Cranky/Bad attitude contractors/subs

[Mnseca]

I agree with the OP. Contractors are the worst. They are great until you sign the contract, and then they treat you like crap and do the least possible amount of work, constantly saying "it's not in the contract," which seems to have been written in the most deceptive way possible, excluding things that they knew you would need (but which you, not being a construction engineer, did not know you needed when you signed the damn thing). It is the most dishonest profession I've encountered.

[fishbrains]

Originally Posted by Mnseca

I agree with the OP. Contractors are the worst. They are great until you sign the contract, and then they treat you like crap and do the least possible amount of work, constantly saying "it's not in the contract," which seems to have been written in the most deceptive way possible, excluding things that they knew you would need (but which you, not being a construction engineer, did not know you needed when you signed the damn thing). It is the most dishonest profession I've encountered.

Are you hiring an architect or similar professional to look out for your interests? Did you ask multiple people for low bid, giving them an incentive to cut corners in the bid to get the work?

Some things cannot be bid. If you are having your roof done, how much do you want the contractor to include for replacing rotten plywood under the shingles? They can put in an allowance for 5 sheets, but what if nothing is rotten? You have overpaid. What if 8 sheets need to be replaced? They are asking for more money. What if the next contractor included an allowance for only 1 sheet? He gets the job rather than the 5 sheet allowance guy.

If the contract is bad, you need to accept some responsibility.

[Nlambert]

Originally Posted by Mnseca

I agree with the OP. Contractors are the worst. They are great until you sign the contract, and then they treat you like crap and do the least possible amount of work, constantly saying "it's not in the contract," which seems to have been written in the most deceptive way possible, excluding things that they knew you would need (but which you, not being a construction engineer, did not know you needed when you signed the damn thing). It is the most dishonest profession I've encountered.

No.... customers who sign a contract and then think they have the right to control the contractor's schedule and make changes as they see fit are the worst. When a contractor bids a job, they bid based upon a specific set of tasks to be completed by specific milestones that are set.


For example.... here's an idea of a simple project and how a contractor would lay it out.


The customer decides they want a new kitchen. They want cabinets removed and replaced and the layout reconfigured. To do this, plumbing must be moved, the cabinets must be built, flooring replaced, drywall repaired, electrical added to the new island, and the hvac vent moved now that a cabinet will be on top of it. We're not even going to get into a customer deciding to change their mind on materials, which adds to the problem when the material is special order.


Below are some of the things the contractor has to consider in the schedule.


Demolition
Plumbing relocated (stubbed in)
Electrical relocated
Drywall
Cabinets built and delivered
Cabinets installed
HVAC ducting relocated
Countertops templated, built, and installed
Backsplash installed
New plumbing fixtures installed
Flooring replaced
Walls painted
Appliances installed


All of this has to happen in a certain sequence, and the contractor has to take into account his sub contractor's schedules. When the contractor makes a schedule, they must adhere to the schedule or risk one of the subs being unavailable to do the work if the date slips.


If you decide last minute that you want a different cabinet door, the cabinet maker then has to regroup and that delays the cabinet schedule. The cabinet schedule delays the countertop schedule. The countertop schedule delays the plumber. The painters are delayed. The flooring company is delayed. The appliances are delayed.


All the while the customer expects that this is normal and the contractor should be able to work around it with no issue. It just isn't true. What happens when the contractor removes the flooring and discovers that you have had a water leak under your cabinet that has rotted not only your subfloor, but your floor joist? Is he dishonest for telling you there is an additional cost to replace it, or dishonest for covering it up since it wasn't in his original bid? You can only choose one option. They don't have x-ray vision and things do happen.

[Cheesesteak Cravings]

My experience, as just a "worker", frequent communication is everything, and is ultimately up to the general contractor and each trade's supervisors.

[pittsflyer]

Originally Posted by Rabrrita

Are you sure you're talking about contractors and not your typical american worker? Seems your description fits today's employee workforce to a tee. Maybe it' just a USA thing across all lines. Complain! Whine! Moan! Groan! Welcome to america.

You get what you pay for