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Do I have a shite contractor?

Posted on 8/18/12 at 12:48 am
Posted by SuwMwf
Member since Jul 2012
946 posts
Posted on 8/18/12 at 12:48 am
NVM I am pretty sure I do, but I don't know how to handle it. I seriously don't want to call a lawyer. Here it goes. I am building a house with a local contractor outside of LFT. He's reputable. Everybody around just thinks he's the shite, except me. We are about halfway done and most of the stuff that has happened has been small issues here and there, but now I have bigger problems. Cabinet guy came measure the house and sent back his estimate and it is about 8k OVER budget. The budget was bid by the same cabinet maker. Seems "contractor" forgot to tell cabinet guy about some areas of the house we wanted built-ins etc. Even though contractor was aware of those built-ins long before we took it to the bank. Cabinet guy told me he was not aware of desk area, entertainment etc. Next eff up...Concrete peeps came this week too. "Contractor" didn't budget for concrete culverts. Budgeted for plastic ones instead which were about 1200 cheaper. Plastic culverts do not mix with concrete driveway. Seems obvious to me, but apparently contractor didn't realize. Worst eff up...Concrete peeps measuring front porch to place concrete columns. They realize the effing front door is NOT center on the porch. Like by 8 GD inches! Not just a little bit. So columns won't line up with door. FAAACK! Owner of subcontracting company who framed and did slab etc came out with foreman, admitted his f-up and said they would move door by tearing down my finished stucco and interior dining area and foyer etc etc. Through ALL this shite "contractor" never so much as called or came to speak to us. We haven't spoke to him since about week 2. I don't know WTF we are paying him 12% for. Somebody with experience please advise before I get arrested for assault.
Posted by Camp Randall
The Shadow of the Valley of Death
Member since Nov 2005
15586 posts
Posted on 8/18/12 at 7:04 am to
I built an office back in 2001. The contractor was supposedly a very good one. Many major frick ups and lies to my face before during and afterwards. The air conditioning hasnt been right from day one.

It's the nature of the construction business.
Posted by MoreOrLes
Member since Nov 2008
19472 posts
Posted on 8/18/12 at 7:09 am to
Did you have a set of plans that specified these issues?

Did all the contractors bid those plans so that everyone was bidding apples to apples?

Out of curiosity what was this guys total bid and what was the next lowest guys bid.

Did you check 3.or more past references before you chose this GC?
Posted by SuwMwf
Member since Jul 2012
946 posts
Posted on 8/18/12 at 10:58 am to
Yes I have plans that had the additional built ins on them and they were supplied to me by the contractor.

Only one contractor bid the whole job. I liked his work and he was reputable to me at that time. Had been watching his work for about 2 years before we went ahead.

When all is said and done GC said he could do it for 401k. FWIW the guy next door built a house with another GC and they built his house for the EXACT same amount per square foot.

Yes I spoke with 3 or more past references PLUS the guy's at the time soon to be ex-wife. He is building her a house too ATM. All of them said good stuff including the ex.
Posted by Htown Tiger
Houston
Member since Sep 2005
2312 posts
Posted on 8/18/12 at 2:10 pm to
I'm just about to sign my contract agreement with my GC for $200k worth of additions to my home. Reading all of your issues suuuucks...

And actually, one of our discussion points thus far on his quote was regarding cabinets. He has a "guy" that builds custom cabinetry. The whole time I was like "cool, we'll go with your guy"...until he puts the estimate cost in his budget, I'm like WTF? The price was ridiculous.

I'm dreading all this crap once construction starts...
Posted by MoreOrLes
Member since Nov 2008
19472 posts
Posted on 8/18/12 at 3:23 pm to
If he bid the job per plans and specs and you have contract documentation to support that, he should be made to eat that IMO.

The Plans must be part of the contract documents for that to be the case.

