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May 28, 2008
Help! My contractors broke my baseboards.
We're replacing old crummy floors in our newly-purchased condo, and our contracter just let us know that they broke our baseboards while installing, and want another $1400 to buy and install (not prime or paint) new ones. I was expecting maybe 1 or 2 to break, but this is over 15% above the quote they gave us.
Also, the other contractors we didn't use said they would replace boards they broke for free.
Is this a normal expense I should have expected? Or am I getting my head bumped?
Can i install them myself without too much trouble for less money?Can broken boards be fixed? I really dont have the budget for this added expense.
Comments
Your contractor broke your baseboards and wants YOU (sorry, italics not available) to pay for new ones? Unless he told you in advance "hey, this part of the job might break your baseboards," or unless the baseboards were rotten and you couldn't tell under all the paint, I would take issue, although if you like the contractor overall, you might settle on splitting the cost after some huffing and puffing by both sides.
As a general rule, I think you pay for surprises the contractor couldn't foresee (rotten studs or joists exposed during demo and need replacing, for example), and the contractor pays for his mistakes and things he should have anticipated. Use that as a guide.
Posted by: slopefarm at May 28, 2008 3:56 PM
Thanks. This is my first time working with a contractor, so I wasn't sure what to expect.
The apt is new - built in the 90s - and I had it inspected, so I really doubt that the boards were rotten.
Posted by: radieroo at May 28, 2008 4:01 PM
This question was obviously addressed with the other contractors from whom you got bids. Was it addressed with the contractor you ultimately used? Whether it was (and if it was, the answer you got) would definitely clarify the financial responsibility for this situation. As to whether the cost is reasonable, the average total length of base per apartment in a development I just estimated was 150' 0" or so. The unit rate (for both labor and material but excluding paint) for a good quality base molding is $7/LF. So, even assuming you're replacing ALL the base in the apartment, I reckon you're getting gypped by about 40%. Whether you can do the job yourself is a question only your own familiarity with your carpentry skills can address.
Posted by: johnife at May 28, 2008 4:14 PM
This is an easy one.
Contractor 1, whose low bid you accepted, said you pay for broken baseboards.
Contractor 2, whose higher bid you rejected, said they would pay for broken baseboards.
Obviously, Contractor 1 had no incentive to be careful, and so broke a lot. Had you taken Contractor # 2's bid, you would have not had broken baseboards, since he had an incentive not to break them. Sometimes you do get what you pay for!
Having said that, looks like #1 lowballed the job and this was his plan to make it up. You can fight him and pay less.
Since this is your first time using a contractor, chalk part of it up to learning about contractors.
Posted by: denton at May 28, 2008 4:21 PM
I think this is a normal expense, they were not new baseboards. Normally when you put in new floors you put in new baseboards. If you were trying to save a buck by using old baseboards, that's the risk you take. Your contractor should have warned you about this, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't pay for the broken basebaords.
Posted by: guest at May 28, 2008 5:22 PM
You are an idiot. You should have known you were going to have to replace your baseboards when doing your floors. The contractor knew you'd be clueless and is now fleecing you. You're a sucker.
Posted by: guest at May 28, 2008 10:22 PM
You should ask your contractor to do it on a time and materials cost basis. That will be fair to him and fair for you.
No disrespect to johnife but, his numbers are probably based on new construction and not applicable to the intricacies of a brownstone or other historic structure.
How many sf of flooring is it and how many lf of base? the number sounds low to begin with.
Posted by: guest at May 28, 2008 11:47 PM
11:47,
The OP said it was a new apartment, built in the 90's. Far from historic.
Posted by: johnife at May 29, 2008 12:00 AM
still- not new construction.
Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 12:21 AM
last resort.......take photos to small claims court. Remind judge new baseboards was not in the contract and you did not consent to have them.
Sneaky contractor.
Posted by: Ysabelle at May 29, 2008 10:22 AM
I wanted to let you know that if you decide to sue instead of dealing with small claims court you can file a complaint with Consumer Affairs. Not many people know that they have there own court. I personally have a court date scheduled with them.
