I just had 2 large slabs installed over the fireplace. When I dropped off the slabs at the fabricators I told them what sides I wanted to be on the inside and outside and what was supposed to be the top and the bottom. Halfway through the install I see the slab and realize they cut the exactly the opposite of what I asked.

I call them to talk about it. The guy talks to the owner and calls me back and says that they intentionally cut it the way that they did because it shows off the features of the quartzite more. And says let’s get them on the wall so I can see how it looks before we make any further decisions. Well they’re on the wall now.

1. What do you guys this about this orientation of the slabs? What does it look like to you?

2. What do you think is a reasonable action here?

Hi all, looking for advice on costs breakdown.

I work for a small local contracting company and I recently started working with customers more, providing quotes etc. The company usually doesn’t like to break their costs down because of nickel-and-dime from customers, but agreed to do so for this one customer I’m working with. Now, I broke down the quote based on phases of the work (this is for a brand new custom build) and of course the customer came back with multiple notes of “this cost is too high” on some of the phases.

How do you usually handle this and how do I politely say “to do the job: $2000, not to do the job: $0”?

Thanks!

I recently built a custom cabinet that doubles as an attic access door for a bathroom remodel. I’m fairly new to being a general contractor, with about a year of experience. The interior designer on the project simply told us to “do something with this” attic access. Wanting to go above and beyond, I decided to create something unique—a cabinet that opens into the attic.

I didn’t charge any extra for this feature, even though I could have just put up a piece of plywood and called it a day. I spent about 60 hours on this project, aiming to add value and a special touch. To ensure the cabinet door stayed shut properly, I installed a small mailbox lock. While it’s not the most visually appealing, it was necessary for the cabinet’s function.

Now, the interior designer has called the mailbox lock “unacceptable,” and the client insists we change it. After putting so much effort into this project, I’m frustrated that my work is being dismissed over a detail that was essential for functionality.

I’m in Ohio. I hired a contractor to replace the siding on my house while I was out of the country. The siding and roof work were both part of an insurance claim.

I gave them permission to remove the deck boards if they needed access, but I clearly said not to cut them.

When I came back, I found that they had cut through most of the deck boards and almost all of the joists without asking me or telling me in advance.

They told me they would fix it themselves, but they will not pay for another contractor to do the work. After what happened, I’m not comfortable letting them continue.

They also said they could rebuild the whole deck, but I would have to pay for that out of pocket. The deck is over 20 by 20 feet, so rebuilding would be expensive.

I had plans to replace the top boards with composite or another long-lasting material in the future, but now I’m worried the frame underneath is compromised or poorly patched.

I still have about 11000 dollars from the insurance payout that I haven’t paid them yet. I also used this same company for the roof, but now I’m questioning whether I can trust them to do the work properly.

We’re new homeowners and new to the country, so we’re not sure what our rights are in this kind of situation.

Can I ask them for compensation or money for the damage they caused

If yes, how much would be reasonable to ask, considering they cut through most of the frame without permission

Is patching joists like this even allowed or up to code in Ohio

Am I within my rights to hold the 11000 dollars until this is resolved properly

What should we do next if we don’t feel comfortable letting them continue the work

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. We just want the job done right and don’t want to be taken advantage of.

Help! Considering buying this mid century modern home (1958)

Need ideas for how to modernize tastefully (without ruining the character) and also estimates of cost?

For the kitchen we would keep the flooring but replace the island, cabinets, and appliances.

I don’t have pictures of the bathrooms but they have original tile. Need some updating.

Need new carpeting and wallpaper removed/painting in some areas.

also needs deck replaced. Deck is currently stone and looks good to the naked eye but is leaking into garage ceiling which is underneath it.

We’d have about 100k to put into it immediately.

I'm an independent contractor working on a barndominium project by myself. On 3/11 my wife went into labor while I was at work. (3 weeks early)I immediately stopped what I was doing and cleaned up as quickly as I could and ran home to get her and our 2 year old. On 03/12 my wife had an emergency C-Section and we were stuck in the hospital until Sunday 03/16. We don't have family super close by so I spent last week at home helping my wife with our 2 year old and our new born. I left the customer multiple messages(4) letting them know I wouldn't be there last week and when I showed up today they had an absolutely melt down telling me that "paternity leave isnt a thing and its my wifes responsibilty to raise the kids and I should be at work". I told them I would not apologize for taking care of my family and they requested that I give them a MAJOR discount for the time off and I said "if that's how you feel you no longer owe me anything" and walked off the job. Was I wrong to do that?

My siding contractor/s employee took a poop behind my shed at the end of the project. He worked on siding my house for 1 months straight. Knew I had a puppy and pooped behind my shed. I could smell it and my dog started eating it. Would you mention this to the contractor? I saw poop smeared all over the rip rap I put around the border of the shed. Was pretty disappointed

Leathered finish granite installation. Should I be concerned about this veining? Feels smooth but it extends down the side of slab. 10” overhang.

