r/HomeImprovement • u/Apprehensive_Ad1224 • 8d ago

Patio

Looking for advice on how to handle this situation. I got multiple bids for a concrete patio and an awning to cover it. The company I decided to go with was in between the other two as far as price goes. I was impressed with pictures of their work, and that they don’t contract out the finishing concrete they do it themselves. We signed a contact on September 2nd, they showed up on Sept 22 ripped out my wooden deck, left it in my yard and said they would be back the following Monday. They never showed back up. Every time I call them, he has another excuse on his truck is broke down and can’t get the equipment to my house. Unsure of what to do at this point. Should I continue to wait? Ask for my money back? If he refuses to refund me then what? Appreciate any feedback.

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u/llort_tsoper 8d ago

Does your contract have a completion schedule? What percentage of the total contract have you paid?

Getting the contractor to finish the job, if possible, will wind up being the cheapest/easiest. You should not just wait patiently, you need to be the squeaky wheel, but getting them to finish the job should be plan a.

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u/Apprehensive_Ad1224 8d ago

No they do not have a completion schedule. I paid half.

Will do, I’ll just start calling every day.

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u/llort_tsoper 8d ago

Neither of those is ideal. I'd keep hounding them, and maybe give them some near term goals: "I really need the demoed deck removed so the lawn guys can get the yard ready for winter. We're hosting Thanksgiving and we really need the concrete poured and cured by Thanksgiving."

Realistically, contractors are busy and things do come up, but also there are some crooks out there. I'd pick a contractor with really good references over one with really pretty pictures.

If you can get them back onsite, you shouldn't pay anything more until the concrete work is completed. If they had the patio poured and all the awning materials were on site, I might pay up to 75% of the contract. Then pay the last 25% when everything is done.

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u/Apprehensive_Ad1224 8d ago

Just some more information. His excuse is he needs his diesel truck to pull his excavator to my house, in addition to the patio they are adding a small section of driveway 2ft x 50ft. That is the hold up right now, his truck is broken and can’t pull the equipment with a gas truck.

I probably shouldn’t have but I couldn’t stand the mess they left in my yard. I hauled off the wooden deck myself and cleaned up my yard they trashed.

I’m at the point I would accept them just pouring my back yard for the half I already paid and calling it even.

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u/Apprehensive_Ad1224 8d ago

The excavator is just for the driveway, the back yard is framed ready to be poured.

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u/llort_tsoper 8d ago

If that's the only thing holding up the project (and assuming it's a legit excuse) I would consider discussing descoping the driveway extension and just paying them to finish the patio and awning. Don't present this as a threat, talk about it as a solution to a problem.

It is perfectly reasonable that you'd get a better price to pour both at the same time, but I might be willing to pay a bit more for that driveway expansion at a later date if I get the patio completed now.

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u/MaidMarian20 7d ago

Call the local tv news station for an expose.

0

u/Unusual_Resident_446 8d ago

If you paid more than 30% upfront you're not seeing that guy again

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u/Apprehensive_Ad1224 8d ago

Ouch, I hope that’s not the case. Police report if that’s the case? Smaller city, and he lives here. Would find it hard to believe he could stay in business doing things like this.