Siding Screw Up, What would you do?

[HawkinsHollow]

Non english speaking workers can provide cheap labor, making the job much more affordable. But you need to be there at the start of the job if not all the way through to ensure you get what you want. I'm sorry you had this trouble but I know the next time you will be onsite to ensure you get what want.

I agree with you 100%. I’m kicking myself for not being onsite at the outset, probably would have saved myself this grief.

But you can only hover so much during the process. It is then left to the over-site of El Jefe at that point. You just hope you get one that is going to make their workers do good work. Like painting the cut ends.

Live and learn!

 

[4570Man]

I thought so too. I would have done that. And I feel like a better crew would have as well, especially with a visually upsetting and micromanaging homeowner (me) asking for it and watching like a hawk. I will go back and make sure I hit any unpainted ends when possible. But yes not ideal.

Hardie siding is supposed to be painted on all 6 sides. But I’ve never in my entire life seen anyone actually do it that way. I hate the product and I try my hardest to convince customers not to use it. Luckily I only have to warranty it for 1 year and it takes longer than that to fall apart. Even if it doesn’t delaminate and fall apart which it does the maintenance of recalking and repainting is expensive. There’s a siding product that’s a hybrid with vinyl and fiberglass that looks as good as hardie and hold up much better. It doesn’t wrinkle like actual vinyl is prone to doing.

 

[scootr]

I worked 35 yrs in many construction trades. I worked residential, commercial, govt housing, flood control, seismic retrofitting, school construction, and large private multi family development. After that I supervised about 200 men in 14 trades at once. The end result was my responsibility and they all needed supervision. I used to call it a daycare center for men.

 

[paulsharvey]

Did you supply the siding or did the contractor?

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Did you supply the siding or did the contractor?

Contractor

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I worked 35 yrs in many construction trades. I worked residential, commercial, govt housing, flood control, seismic retrofitting, school construction, and large private multi family development. After that I supervised about 200 men in 14 trades at once. The end result was my responsibility and they all needed supervision. I used to call it a daycare center for men.

Big Dude daycare sounds about right.

In this case whose job is it to make sure they are playing by the rules? mine? Or the guy I’m paying $10,000 to side my house?

 

[4570Man]

Big Dude daycare sounds about right.

In this case whose job is it to make sure they are playing by the rules? mine? Or the guy I’m paying $10,000 to side my house?

The general contractor ultimately has to answer for everything rather it was his fault it got screwed up or not. I’m assuming you’re doing that role yourself. I think your first plan of expecting a discount and leaving the work alone was fair.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Hardie siding is supposed to be painted on all 6 sides. But I’ve never in my entire life seen anyone actually do it that way. I hate the product and I try my hardest to convince customers not to use it. Luckily I only have to warranty it for 1 year and it takes longer than that to fall apart. Even if it doesn’t delaminate and fall apart which it does the maintenance of recalking and repainting is expensive. There’s a siding product that’s a hybrid with vinyl and fiberglass that looks as good as hardie and hold up much better. It doesn’t wrinkle like

The general contractor ultimately has to answer for everything rather it was his fault it got screwed up or not. I’m assuming you’re doing that role yourself. I think your first plan of expecting a discount and leaving the work alone was fair.

I am serving that role in this case. And I will live with this faux pas the rest of my life.

I’m not going to ask for a 50% discount but I think a bit of reimbursement if fair. If they had to pull it all down and put it back up it would have been an extra day of labor he would have had to pay.

 

[scootr]

Big Dude daycare sounds about right.

In this case whose job is it to make sure they are playing by the rules? mine? Or the guy I’m paying $10,000 to side my house?

I'm assuming there was no signed contract. If there was you could just refuse to pay or negociate a discounted price based upon the work not being done per the contract.
But with only a handshake agreement it's your word against the contractors word and you are at the mercy of the contractor when it comes to a discount

 

[paulsharvey]

I'm assuming there was no signed contract. If there was you could just refuse to pay or negociate a discounted price based upon the work not being done per the contract.
But with only a handshake agreement it's your word against the contractors word and you are at the mercy of the contractor when it comes to a discount

Eh, that is a bad move. He could hit you with a mechanics lien, no need for notice, because he is personally know to the property owner. I would ask for either a discount. Take down and rip every piece jas several issues. One, they going to reinstall, it's probably gonna be in rough shape, a crap ton of labor, ect. If you get maybe 25% off Labor, I'd call that fair.