Need an opinion - should I fire this guy or am I asking too much?

[Sonoran Silkies]

I know of contracts that have built in bonuses for finishing early and penalties for not finishing on-time.

 

[Sjisty]

Well, if he ever gets here today, and it's after 12:00 noon, I'm going to just pay him for what he's done so far and tell him we won't need him anymore. I don't want to put any more money into this if it's not right. If we do nothing else, we are going to have to take up the walkway and redo it. Even hubby and I know how to place a straight line. It's too late to put gravel under, so we'll just figure it will last until it doesn't and then we start over again!

 

[al6517]

First off I am a professional Contractor with my own successful bussiness.

I think a lack of communication on both parties was at the heart of this whole situation not to mention there are a few thing's that could have been done differently and more efficiant. The pavers were the way to go, a much better choice than your original idea. The substraight should have been a gravel sand combo, WTS he did start in the wrong direction but that's not so bad, as a tile guy like he said there are so many factors that must be taken into account that couldn't possibly be explained to the laymen, that's why you hired it out. I always bid a job at a turn key rate, meaning I supply all the material's, labor, and Equipment, I never have the customer buy anything as in most cases and yours you didn't know what it took to do it right so yeah that was a waste and caused the job to go wrong, because he didn't tell you ...... Lady this is the wrong stuff, we need this and that but if this is what you want then it will come out like so & so. Next is Labor when I bid a turn key job it gives me the incentive to do the job effciently and timely or it cost me, then I never have my crew doing more than that job alone till it's finished, then they can move to another job or help another crew, that just makes sense, show up at 8:00am and work till 6:00pm everyday till it's finished. Now the cost.....................
I think he severly under bid the job and you are getting off easy and for what you actualy got you shouldn't be complaining it looks fine for the $$, but granted it may not last very long even as the grass grows between the pavers this spring. Consider this a learning experiance, you get what you pay for and hiring a pro to do it right isn't as cheap as you think it should be. Personally i like these kind of contractors because they are a boom to my business as I get to go back and do it right for the kinda $$ it really should have cost. So in reality your deal isn't so bad, live and learn. I hope everything works out for you though, sorry for your problems.

AL

 

[BlacksheepCardigans]

You're paying him $12 an hour. You're getting a STEAL - that's half of union wage and about a quarter of what an experienced landscape guy would charge. I'd honestly be thrilled with what you've paid for the job so far; he underbid like crazy.

Yes, the right way to do it would be to dig substantially out, gravel and sand. But that would be a multi-thousand-dollar job. You're going to get grass and you're going to have the same problem with soft spots and lack of drainage. But you have an even, straight and pretty job at less than the price you'd be paying a teenager.

 

[Judy]

I'd keep him, get it done, and next time ask for a bid by the job. I've dealt with a lot of these people in the last few years. I'd be thankful he showed up when he said he would.

 

[mandelyn]

Whenever you have a job like this, that "sounds" easy but it labor intensive, it's best to have a couple of contractors out, hear what they have to say, and their quote. By the hour is never a way to pay for a labor intensive job. But then you can run into the issue of a shoddy job if they underbid to gain your business. No self respecting person should have to underbid to get some work. Like the guy above said, he loves to be the one to come out and do it right for what the job should have cost. Sucks to be the home owner, since you're paying twice.

We live in the house that's been remodeled with the easily found craigslist contractor. Guess what the spring time project is, ripping off the front porch and starting over because some college dudes showed up and did it all wrong. Not supported correctly, not level, boards aren't even cut straight. Can't even reuse the materials. We replaced the plumbing regulator. What fixed it before? A sock in a bracket to keep the knocking pipe from being loud. A "professional" plumber said it didn't need done. On going plaster repair, can't miss it where it needs done. LOL You can tell exactly where some mud was thrown in and painted over. Don't even get me started on the electrical. Let's just say, there's some outlets we choose not to use after seeing where they tie in and how.

Always get a 2nd opinion. Always shop around, and not by price. And try to use word of mouth from people you know, and shop on Angieslist instead of craigslist, for example.

With the job almost done like it is, you can make a new arrangement with him in terms of payment, let him go and finish it yourself, or get some other professional opinions and start all over. For what you have in it already, it's not that bad. If he stops cutting up the stones they'll be reusable at least. Being a tile guy, he should have known to continue working out from where he started. But maybe he's not that good of a tile guy either.

If you want a nice design where walkways meet, you do that first and work your way out. You never bring it in to meet, because you end up having to make it fit and it doesn't look as pretty as it could have. You wouldn't start a tile floor in 2 different areas to meet in the middle... you do all your cutting in the corners/edges so it doesn't show flaws dead center of the floor.

Is it so far done that there's no point in stopping him, or is it early enough to have him redo a part of it? (negotiating a per-job price, don't pay hourly to redo something!)

 

[Sjisty]

That little patch is all that's left - there will be a lot of cutting though, to fit the pavers up against the part that he already laid. I have definitely learned a lesson, mainly not to trust someone to know what he's doing. I was going to go simple with stepping stones. He suggested the pavers and sounded like he knew his stuff.

As far as him showing when he says, it's now 1:00 p.m. and he hasn't shown yet.

 

[Spookwriter]

I would probably let him finish at this point. You have little to lose.

I really can't see the detail in the pictures but it appears that there is
a plan where things are supposed to fit.

 

[Katy]

I'd let him finish and be happy with the job he's done. I've laid quite a bit of area around my yard and I'd charge more than that per hour to do it.

 

[arabianequine]

What I do is if not paying someone who is licensed and insured etc. I will call and get estimates usually companies will give you estimates this is so you know what a job like your asking to be done normally costs. Then pay that worker half that at the most. It is tax free money to them. Also my husband works for himself and he charges half the price normal business charge so it works both ways. Ask if the estimates are with or without parts. If with then minus that amount and by them yourself to it is usually cheaper to buy them yourself. There is always a mark up on parts/materials and that I don't think is right.

Good luck!