Stair Contractor left gaping holes and 2x4s holding up the stairs
I’m pretty distraught over my first major home renovation since we bought our clapboard house a year ago. I hired a stair specialist to replace the stairs going from the entry level to our first living level. The old stairs were slanted and looked terrible, but it was mostly for cosmetic reasons. When I asked if he would paint and finish everything, he told me that he doesn’t paint, but I said I would prefer to work with someone that does the whole job and asked if he could hire someone to finish it and just make it part of his estimate. He agreed, but I think he did it himself and it really doesn’t look very good. That’s not the problem though. Here are the problems: 1) There is a hole in my hard-wood (original) floor at the base of the stairs. I guess the new stairs weren’t long enough and it exposed an area where the floor board isn’t that long? 2) He told us that the stairs would be about an inch wider than the old stairs. When I asked how that would look, he said he would put a nice piece of molding in to blend the wall to the stairs. Instead of molding, there are 2×4’s holding up the stairs in front of the wall. He tells me I should hire someone to come in and drywall. He doesn’t drywall. 3) There is an opening about 4 inches high between the old wall and the new stairs. The gap looks into our basement stairs 4) where the stairs meet the top doesn’t match up correctly. There is a gap that looks terrible. I only paid a deposit, but am not sure what do to. We have a contract, but of course I did not think to write anything about not leaving a gap in the wall or not having the stairs supported by visible 2×4’s. He’s coming over tomorrow night to discuss it and pick up a check for the rest of the money, but I am not sure what to do. Should I make him complete the job, even though he told me he doesn’t do drywall? He isn’t a painter either and the paint is awful. (He got some of it on the old wood floors and the handrail is rough to the touch.) Should I withhold paying him? How could I have avoided this? (I got him off of Angie’s list, btw.) Finally, can anyone recommend a general contractor who can clean up the mess he made? Thanks, Laura
lauranyc
in Brownstoner Renovation 12 years and 8 months ago
4
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4 replies
ellenlourie | 12 years and 8 months ago
did you have written contract with contractor, with description and extent of work needed? were there any written exclusions?
Townie | 12 years and 8 months ago
Angie’s list has a contractor complaint resolution service to settle disputes.
stevecym | 12 years and 8 months ago
as a contractor, we sometimes have to do things that we don’t ordinarily do or want to do to make a job right. I mean, I have never gone to a customer and asked for money when I had an idea that they may be unhappy about something – and paint on the floor or gaps in the floor or woodwork are definately reason to be unhappy. I suppose sometimes it is up to us as contractors to specify in writing what we are not going to do – or where another trade may be needed. for instance, we just tore out and rerocked a kitchen and with that had to hang cabinets and put trim in. there was no discussion with the customer about the framing (not the casement) around the windows; I thought they were on a budget and did not want to do it. Turns out they wanted it done and we had not addressed it. I wanted to get paid and keep the peace and save my reputation, so I did the frames (I won’t make this mistake again lest anyone think it will work a second time). I suspect that some of this lies on the contractor’s shoulders – yes he told you he did not paint but what he really should have told you was that he did not know how to paint – and then you really would have gotten someone else. Also, part of doing stairs is ensuring that they line up correctly so as not to leave gaps. Stairs are technically a trim carpenter’s job and if he is doing them, he should be capable of trimming out any gaps afterward. Same for the floor – rip a piece of oak and slip it in, what is the problem? A professional (and I use that term different than the term a “pro”) will accept responsibility to keep peace and maintain his reputation and get paid; a real “pro” would not have gotten into the situation in the first place. Steve http://brownstoner.staging.wpengine.com/tinkerswagon
BrooklynSteve | 12 years and 8 months ago
If you are not happy with the work and doesn’t meet the standards of what you agreed to then of course you should withhold part of the payment until he rectifies the remaining issues. He’s providing a service to a client. He needs to make that client feel satisfied. Of course, this hinges on whether you got it all in writing; what you expected him to do.