I would talk with an atty.
This post was edited on 8/18/12 at 3:26 pm
Posted by SuwMwf
Member since Jul 2012
946 posts
Posted on 8/18/12 at 4:06 pm to
I dread renovations but unless you want to move you gotta do it. When it's my turn I am just going to go on vacation for a month. I don't really have any problems with the cabinet guy. Even though he is the contractor's go-to. He does top notch custom work. It's the GC I wanna choke. If I were you I would call another cabinet guy for another bid. If anything the numbers came back similar you would know you are not getting screwed.
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
55979 posts
Posted on 8/18/12 at 5:38 pm to
it is a pain in the arse and frustrating as hell, but it all just comes with the territory...just keep your head level and work your way through each issue as it arises...when it is all done, you will have a nice house to enjoy...
Posted by Meauxjeaux
98836 posts including my alters
Member since Jun 2005
39857 posts
Posted on 8/18/12 at 10:16 pm to
quote:

Worst eff up...Concrete peeps measuring front porch to place concrete columns. They realize the effing front door is NOT center on the porch. Like by 8 GD inches! Not just a little bit. So columns won't line up with door. FAAACK! Owner of subcontracting company who framed and did slab etc came out with foreman, admitted his f-up and said they would move door by tearing down my finished stucco and interior dining area and foyer etc etc. Through ALL this shite "contractor" never so much as called or came to speak to us. We haven't spoke to him since about week 2. I don't know WTF we are paying him 12% for. Somebody with experience please advise before I get arrested for assault.


So the sub screws up, admits it, commits to fix it without charging (and you obviously know it's gonna cost him big because you listed off all the stuff he has to tear down/redo) and you are calling the GC shitty?

Posted by SuwMwf
Member since Jul 2012
946 posts
Posted on 8/19/12 at 1:19 am to
Well yeah, but I was saying he was crap before that screw up. Trust me when I say there has been a bunch of shite and I can't even get him to acknowledge any of it. I let him know through email or text and he says NOTHING. He just forwards it to foreman who eventually comes out and acts like he's pissed off and says he's gonna set people straight... blah blah blah. I could tell you pages of screw ups we just had to let go of. Not to mention the approx 40 days out of 90 with NOBODY working.

The cabinet bid thing had me boiling, but then the door shite took the cake. Don't get me wrong I appreciate the way the SUB handled the matter, but keep in mind the 8" had to come from somewhere and it came from my guest bedroom. Couldn't really tear down that wall without tearing into the rafters all the way up through attic. I am pissed that the contractor never once even contacted me to apologize or offer advice. I guess I would just do business a different way.
Posted by guttata
prairieville
Member since Feb 2006
22504 posts
Posted on 8/19/12 at 8:04 am to
We are just finishing our home. We ended up paying the cabinet guy $2100 more than his initial bid. We decided against going with paint grade wood and instead decided on cypress. As far as the columns lining up, it sounds like the guy who was reponsibe for the screw up is going to fix the problem.
Posted by Meauxjeaux
98836 posts including my alters
Member since Jun 2005
39857 posts
Posted on 8/19/12 at 8:49 am to
Yeah, the cabinet bid is a big issue. The wall issue is another big one, but why should the sub get credit for being a stand-up guy and not the GC get credit for using stand up guys? They go hand in hand.

40 days out of 90 not working.. seems on the high side but again not terribly unusual. Two factors there.. 1) scheduling, delivery, inspection, weather issues during early work and 2) Contractor and his subs making a living.

I always figured it like this... if it takes 6 months to build a house, was the homeowner willing to pay the contractor ~65k personally during that time, plus a 10% net profit for his business? If so, sure, he should be there every day all day...

Nobody ever takes up that offer but they sure bitch if the contractor isn't around every day.
Posted by silstang23
Bossier City, LA
Member since Oct 2007
4957 posts
Posted on 8/19/12 at 9:07 pm to
quote:

SuwMwf


Let me just say having built a house recently, I feel your pain. I ran into some similar problems. Hope you get it all sorted out.
This post was edited on 8/19/12 at 9:30 pm
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