I'm in the middle of getting a 13.5' x 5' wall re-insulated, drywalled, and painted. We agreed on the job around June 7, and it started in early July, but now it's mid-August and it's far from finished. I was hoping to have everything done in time for guests later this month, but that's not happening. I haven't paid anything because the job is incomplete.
Initially, there was trouble with the insulation—they used a lower R value than what we agreed on, and I accepted a 10% discount as compensation. Since then, the worker has been extremely slow, taking several days between layers of mudding. There have been some messes left behind, including mud splatter in my bathroom that took a lot of scrubbing to clean up. The painter did apply a first coat, but there are still areas missing proper treatment.
Lately, I've discovered a lot of issues that make me doubt the quality of the work. For example, drywall debris wasn't cleaned before installing new sheets, which I worry could interfere with the new paint job. The mudding and painting don't even reach where the baseboards will go, and I see sloppy cuts with noticeable gaps. To top it off, there's a bulging drywall section and other visible damage that I think make it clear this job was mishandled.
I'm thinking about canceling the job completely and getting someone else to do it or even doing it myself to get the higher quality insulation I originally wanted. Am I overreacting here, or is it reasonable for me to stop the work and possibly pay little to nothing?
3 Answers
From what you describe, it sounds like you're dealing with a pretty incompetent crew. If you haven't paid yet, I’d definitely say don’t let them finish. It’s likely that accepting more work from them will just lead to you paying for more sloppiness. You should absolutely document everything and consider cancelling the job if you feel uncomfortable about it.
I feel for you! It sounds like you’ve given this contractor enough chances. It’s smart to think about switching to someone else who can handle the job properly. Just make sure to take photos of everything for your records. Better safe than sorry!
Yes, definitely document everything. It can help if you need to discuss this with a new contractor or even if it comes to a dispute!
Honestly, your story reminds me of my own experiences. I had a similar situation with a contractor, and my advice is to not be afraid to call them out. If they don’t respond to your concerns, don’t hesitate to fire them and find someone else. You could even do it yourself and save some cash while ensuring it gets done right. Good luck!
Totally agree! When I ran into problems, I just took the DIY route and found some great tutorials. You’ve got this!
Exactly! You’re wise to trust your instincts. If you think the job is beyond repair, cancel it. Nothing is worse than regretting a bad job that you paid for.