Posted by: Giovanna at May 29, 2008 12:31 PM
its ridiculous to be talking about suing anyone at this stage. the OP hasn't even discussed this with the contractor.
Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 3:53 PM
Thanks everyone.
So to clarify, the contractor mentioned that it was possible that they may break "a baseboard or two" when removing them and we'd have to buy a new boards to replace them.
But when I arrived today, all the boards from the 1st floor were gone - they'd been thrown out. The 2nd floor boards looked mostly usable, a few needing to be replaced, and a few that were cracked but probably usable. My girlfriend is furious and feels we've been taken advantage of. I just was wondering how common it is that all baseboards need to be junked when redoing floors. This expense wasn't included in our quote, and we were anticipating maybe another $200 for replacement boards, not $1400. I don't want to screw over the contractor, but it seems a little strange to me that they threw them all out and told us about this problem later, rather than when they encountered it.
So how difficult is it to put in your own baseboards? If i had someone with carpentry skills helping me out?
Posted by: radieroo at May 29, 2008 3:57 PM
Installing baseboard is not that hard if you have a smart helper. Of course you have to go buy it. It may be that the stuff there before was cheap garbage, nevertheless that should have been your decision to make.
If it was me, I'd go shop for new BB, Dykes, Sackett Street Lumber, Lowes, etc., so you know what it costs. You'll also have to prime and paint it.
I'd then tell the contractor you will deduct the materials from his bill, but will supply the labor to install (why would you want this guy to do it anyway?)
To me, that would be a fair and reasonable compromise and may keep you out of court. Your GF is correct, of course.
I hope you have your keys back.
Posted by: denton at May 29, 2008 4:18 PM
From the first paragraph of your 3:57 post, the contractor must have included in his price for removal and presumably re-installation of the boards if undamaged. I would interpret that the greatest possible cost to you should be no more than the material cost of replacing broken boards which I don't think should be much more than around $3.50/LF, probably less. As Denton says, check at Dykes or wherever. I don't really understand Denton's proposed arrangement with the contractor though. I would say to him, "Here's the replacements that I bought for the base you broke, get going and install it; it's part of your quoted scope; no ups, no extras."
Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 4:43 PM
If you have never hired a contractor before, don't think you are going to replace baseboards for the first time either. Have you ever done any trim carpentry? Do you have the tools? Do you have any idea how much time it's going to take you vs a carpenter?
And if the floors you replaced were really that bad, were the baseboards any good? I don't see how you could get the old flooring out and the new flooring in without redoing the baseboards too, as they should in theory be sitting on top of the flooring, tight to the flooring.
good luck.
Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 5:43 PM
He broke the baseboards and should replace them especially if they werent old to begin with and especially if he didnt advise you of the possibility.Do you have a contract?He probably realized that he didnt charge enough. Well, you either use him and tell him you are not paying extra and chance him not doing a good job or you foot the added bill.Good luck.
Posted by: iluvclintonhill at May 29, 2008 9:58 PM
It's really not that hard to install base yourself. I'm assuming if it is a historic building that you have a higher and a more detailed base. The same look can be accomplished by combining different styles of moulding with regular boards. If you want to go for cheap and easy, they do make a pre-primed fiberboard base, but I wouldn't recommend it. You will need the following to easily and accurately install you base personally:
1. A miter saw, hand or electric, so that you can get accurate corner cuts.
2. A coping saw, if you choose to do this you can get directions online and it gives you a better finished look
3. A nail gun, nails, hose and compressor; you can rent these for a day or borrow them from a handy friend.
4. Wood filler or spackling compound to fill your nail holes before priming and painting
5. A measuring tape and a hammer
As a side note, you usually have to replace most or all of your base when you are installing new floors. Base just isn't that easily removable and tends to look pretty crappy when re-installed. I do think the contractor was a little sly in not telling you this added cost, but I will chock it up to inexperience in construction on your part for not asking. You could take him to small claims court, but you're asking for more hassle than it's worth generally, and there's a good chance that they'll ask you why you didn't ask about the base in the first place. Good luck with you base and if you have any more questions, please give me a call at (404) 218.0477. Thanks!
Posted by: guest at May 31, 2008 11:06 AM
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