Protecting Yourself from Shoddy Contractors

People who perform shoddy work often do not follow manufacturer’s directions or industry standards. Over the years i have both supervised people who insist on going against instructions applied to product packaging (paint & adhesives; even after it is explained to them) or fail to understand industry standards (a wood flooring person who has no idea who
the NWFA is). Several times a year i get calls from people who complain to me about issues in their homes and more often than not i will look at it and find that someone simply did not follow very simple directions that are often provided with the product.

if you are hiring a home improvement contractor or even GC to renovate your home, be sure to put this in the contract:

“All work is to be performed in a professional manner, following manufacturer’s directions and industry standards. Any deviation from such directions and standards will be explained to the customer along with valid reason for doing so. Any risks associated with such deviation will be explained to the customer. the customer shall approve such changes in writing.”

If a contractor refuses to sign such a statement, that implies he or she was negotiating with you with poor intent from the start.

It does sometimes happen in these old houses that contractors have to go against the directions on the label or today’s standards. But that is done with a justifiable and explainable reason. NOT because someone was feeling lazy and did not want to travel to a specialty supplier for a specific adhesive or they decided they want to save money after signing a contract. Using products off label often means calling a manufacturer’s technical support team and finding out the best approach in that situation or exploring alternative products altogether.

I have been working in older buildings in NYC since 1995 (since 1980 in other regions) and have a pretty good understanding what shoddy work looks like and where to find it. if you are buying a home and have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Steve
Brownstone Home Inspection LLC
www.brownstonehomeinspection.com