look identical to old wood. We match profiles, sizes and finishes as closely as is reasonably practical, but we do not guarantee an exact match, especially to old, weathered or faded paint, stain or finishes. Unless the Quote says so, our work does not include painting or refinishing beyond the repaired areas, and we are not responsible for differences in appearance between repaired and unrepaired areas. We may substitute materials of equal or better quality if a specified material is unavailable. We repair rot where we can and recommend replacement where repair will not hold. We will tell you our recommendation and the reasons, but the decision on scope is yours. If you choose a lesser repair than we recommend, you accept the risk that the problem may continue or return, and the guarantee will not cover that area.
12. Care of your Property
We take reasonable care to protect your Property and to keep the work area tidy. Some damage is a known risk of work on older buildings, for example brittle or painted-over siding, trim or fasteners that crack or break during removal, or paint that lifts at a seam. We are not responsible for pre-existing conditions or for damage that could not reasonably have been avoided with ordinary care. You are responsible for removing or protecting items near the work area, and we are not liable for loss of or damage to items left in the work zone. Landscaping, plants and lawns within the work area may be affected by ladders, scaffolds and material staging, and we will take reasonable care but cannot promise there will be no marks or damage.
13. Insurance and safety
We carry commercial general liability insurance of up to $2,000,000 and our crew is covered by WorkSafeBC. We follow applicable safety rules on our work sites. Please keep people and pets away from the work area at all times. Anyone who enters the work area does so at their own risk and must follow our crew's directions. Certificates of insurance and WorkSafeBC clearance letters are available on request.
14. Workmanship guarantee
We provide a written 24-month (two-year) guarantee on the workmanship of our wood rot repairs. During the guarantee period, if our repair fails because of defective workmanship or materials we supplied and installed, we will repair or replace the affected work at no charge to you. The guarantee starts on the date work is completed and covers only the specific area we repaired, as described in the Quote and invoice. The guarantee is subject to payment of the invoice in full and to the conditions and exclusions in these Terms. Manufacturer warranties on materials, products or equipment we supply apply according to the manufacturer's terms.
15. What the guarantee does not cover
The guarantee does not apply to, and we are not responsible for: (a) rot, moisture damage or other defects in areas we did not repair, including new rot that develops elsewhere on the Property; (b) damage caused by a source of water or moisture that we did not repair, such as a roof, gutter, plumbing, window, flashing or drainage problem, a leak, flooding, ice damming or condensation; (c) failure to carry out normal maintenance, including keeping paint, caulking and sealants in good condition, keeping gutters clear and keeping soil and plants away from the building; (d) changes, alterations, repairs or work by anyone other than us, after our work was completed; (e) settling, movement or defects in the structure, foundation or other building components; (f) accidents, impact, vandalism, fire, earthquake, severe weather or other events outside our control; (g) insects, pests, mould, or the presence of hazardous materials; (h) normal wear, weathering, fading, checking or cracking of wood and finishes, and differences in colour or appearance; (i) areas where you declined our recommended scope or chose a lesser repair; and (j) work that was not paid for in full.
16. Making a guarantee claim
To make a claim, send us written notice at fix@stoptherot.ca within 30 days after you notice the problem, and in any event within the guarantee period. Include your name, the Property address, the date of the work, a description of the problem and photos if you can. You must give us reasonable access to inspect the work and a reasonable opportunity to repair it before anyone else does. If you have the work repaired by someone else without giving us that opportunity, the guarantee does not cover the cost, except in a genuine emergency where immediate action is needed to prevent further damage, in which case you must tell us as soon as possible and keep photos and any removed material. Our obligation under the guarantee is to repair or replace the defective work. Where we cannot reasonably do so, we may instead refund the price paid for the defective portion. This is your sole and exclusive remedy under the guarantee, to the extent permitted by law.
17. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total liability to you for all claims arising out of or related to our Services, whether in contract, negligence or otherwise, is limited to the amount you paid us for the specific work that is the subject of the claim. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive losses, including lost rent, lost income, loss of use, relocation or accommodation costs, diminished property value, or the cost of mould, pest or hazardous materials remediation, even if we were told such losses were possible. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, including liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or for fraud, and nothing in these Terms limits any right you have under British Columbia's Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act or other consumer protection laws.
18. Cancellation and changes by you
If you cancel a booked job at least 48 hours before the scheduled start, we will not charge a cancellation fee, except that you remain responsible for any materials we have already ordered or custom-made for your job and cannot reasonably return or use elsewhere. If you cancel with less than 48 hours' notice, or if our crew arrives and cannot start for a reason within your control, we may charge a reasonable fee for the time and costs lost. If you cancel after work has started, you are responsible for work completed and materials supplied up to that point, plus any reasonable costs of demobilizing and making the Property safe. If British Columbia law gives you a right to cancel your contract with us, for example for certain contracts made at your home, that right applies and nothing here limits it. We will follow the notice and refund rules that apply.
