Do you have a signed contract or written estimate for the original amount of 3000.00? 4500.00 is quite a paycheck for labor; how many guys have been on the job and for how long? How many sq feet of siding did he install?

Sounds like he might be trying to scam you. Maybe you should make the quilt, charge him $650 as suggested, but later present him a bill for another $1,000.00 or so! But on a serious note, I'm with you ... I would not do a quilt for anyone except as a gift. No one but another quilter understands! Blessings!

Oh I've got a plan ... tel MrSidingGuy ... you'd be most happy to do the custom quilt ... in exchange for him keeping to that original contract price!

If you have a contract with this guy, you shouldn't have to give him any more money! And especially so much more! And if you do give him more, hold it back until the job is completed. The reason you have a contract is so that builders (siders, etc) can't get away with this crap. My brother was a contractor and put an addition on my home for our mother, who was paying for it. He would ask her for money, but fortunately, I had her checkbook and refused to give him anymore until the job was done. Caused some hard feelings, but I knew if he had all the money, I would never see him again! At least as far as the job was concerned.

Be careful paying until the work is finished. I got into that mess once with a contractor who was also a personal friend (I thought). I paid the entire price, then he came back & wanted more because it was taking longer than he thought. I politely showed him the contract, said I had signed in good faith & wouldn't have signed at all if he had quoted the amount he wanted now. He walked off the job, leaving me with my whole house (inside) wrecked. I took pictures, then had to call someone else to finish the job. I had to sue to get my money back from him, but meanwhile I was in a real financial bind for a while.

He wasn't worried about what to charge! LOL. Do some math and see what he charges for his labor per hour.

The quilters in my guild that make quilts for others the charge is 4 x the retail price of all fabrics and supplies used plus the cost of quilting it. Half to be paid upfront, the balance when finished.

DH and I have had learned to call the company in town that has been in business the longest to do what work we need done for the house. We needed new windows we called a window company, new roof we called a roofing company. I would call a siding company. They will have their own installation crews and everything would be in writing up front. Good Luck!

It sounds like you don't want to do this project.If that's true,just say no thank you.

Ditto What Tartan said. If he goffs at the cost, tell him each quilt is constructed of materials needed to be purchased and depending on how far you have to go to get the material charge for shipping. Also Ditto what QuiltE states. Check out the site. absolutely do not forget labor. You do have to measure and cut and construct. I never tell people I gave for free to family and friends I tell them we barter or deduct the cost. Find out his labor costs and charge the same. Show him an invoice for " JAN'S QUILTS". he won't be afraid to show you his. A friend of mine uses a numerical system for invoices like this'; 081-603-19. 081=the year she started quilting, 603= approx. number of quilts she has already made or worked on for different reasons and 19= how many she has charged for them since.

Dear farmquilter,
Wow that was quite a large bill for the labor...how many hours labor was that?
Can you do a barter? So much off his labor in exchange for a quilt made from fabric
you already have on hand? At least I would try that BEFORE you pay the rest of the invoice/bill!
A quilter's labor is valuable too!

Did you have a contract with this guy? Did he give you a quote on paper? My uncle used to hang siding and he always measured because he said that if you measure correctly, your time/labor costs were always included. he took photos, even back in the 80s of the houses. He never had to go back and ask for more money and he was always paid in full at the end of the project. Only a couple of times did he ever have to put a contractor's lien on a property. So is this guy asking for an additional $4523.00? How much work has been done so far? That's pretty steep. Who did the measurements. Did you get any referrals before hiring him? Start taking photos of his work and tell him you would like to drive by some of his past work.