From Exciting Garden Project to a Looming Disaster

[CluckNDoodle]

It's not just you here's a couple for you
I owned a business for many years and as part of that set appointments with customers at their house. I'm one of those people that always has to arrive 10-15 minutes early to everything so I usually would sit out in my truck in front of their house until the appointed time. You would be surprised at how many times I heard "wow you actually showed up and on time we called other companies for estimates and they didn't show up some called with excuses and others we haven't heard a word from" I'm not sure what the deal was with those companies but it certainly helped mine lol.
We moved into our present home in 2014 and I told my wife when things settled down a little and I got some of the other more important farm projects done I'd build her a covered deck/ porch what ever you want to call it. Well of course the health problems started in 2015 with more knee problems and surgery and every year since it's been something with multiple hospital stays and surgeries. With all this going on she suggested we hire it done and I kept protesting telling her they wouldn't build it the way I would they call things "good enough" instead of right and that drives me nuts. You know like square is square and good enough isn't square or level is level close enough isn't level that sort of thing. I finally agreed that with my health it would be better to hire it done so I called three licensed contractors and guess what not one of them even showed up for the first appointment and none of them bothered to even call back. Needless to say I with help of a brother in law and a neighbor built her a 12x46 covered porch/deck that she loves. I also helped the neighbor to correct some things on his deck and put a roof over it. I have helped my sister and brother in law with lots of projects in the past has she has some planned for us in the future as well.
So it's not just you or just your area it's everywhere. When I had the business we lived a couple hundred miles from where we live now so it's not just one area here either.
I'm sure your husband will do a much better job then that clown you hired and at the rate that guy was working it probably won't take much longer. Hopefully he can find some help to make it a little easier on him. We have several other building projects planned and I know better than to even waste my time trying to get somebody to do them.

lol, My Husband and I had the same conversation about how "level" or "close enough" the project was. Some of it is visibly out of level and some walls aren't even straight. He didn't even need to bring out a level to check it. I think the hardest part in all of this for my husband is that he wants to rip the whole thing out and start over and I would rather he just reinforce it and move on, lol...we'll see who wins this debate.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

And when (if!) you find a company who shows up on time, does good work and generally is terrific, recommend them to everyone, and have them back for every project! We have found such a gem, and it's great.
Getting three estimates? Really? When only one shows up? We have the same problems here too.
So for us here, Ritts Done Right Construction.
Mary

I do the same. Not even a week before this mess got ugly I had a plumber out that was fantastic so I shared my great experience with local friends on facebook. I've done the same for HVAC guys in the past and I'm always quick to recommend those I know do good honest work when they actually show up and do a good job...which this is not.

 

[21hens-incharge]

So.....
Has he been fired yet?
Do you have your materials or money back?

 

[CindyinSD]

lol, My Husband and I had the same conversation about how "level" or "close enough" the project was. Some of it is visibly out of level and some walls aren't even straight. He didn't even need to bring out a level to check it. I think the hardest part in all of this for my husband is that he wants to rip the whole thing out and start over and I would rather he just reinforce it and move on, lol...we'll see who wins this debate.

I saw your pictures. Listen to your husband--it will save a lot of work.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

So.....
Has he been fired yet?
Do you have your materials or money back?

Technically none of the above. It's raining but he didn't bring the materials like he said he was going to last week. I decided to sit back and see how long he would take to get back in touch with me but I will again reach out once the rain has passed. Friday is clear.

 

[Jerry H]

If he's anything like me he has to tear it out and do it right because patching it up would bug him every time he looked at it.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

If he's anything like me he has to tear it out and do it right because patching it up would bug him every time he looked at it.

Yeah...that's what he said. lol

 

[littledog]

Heavy rain might be an excuse to not work, but it's a pathetic excuse to not deliver already-paid-for materials when you ask for them. Because this dude doesn't have them - he spent your money and cheated you.

It sounds like your husband knows how to do the design very well, and the proper way it should be built, he just can't physically move huge rocks and wreck his back by digging and moving heavy piles of dirt.

First off, it sounds like this dude spent all your money on himself and most likely never bought any of your materials he claimed to have.
You might need to cut off all contact with this guy ASAP, so you can follow a new, more efficient plan to get done what you want before Spring comes.

Second, convince your husband to be the general contractor. You guys already have a design and know how it should be built and what the subcontractors should be doing. To find the right subcontractors, does your community have some kind of resource like the local high school FFA, or local 4-H? Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts? A local Community College or Trade School? A nearby refugee center full of people who built similar things in their home countries and need work experience?
So many people need work experience, who are hard-working, efficient and want to learn.

 

[Cryss]

Second, convince your husband to be the general contractor. You guys already have a design and know how it should be built and what the subcontractors should be doing. To find the right subcontractors, does your community have some kind of resource like the local high school FFA, or local 4-H? Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts? A local Community College or Trade School? A nearby refugee center full of people who built similar things in their home countries and need work experience?
So many people need work experience, who are hard-working, efficient and want to learn.

YES!! X2000! Bravo!

 

[littledog]

Right now, with this coronavirus thing going on, all these organizations mentioned are looking for safe projects to do. I bet all you have to do to get your work done, is provide gloves, chlorine wipes, and good references.
good luck!