19. Our right to suspend or end work
We may suspend or end work, and we may charge for work completed and materials supplied, if you do not pay on time, do not give us access, ask us to do work that is unsafe or unlawful, or act in a way that threatens the safety of our crew. We may also stop work where we find a hazardous condition as described above.
20. Insurance claims and third parties
If your repair is connected to an insurance claim, a property sale, a strata approval or any other third party, you remain responsible for paying our invoice regardless of whether the third party approves, pays or reimburses you. We can provide photos, written descriptions and invoices to support your claim, but we do not guarantee how any insurer or other party will respond.
21. Subcontractors and suppliers
We may use qualified subcontractors and suppliers to carry out part of the work. We remain responsible to you for the work they perform on our behalf, subject to these Terms.
22. Photos and records
We may take photos and videos of the Property before, during and after the work for our records, to document conditions, to support a guarantee claim and to show our work to others. We will not publish your name, your address or any information that identifies you. If you do not want photos of your Property used for marketing, tell us in writing before the work begins and we will honour that request.
23. Using this website
The information on this website, including blog articles, guides, checklists and photographs, is general information about wood rot and home maintenance. It is not professional advice and it is not a substitute for an assessment of your Property. Every building is different, so please do not rely on the website to decide whether or how to repair a specific problem. We try to keep the website accurate and current, but we do not promise that it is complete, error-free or always available. We may change or remove content at any time. You agree not to misuse the website, including by attempting to gain unauthorized access, interfering with its operation, introducing malicious code, scraping it in bulk or using it for unlawful purposes. Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience, and we are not responsible for their content or practices.
24. Intellectual property
The website and its contents, including text, logos, photographs, graphics, layout and the Stop The Rot Co. name and marks, belong to us or our licensors and are protected by copyright and trademark laws. You may view and print pages for your own personal use. You may not copy, republish, sell or create derivative works from our content without our written permission.
25. Communications and consent
When you submit a form, call, text or email us, you agree that we may contact you by phone, text message and email about your request, your Quote and your project. Message and data rates may apply to texts. You can ask us to stop at any time by replying STOP or by emailing fix@stoptherot.ca, and we will honour your request, except for messages about work already booked. Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use and protect your personal information, and it forms part of these Terms.
26. Online reviews
If you leave us a review, we may share it, and we may reply to it publicly. We ask that reviews be honest and based on your own experience. We encourage you to contact us first at fix@stoptherot.ca if something went wrong, so that we have the chance to make it right.
27. Dispute resolution and governing law
If a problem arises, please contact us first at fix@stoptherot.ca or 778.654.2255. Most issues can be resolved quickly by talking. If we cannot resolve a dispute in this way within 30 days after you give us written notice, either of us may propose mediation with a mutually agreed mediator in Vancouver, with the costs shared equally. These Terms and any dispute connected to them or to our Services are governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada that apply there. Subject to the mediation step and to any right you have to bring a claim in another forum under consumer protection law, the courts of British Columbia have exclusive jurisdiction, and each of us agrees to submit to them. Either of us may bring a claim in the Civil Resolution Tribunal or Provincial Court of British Columbia (Small Claims) where it falls within their jurisdiction.
28. General
Entire agreement. These Terms, the accepted Quote, any change orders and our invoices are the entire agreement between us about the Services and replace any earlier discussions or understandings. Severability. If any part of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the rest continues in effect, and the invalid part will be applied to the extent the law allows. No waiver. If we do not enforce a right immediately, that does not mean we have given it up. Assignment. You may not transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our written consent. We may assign ours in connection with a sale or reorganization of our business, and the guarantee will continue to apply for the benefit of the original Client. Events outside our control. We are not responsible for failure or delay in performing our obligations caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including severe weather, natural disasters, pandemics, government orders, strikes, supply disruptions and utility failures. Notices. We may give you notice by email, text message, phone or through the contact details you gave us. You can give us notice at fix@stoptherot.ca.
29. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The updated version will be posted on this page with a new "last updated" date. Changes apply to bookings, quotes and website use after the date they are posted. A Quote you have already accepted continues under the Terms that applied when you accepted it.
30. Contact us
Stop The Rot Co. (Eeeasy! Service Agency LTD.) Vancouver, British Columbia Phone: 778.654.2255 Email: fix@stoptherot.ca Questions about these Terms are welcome. Please contact us before booking if anything is unclear.