Uhg... very unhappy

[Model35mech]

The contractor putting on the veranda of our new house completely fucked it up.

The posts aren't plumb. One actually sticks out on it's right side (when facing) by 1/2 inch from the facia. How to make that right???

The blaistrades/spindles (but they are square) are not plumb varying by as much as 5/8ths of an inch in 30 inches of length.

One of the top railings misaligns (across the post) with it's mate by 3/8 of an inch.

The trim on the facade of the deck is 2-1/2 at one end and 12 feet opposite is 3-1/4.

Of course this makes me a SUPER ASSHOLE!!!!!!!

The contractor is the son of a dairy farmer and until 3 years ago was an automechanic.... but he HAS A WI CONTRACTORS license!

No one on his crew has even served as an apprentice carpenter

I grew up the son of a master carpenter, a specialist in "finish" work. In the world of framing 1/8 inch of error in 10 feet of run approaches OK. In finish work, the standard to be approached is that no one sees the err.

I am very angry. I was pushed into using a contractor because I "was not fast enough" according to my wife.

Now, according to her I'm to be the guilty party who saw the mistakes accumulate to the price of $16K and didnt stop them

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fuck!!!!!! THEY DON'T TOLERATE YOU WATCHING THEM. You come back after a day and get to see the mistakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm spitting nails

Don't mind me. I just need to rage.

It didn't really help

[Lars39]

1. Who chose the contractor?

How many gave estimates, references?

[Model35mech]

2. She did, we had 3 estimates

But you know... people lie and manipulate their public appearance.

Then again, she -really- liked "Craig" and Spike Restoration.

What can I say?????????????????????

It wasn't my choice I was already over-ruled as being too slow.

Now she must face him and tell him I INSIST ON HIS COMPANY BEING FIRED!!!!!!

[Lars39]

3. Don't know what the answer is, but

y’all need to present a united front when dealing with him. Anything less and you give him wiggle room. Hope it all turns out well. We’re getting ready to interview contractors, too, for a garage and renovation. The whole process is nerve wracking.

[Model35mech]

5. I'm quite ready to eat the mistake. I hate the mistake, but that's what crow tastes of

[Scottie Mom]

4. I don't know what your state contractors licensing board is like...

...but in Calif, the board is a good place to start. Have you looked at this path to a resolution of such awful carpentry work?

[Model35mech]

6. The Contractor has a valid license. The problem is he isn't a carpenter and hasn't got

the eye of a carpenter.

He can't see his mistakes. He argued with me over 3/4 of an inch out of plumb in 30 inches of balister!

He's in a hurry to get to the next victim's project.

I WILL work to sink his business.

[Scottie Mom]

14. Your state board may not just be a license check, but may have rules and regs re the quality of work

In Calif, one can file an arbitration petn and if the work is sub-quality, the board will award money to the person who hired the contractor. If the contractor does not pay the award in (I recall) 30 days, the board then pulls their license and they cannot contract and collect fees and charges once the license is pulled.

[Model35mech]

15. that is something I know nothing about, thanks

I doubt that wife would pursue it... she advocated for the chose of the guy.

But, I'll look into it.


I think I have weeks of work to do. First on straightening out the veranda and then on the deck, which thankfully he has not has his hammer on.

[Scottie Mom]

17. Best of luck!

Nothing like someone doing damage to your home. It's not just maddening, it's hurtful.

[LuckyCharms]

7. Yikes. I do finish work and I was cringing while

reading your post. Those variances will stick out like a sore thumb to the eye. Forever.

I'll reread your post to make sure you didn't already state this, but what is the status of your payments to him?

Sorry you're going through this.

[Model35mech]

8. He was supposed to do a veranda and a deck. No longer

Unfortunately, we paid him as he said he was approaching completion of the veranda.

I'm stopping him dead, and cold before proceding with the deck.

Wifey still 'really likes him'.

OMG!

[LuckyCharms]

10. Well. since he is already paid, he's probably going

to refuse to give you your money back.

Take a lot of pictures. Use a tape measure, level,
and/or an accordion ruler for scale. Report him to the licensing board and take him to court if you have to.

Stuff like this infuriates me. I'm not a pro, but I have the skills. I go to great pains when trimming something out. I usually work with factory finished hardwood, so nothing gets caulked. Finish carpenters have to be perfectionists. Joints have to be as "tight as a gnats ass". In other words, to somewhere around 1/128 of an inch. No worse than that, but maybe even better. I do whatever I have to do to make it right. Shims, shave down back edge of a miter, whatever.

Like you, my eyes can see a slightly out of plumb or out of level piece of material. Yours are much more than slightly off. The only thing I can offer is that most people will never notice it, but you will, forever.

Put the screws to the guy. Make him fix it, or get your money back. Report him and take him to court if he gives you any shit.

[Model35mech]

12. I don't expect money back. Still, embitterment and vengence are real human behaviors...

I live in a very red county that will likely would not provide more than a letter to him noting my objections to the county

What goes around, surely comes around. And he will have no benefit of recommendation from me, and I will give the building inspector an earfull of complaint so that he will be VERY careful around this assholes future jobs.

[LuckyCharms]

13. Up to you. I'm just stating what I would do.

You'll find that a lot of licensed "pros" are hacks.

It's not their house, they couldn't care less, and time is money to them. They go after the money. rather than the pride of craftsmanship.

Not all are like that, many are amazing, but this guy is a hack who took your money for doing a shit job.

Hope all works out for the best for you.

[Model35mech]

16. Thanks

[MissB]

9. Years ago

we used a contractor that had done some fine work previously for us at a different house.

We hired him and his crew to install a wraparound covered porch. One porch side is 40' long and 9' deep, so this thing is massive.

We flew out of state for a weekend, and came back to see that he'd cut all the posts too short. Like we'd be bumping our heads forevermore when leaving the porch.

he ate the cost of new posts. Yes, we made him rip it out. Hell no, we weren't going to look at that for the next 40 years.

[Model35mech]

11. At this time, I want his presence permanently expunged from my future, limited as it is.

It's clearly "OUR fault" although the blame is being set on my head.

So, I'll eat it. Terribly expensive, but a clean cut with incompetence.

She decided a little while ago to drive to the work-site and tell them to cease work.

I sent an email to the contractor saying the same.