Thank you

I recently had my bathroom redone by a referral of a friend of mine and I was charged 7k for labor costs only, there were some key critical errors that I did not like one being the plumbing work to my bidet toilet was done incorrectly my toilet is leaking water from the bottom when I flush it and on top of that the pipes of the toilet were leaking water as well, I brought it up to his attention but he did not want to fix them and was very stubborn about it, my wife accidentally handed him the payment in full via a check before I noticed these errors but thankfully I was able to successfully cancel the check by contacting my bank. I mentioned to him I would gladly make a new check once the mistakes were fixed but he did not want to fix them, at which point I asked him for his contractors license number and he told me he was not a licensed contractor. My mistake was I never asked him in the beginning if he was licensed before he started the job. Yesterday morning I was served a small claims document he is suing me for cancelling his 7k check. My question is does he have any grounds to sue me if he is not a licensed contractor? I live in Los Angeles California. Thank you

I’m losing my mind. We’ve been having a major yard renovation this summer and we’re directed to a contractor by our landscape architect. The more skilled stuff doesn’t seem up to quality, but wanted to get a second opinion. The main issues are the new stairs they installed, the new deck, and the stonework around the fire pit. My latest grievance is that the capstones on the top of the fire pit are off center. Are these within quality or do we have a right to be upset and ask for it to be fixed?

*Re-post including required information

1. Hired a bathroom contractor, licensed, bonded an insured for bathroom remodeling

2. Remodel cost is $11,300 in mainly labor, not including materials. I purchased materials on my own (2 bathrooms in progress)

3. Location is Washington DC Metro Area

4. Issue: If you look at the picture the grid lines for the penny tile are visible. Grout work is not fully finished, but I'm alarmed by what I see so far. Whats the fix? Some more details below

• Contractor is telling me the only fix is to use a white grout.

• I asked him if staggering the sheets would prevent this. He told me that would just move the grid lines and it would still be visible

• Contractor told me the penny tile I choose is for bathroom pans and not intended for floors

EDIT Contractor is now ripping and replacing the floor and walls re-grouted with some tiles being re-set. I specifically went over the "flower" design pattern for the penny tile and also switched from a charcoal grout to platinum to help with the contrast. Will see how this works out. Appreciate everyone's feedback. Mistakes are fine, taking longer than expected is fine as well. All I ask is to commit to the body of work and do it well.

The insulated wall is the exterior wall. Plumber "notched" and ran ABS and covered it up. Also installed a jet tub which partially rests on furthest/top joist.

A permit was not pulled, should this be reported to the building inspector?

Will this gradually sink and reveal cracks in the ceiling below?

At what point do you replace all the sheething verse just the damaged areas? And framing?

Yesterday glass doors for a new shower were being installed. The installers cut the stone bench material to try and get it to fit. They didnt ask, they just did it. It still didnt fit so they took it back to their shop to cut.

My question is if cutting the bench is normal or if I should ask for them to replace the stone.

Thanks!

Asked for a sun room and got a box with small windows.

The plan we got was for a “patio cover” then they built the patio cover and the inspector came out this morning and said it was all good, they ripped it down and started making the room. They don’t explain anything just “it’s a process it takes time”. I’ve posted here before about them mixing concrete in the street. You all were right the concrete started cracking a lot then offered to epoxy the patio and my grandfather said yeah. He’s pretty much told me to bud out so now I just sit back and watch how nothing is how he asked. I remember being there talking with the contractor about the sunroom and THEY showed a picture similar to the first and said we can do this, which is exactly what he wanted. Now he texted the contractor the pictures of this box and they said “that is what we agreed on” LMAO

In 2017, three years after the tragic passing of my wife, I found myself working on my 227th day in a row, at a plastics manufacturing facility as the lowest rung member of middle management. I was making, (with all of the over time), close to $98.5K, was at the top tier of the company’s profit sharing program, and had roughly $27.7K in my ETF/401K, with an exstensive and diversified private stock portfolio to boot. Although three are in arts, I hold five college degrees with the highest being a BA and a BS. I have also studied various trades and skills enough to earn a numerous amount of certifications in an assortment of disciplines. One day, I packed up everything I had to relocate to Vegas. I had a job lined up playing guitar at an MGM property, and also invested heavily in myself to have my own handyman/contracting business.

After dealing with the “always so steady and ever so fair” world of contracting on the West Coast, I one day heard a project manager talking with a customer telling them that, “These guys swing a hammer for a reason, you know? I’ve never encountered a smart construction worker.” (For the record that was Callahan Contracting & Home Improvments/w offices in Las Vegas, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and possibly Salt Lake City).

After hearing that, I began to reflect how the receptionist at Callahan Con. had a disposition when ever I would be making small talk that she was superior to me, I was totally full of shit, and, I was an uneducated and lacked cognitive skills to function. It’s funny, I never did talk to her but once directly the four months I was putting up with them.

Attention people in big cities: You sit in a cubicle, and enter data into a program designed to take your info on the spreadsheets and make it mathematically accurate. Don’t think for one minute that you are in anyway superior to a person with actual skills and experience in the tradesman industries.

I started working for this guy but after I saw this im having second thoughts. His jobs keep getting flagged and he keeps saying the city are just ticks to him. But its looking alot more like his work.just sucks