Advice for “difficult conversation” with a contractor

[mlm]

Finally started our landscaping project a few weeks ago. This was after discovering the cost is double from what the landscape architect estimated and having to wait 6 months to start.

That said, have been super happy with our LC (landscape contractor). We have full layered professional site plans, but he went the extra mile to stake out areas and even put up frames where the deck and concrete sections would be (two sections, at different elevation

His guys had been digging for the past few days getting ready for concrete, and yesterday they laid down And cemented in some perimeter blocks and rebar. Saw this when I came home, and also that it didn’t look quite right. Specifically, one section is sized tight for the large fire table we ordered, and with what they laid down looks to be about a foot too short. This isn’t a large yard, and we went over all of this when staking things off...hell, the stakes are still there e correct places :wtf

He’s coming over today to inspect. Not much room to negotiate on this, so I expect it’ll be a shitty conversation. Any advice from the BARF contractors?

 

[bruceflinch]

Do the plans you have show, the result is not according to plan?
Conversation prior doesn’t mean squat. What is in writing matters.

 

[Climber]

It doesn't have to be a shitty conversation, the shitty part shouldn't be on your side but rather between him and his workers, unless he was present when the mistake was made.

I'd be congenial but firm, this is a mistake that he needs to eat and make up for, but I wouldn't bring that up unless he tries going down the road of wanting to charge you more.

 

[mlm]

Licensed contractor and correct dimensions are in plans

 

[JesasaurusRex]

Licensed contractor and correct dimensions are in plans

doesn't sound like much of a conversation at all

 

[afm199]

It's not a shitty conversation. You inform him that a mistake has been made and needs to be rectified. Involve the architect if you need support. As a contractor, I've seldom objected if this happened. What I usually say is: "Sure, not a problem, we'll take care of it."

 

[Mike95060]

doesn't sound like much of a conversation at all

Bro, we know no one reads those....

 

[mlm]

It's not a shitty conversation. You inform him that a mistake has been made and needs to be rectified. Involve the architect if you need support. As a contractor, I've seldom objected if this happened. What I usually say is: "Sure, not a problem, we'll take care of it."

Went exactly like that :thumbup Luckily caught it before the concrete set and his guys were chipping it out this morning with relatively little effort.

Nothing like our previous contractor who was nothing but denials and excuses. That said, the guy on his crew doing the work seemed either trying to get out of redoing it or unable to read a tape measure.

 

[afm199]

Went exactly like that :thumbup Luckily caught it before the concrete set and his guys were chipping it out this morning with relatively little effort.

Nothing like our previous contractor who was nothing but denials and excuses. That said, the guy on his crew doing the work seemed either trying to get out of redoing it or unable to read a tape measure.

I've seen a house footer poured 1.5" into a sidewalk right of way. That required some work. They should have fired the idiot foreman, but they didn't.

 

[mlm]

Residential construction, and especially landscaping doesn't seem to pull in the best and brightest. Which sucks considering the rates they're charging. They're putting up a new office building next to the one I work at and it's an entirely different caliber of engineering and skills compared to what I've seen for our home.

But as said, super happy with the response I got from the contractor.

 

[bruceflinch]

Good to hear it!

 

[Archimedes]

Their mistake. I paid a ton to have a sport court put in my backyard and when they poured all the cement the footing for the light pole that was to be the second pole on the volleyball court wasn't square to the basketball pole. It was sitting in concrete five feet deep by four feet across. I made them jack hammer it all out and redo it. You're paying for it, they need to do their job and get it right.

 

[mlm]

JFC. What is it with these guys.

We had some concrete walls that were supposed to be finished in "smooth stucco". These are basically backrests for benches and will be very visible...and the consistency is shit

Contractor says it's just normal and tells my wife you need to paint it to be smooth. I just got done looking at about 10 minutes of our security cam footage where the guy was pointing out the exact same spots where they fucked up :mad

Talking to him in a few minutes

 

[Blankpage]

JFC. What is it with these guys.

We had some concrete walls that were supposed to be finished in "smooth stucco". These are basically backrests for benches and will be very visible...and the consistency is shit

Contractor says it's just normal and tells my wife you need to paint it to be smooth. I just got done looking at about 10 minutes of our security cam footage where the guy was pointing out the exact same spots where they fucked up :mad

Talking to him in a few minutes

Residential construction, and especially landscaping doesn't seem to pull in the best and brightest.

Yep, you gotta babysit that shit.

 

[afm199]

There are plenty of good contractors out there. At least 10% are excellent, and another 20-30 % are good. The remaining 60-70%, however........You get what you pay for. I've worked on super high end projects. The levels of workmanship are staggering. So are the costs.

 

[Eldritch]

JFC. What is it with these guys.

We had some concrete walls that were supposed to be finished in "smooth stucco". These are basically backrests for benches and will be very visible...and the consistency is shit

Contractor says it's just normal and tells my wife you need to paint it to be smooth. I just got done looking at about 10 minutes of our security cam footage where the guy was pointing out the exact same spots where they fucked up :mad

Talking to him in a few minutes

Hope you havne't paid out 100%

 

[clutchslip]

It's not a shitty conversation. You inform him that a mistake has been made and needs to be rectified. Involve the architect if you need support. As a contractor, I've seldom objected if this happened. What I usually say is: "Sure, not a problem, we'll take care of it."

I knew you would have the right answer. Small business can be a bitch, but serious contractors know they are responsible for their people's work, even if the workers are subs.

I have had one bad landscape maintenance person, one bad refrigerator person (it didn't need a re-charge that he did). And one sketchy painter (heroin addict). I even got the junkie to finish. He actually was a skilled painter and hired outstanding help. I just gave him an extra two weeks to handle his drug issue and finish the job. It worked out. He did good work.

 

[mlm]

Talked to the contractor and kept it simple: This is what I want, this isn't it, I want what we paid for. I made a point to call out the areas I saw him pointing out to his guys on the video feed (but didn't tell him it was recorded)

Looks like he brought back his stucco guy and they're fixing it this morning :thumbup

We definitely didn't go with the cheapest guy and aside from having to call him on a few obvious mistakes the work has been pretty good.

 

[afm199]

Great news!

 

[Eldritch]

Talked to the contractor and kept it simple: This is what I want, this isn't it, I want what we paid for. I made a point to call out the areas I saw him pointing out to his guys on the video feed (but didn't tell him it was recorded)

Looks like he brought back his stucco guy and they're fixing it this morning :thumbup

We definitely didn't go with the cheapest guy and aside from having to call him on a few obvious mistakes the work has been pretty good.

Schweet, post pics when complete!