Dealing w/ a contractor

[gabedad]

just FYI - Lawyer charged $200 for letter.

[mschrank]

How could that possibly be considered a vanity? Doesn't a vanity by definition accomodate a sink bowl?

[Stytooner]

How could that possibly be considered a vanity? Doesn't a vanity by definition accomodate a sink bowl?

Not necessarily.

http://www.bathroom-glass-vanities.c...-vanities.html

[25]

The whole bowl ontop of a cabinet seems to be all the rage currently.

[os1kne]

It does sound like you have some significant issues with the contractor, but before you do hire a lawyer or fire the contractor; make sure that you look at the cost/benefit of your actions. I don't know how much you're being charged for the cabinet (and I agree that you should get a custom cabinet if you're paying for a custom cabinet) - but if (for example) a lawyer charges you $200 just to write a nastygram to remedy a $400 cabinet then the cost and hassle of the lawyer is probably not worth it. (If the nastygram doesn't solve the problem, you'll end up spending more than the cost of the cabinet to the lawyer - and you still won't have a cabinet.)

Good luck!

[scorrpio]

Not necessarily.

While there are sinks that don't go into the vanity, they still have a drain pipe, and that pipe usually in the middle of the sink, and you usually want a sink centered on the vanity (unless it's a double unit, which this one is not, or you are going with some custom avant-garde asymmetric design which OP apparently isn't). All single-bowl stock vanities I've seen in stores have the requisite clearance in the center to accomodate drain and supply. I would like to see the details of that order. I would not be surprised if the contractor ordered a unit which was never even intended to be used as a vanity.

Carefully go over your contract to see what can be done. If possible, I would try to find a way to dismiss the guy and get back whatever money you already paid. And be sure to tell of your experience to whoever recommended him.

[newood2]

I know this is beside the point, and I'm not trying to be a wise guy. But why didn't you build your own, since you do some woodwork yourself. It probaply would have come out better all around. I had the same problem where 2 vanities had to be custom made. The guy who owned the cabinet shop I went to, is a friend of mine. He knew I build stuff, and suggested I would be better off building it myself. I took his advise and was a very satisfied customer.
I'm just curious, that's all.

Howie

[Hellrazor]

I am not a contractor in the formal sense. I am a 'call him and he will help or figure it out" type of person. I hate remodeling and doing finish work. Give me framing, roofing, siding or windows and I am happy. I've also spent 16 years working in a maintenance department for a school where we do almost all of our work in house.

BUT...


1. That vanity is NOT made for a sink. If it was, it would have more than a 2" face plate on top. Most are about 5-6" or have dummy drawers.

2. If he can't measure, he isn't a carpenter. Since it was a union recomendation, maybe he wasn't the carpenter with the tape measure, he was the guy with the pencil. (Sorry, I couldn't resist...)

3. 3 strikes rule applies with contractors too. I deal with contractors and salesman at work, patience is NOT something to have with them.

4. Remind him you are paying him to give you what YOU want, not what he wants to give you.

5. $15,000 for a simple bathroom remodel is high.

6. DIY

[cgallery]

Thanks for all the support. I was somewhat worried that you guys would tell me I was over-reacting.

Yesterday, when I hung up w/ the contractor, we were in agreement that, at the very least, a new vanity would be ordered at his expense. His last words were, "well, this one is scrap" and he pretty much hung up on me. Today, on reflection, I wondered whether he'd get the 2nd vanity right.

I thought, WAIT!!! I called the contractor and left a message telling him to do NOTHING until he heard further from me, that I was exploring all my options. I then called an architect that I know, that has some expertise with cases like this. He (architect) is coming over this weekend to take a look at the work that has been done so far.

In the mean time, the contractor calls me after getting his message and says, "I thought you wanted a new vanity." I explained that I was going to have someone else look at the work and I just needed a couple of days.

Then, the contractor floors me with, "well, I had the cabinet shop go ahead and make the changes to the cabinet because I'm not going to just throw it away." Yes, he was still planning on trying to get me to use it!

So either: (1) Contractor comes around and says he will replace vanity and medicine cabinet with correct ones (and my architect checks the order), replaces some tiles and some grout, and generally gets his crap together or (2) I take the notes from architect to a friendly attorney and go that route.

I really think it is going to be #2. If it was going to be #1 he would have called and apologized for being a putz and treating me like a chump and a new vanity and medicine cabinet would be on the way.

I really think the contractor thinks I'm being unreasonable. That, I should just do whatever he says.

We'll see what the architect says.

[bigfoot]

Thanks for all the support. I was somewhat worried that you guys would tell me I was over-reacting.

I'll regret this...... I KNOW I'll regret this.....

BUT.....

I will stick my neck out as the lone voice who thinks you may be over reacting.

Primarily, I base this on the fact that I have only seen you complaining about this one cabinet... Has everything else (that has been done) been done to satisfaction? If so, then you may be over reacting.

As to modifying the cabinet in question so it will fit the situation, why not, I mean, it looks nice, dummy the top drawer, so you will only have 2 drawers, but it will look better than a plane jane 2 door jobby.

Maybe I am just a little more easy going than most, but you know what, life is too ****ed short.

-scott

[siliconbauhaus]

We'll see what the architect says.

As a architect, I almost asked if you had someone who was overseeing this.

A majority of times I hear about people having contractor problems it's because they've decided to deal with the GC directly and not via an architect and contract.

I'm glad you have someone to help out mate, I wish you the best of luck.

[cgallery]

I'll regret this...... I KNOW I'll regret this.....

BUT.....

[snip]

Maybe I am just a little more easy going than most, but you know what, life is too ****ed short.

-scott

The cabinet was the final straw, so to say. There are the accent tiles where only two of them match properly (our of eight). There is the fact that the grout is already badly discolored in a few spots (much worse than the 50+ year old grout it replaced). The medicine cabinet is way too small for the rough opening and just falls in. Yes, the rough opening can be closed-up, but the mirror on the medicine cabinet is only about 9" wide! If he would have ordered it correctly, I coulda had a 12" or so mirror. The linen cabinet doors are also about 2" narrower than they shoulda been.

I have a lot of problems, but that is why I'm having an architect look at it. He will tell me if I'm making mountains over moehills or not.

On your final point, I agree. We have some friends, not real close or anything, where the wife recently had a stroke while at work. She is in her 40's. Then they found out she has cancer and needs surgery and further treatment for that. That provides plenty of perspective.

But letting this guy get away with the work he has done so far is like letting him rob me. I really feel like he is playing me for a fool. But the architect, who I know well, will let me know if I'm right or wrong. This isn't a railroad job. If the architect thinks I'm nuts he will tell me so.

I just don't see it going that way.

[gabedad]

Fire him!

It is not worth the aggravation that you are putting yourself through. You are the customer and you should be satified 100%. If this yutz with a hammer does not like it - tough.

Believe me - I went through the same thing. I was so stressed out with dealing with our contactor.

It's a real eye opener and a good lesson on discerning between who is going to work in your house.

I am about to start a kitchen remodel. I have been making no excuses in laying out exactly what I expect from these guys that I am interviewing. If they don't want to deal with my expectations - fine! There are lots of contactors out there.

I hope you get a good one to finish up what this guy started.

[Hellrazor]

The cabinet was the final straw, so to say.

Ok. Lets do this the all new PC way. Name the things he did right so far and judge him in a positive manner. You don't want to hurt his feelings.

(wait while I go puke..)


Remind him you are paying him to give you what YOU want, not what he wants to give you.

[bigfoot]

The cabinet was the final straw, so to say.[list of problems deleted for space]

ok, in that case, I agree with the others, give him the boot.