Friend Issue?

He's your friend -- charge him for materials only .. let your labor go … and then let the whole matter go (and learn a lesson from it when dealing with friends and money).

I think it best to go by the lower rate - Friendships are more valuable than money.

Never have business dealings with friends- especially if you're close friends. If he agreed to the original amount, he should pay you. But if he agreed on the original amount based on the hours you'll work, then it's fair on his account too.

Realize he's a fair weather friend.

This is not a friend issue. This is a love issue. Do you have love in your heart? Do you appreciate your friend? Your reputation? Coz you're gonna have to do a lot of bullshitting to combat what he's gonna go around saying if you keep up this way.

An oral agreement is binding. You can ask for the money, you can end the friendship, you can drop the subject.

Your choice!

You did not help a friend build a deck. You entered into a contractual agreement (probably verbal only) for "hourly rate + materials". BUT when it was all done YOU changed the agreement asking for the full estimated amount and called your friend petty for keeping track of your hours (just like any smart customer would do).

So basically you got caught trying to rip your friend off. Who's being petty here bro? Basically you have told your friend that you are unethical, immoral, a liar, a shyster and money is more important to you than friendship. You are also clearly CLUELESS, dare I say stupid - since you seem to be confused why your friendship is strained.

Try this as a solution: HONOR your original agreement PLUS give him an additional 10% of EVERYTHING - labor and materials. Apologize for being an a$$hat. IF you are a licensed contractor feel lucky he has not turned you into regulators. IF you are not licensed feel lucky he has not turned you into regulars for functioning as a contractor illegally.

IF after all of that you still lose the friendship - remember YOU did this, not him.

You said you would charge him for 5 hours but you didn’t work 5 hours so why should he pay you for the hours that you didn’t work.

You could have charged him a flat rate but you didn’t. You’re the one who gave him a discount.

Do the right thing and charge him the hourly rate for the hours your worked like you said you were going to. In my experience with contractors, if an hourly labor rate is quoted, then actual hours are charged; not the estimate. Given this is your friend, I would think it is a no-brainer.

Make sure you go by your hours though and not his. Does he know how much time you spent on design and getting materials (time not on site)?

Next time, make sure you are clear that it is a flat rate or an hourly rate. Your friend seems to think it's clear it was hourly which you seem to indicate too.

So you charged your friend for labor costs you never incurred. Think on that.