We hired a landscaping contractor to install a cable railing system around our basement egress entry. He sourced the materials himself and seemed a bit inexperienced. After he installed the posts on Friday and came back to add the tension cables, I noticed that the concrete at the right front post had cracked badly, which seems to have happened when he moved the post forward about a foot. This has caused the posts to become uneven, and it's frustrating because we're planning to use this area to install a baby gate. The contractor messaged me saying he wrapped things up and mentioned the crack, but didn't consult me first about moving the post. Given the challenges we've already faced with this project, should I ask him to fix the concrete and the posts, or would it be better to cut our losses and move on?
2 Answers
It sounds like your contractor dropped the ball by not informing you about the concrete failure before making changes. Honestly, having cable fencing for toddlers might not be the safest choice. As for fixing the concrete, patching can be tricky, especially if he doesn’t do it right—there’s a risk that it won't hold up in the long run. You might not want to proceed with this contractor if they can't handle the job properly.
If you think he could mess up even more, maybe it would be better to just cut your losses and hire someone more experienced. This guy seems overwhelmed already.
You might want to think about bringing in a concrete specialist, especially since it sounds like a clean pour is vital here. He could have encountered some rebar while anchoring the post, causing that blowout. Ideally, the post should be straightened out too, so it's even with the other one. Definitely hold him accountable for the fix!
I’ve got a photo from when he installed it originally, so I’m baffled by what happened. But I think you're right; if he can't handle the concrete fix, he might not be the right person for the job anymore.
Yeah, it might be wise to reconsider if he’s the best fit for this job given how it’s unfolded.
You're right; it's definitely a concern. I was looking at DIYing this project myself but underestimated its complexity. As annoying as the cracked concrete is, my main worry is just getting those posts level. I don’t want to push him too hard for fixes if it might lead to even more errors. Seems like a tough situation to navigate.