Crappy workmanship

How do you deal with a company you hire, but the work is done sub-standardly?
I called a company to replace all the connectors that join the downpipes to the roof gutters. Well, they did that with cheapo plastic inserts, but failed to apply caulking properly. Some were dripping before they left and some I could see the sky looking up through the cracks. Got em to go back up. They reapplied caulk. Now some still leak. Haven’t paid yet. What would you do? I don’t really want another half assed application of caulking. The contract didnt have much in it. Just basically replace inserts. But the invoice has a line added about caulking not guaranteed because of dirt.

 

Where was this company in the price range compared to others? Cheap? Expensive? Down the middle?

 

One and only. I thought it was inexpensive, and i wanted it done fast.i didn’t tell them i wanted it fast. I just went with them.

 

May have been inexpensive for a reason. Hard to tell without getting some comparable quotes

 

Don’t pay. I ran into this with my roofing company. I didn’t give them the remaining $7500 until they came out and finished the work correctly. I told them for $15000 everything should look at a minimum the same as before they started, not worse.

 

So don’t pay until they come out and do another minimal caulking coverup?
I’d guess they’d have no problem coming out again if i raise a stink. But i have no confidence in the fix lasting very long. How to protect myself from getying ripped off if it leaks in a couple weeks after I pay?

 

You can post a negative review somewhere.

 

A technique (take it or leave it) is to pay them a little but retain more than what it will take get someone else to make it right. Then agree to a timeline for them to fix it and if they don’t then use the balance to have it fixed. Just don’t pay the full amount until you’re satisfied that they met what they agreed to contractually.

It could be a good owner/manager and crappy employees since they returned to fix it once. Seems to be more common now. Others will say not to pay them a thing but they do have costs and it’s a good faith thing. But make sure the balance will cover the repairs.

 

Why the added line about no guarantee because of dirt? Didn’t they clean them first? Or they were dirty again by the time they came back out?

 

Being your in Canada Things could be very different.

It might come down to just how the first work order was written.

If it said just replace inserts no mention of quality . Nor the fact they needed to be 100% leak free.

Then did you need to sign the invoice that stated things were to dirty to caulk properly ?

Good luck!!

 

The first guy to come out and give an estimate I assume would factor in that the gutters are not clean and dry. I suspect the workers maybe pushed some muck aside with their gloves based on how much dirt they left from handling the downpipes. That’s probably why the caulking is failed if they applied on unclean wet surfaces. They realized they did a crappy job and add that line to the invoice so if i ever come back to complain they will just point to the invoice and say “See, not covered.”

 

Nothing was ever signed. Verbal over the phone.

 

In Canada small jobs are “gentlemen’s agreements”. Good faith etc

 

I’m a contractor/carpenter. I just had gutters put on my house. My cheap guy will install “ok”, but usually with some issues. My mid price guy does a decent job, but doesn’t design the system very well. My most expensive guy does it all perfectly. I went with my expensive guy, less headache, better final product. They don’t expect to get the final payment until I’m satisfied.

Always get multiple bids, ask for referrals.

 

But when it’s so basic with only two steps. In my opinion, the cheap guy might use plastic parts. The expensive guy will use metal and will sweep up. But i expect all would do the minimum so it doesnt leak.

 

The cheap guy/gal might use cheap painters caulk because he’s just a handyman. The expensive guy/gal would use gutter sealant… might also tell you that your gutters are undersized and aren’t draining the water fast enough. That’s where several opinions/bids come into play.

 

Agreed, but i’ll say it again, there is an expectation of a minimum requirement. The consumer shouldn’t be blamed or forced to accept a failed job for going with the cheapest. I can live with the fact the parts are plastic and wont last long. But I can’t handle that things are leaking from the get go.

 

But that's the entire point of getting a few estimates.

Let's say you need a timing belt replaced on your vehicle. If you call 4 shops, 3 of them are around $1,000 and 1 of them is only $400, are you going to expect the cheap shop to do a good job? How are they getting it done for only $400? Most likely with cheap parts and cheap labor and cutting corners.

Calling a few more gutter outfits and asking about sealant, technique and warranties would give you more perspective about what to expect.

 

The whole point of my OP was to ask what to do about the current predicament. I will stand by that even by choosing the cheapest option one should get a reasonable conclusion not one that requires a while new repair. The job wasn’t complex.

 

Lesson learned. I will ask all these questions, signed in a contract in front of witnesses and a lawyer.

Dear company #2, will you actually apply caulking so the gutter wont leak at the seam where the downpipe and gutter leak. Oh and will you fasten everything with metal screws torqued to standard. Will you use certified safety gear. Will you not scratch my house with your ladder. Will you work between 8-4. Will you not take a sh*t on my lawn.

Anything else?