I recently hired a contractor to handle extensive rebuilding in my home after water damage, including repainting the entire interior. Assuming it was standard practice for him to take down my blinds for better access while painting, I didn't think much of it at first. However, now that the job is complete, he's stating that putting the blinds back up is not in our agreement and that he would require additional payment to reinstall them. I feel confused and somewhat taken advantage of—why take them down if he wasn't going to put them back? Is it unreasonable for me to expect him to reinstall them? I'd appreciate any advice on how to navigate this situation.
2 Answers
It sounds like there might have been a misunderstanding about the scope of work. If reinstalling blinds wasn’t specified in your contract, then legally he’s not required to do it. However, it feels a bit unfair since removing them was his decision. If the work was agreed upon verbally, it could be worth a chat with him about why he took them down in the first place and how important it is for you to have them back up. It might lead to a compromise.
It’s pretty common for painters to take down blinds to ensure a cleaner finish, but usually, the responsibility for putting them back rests with the homeowner. It's a tricky situation since ideally, your contractor should have communicated this before starting the job. I'd recommend checking your contract to see if there's anything mentioned about reinstalling blinds. If nothing is listed, sadly, he might not be obligated to put them back unless you negotiate it somehow.