Hey everyone, I had a contractor come out to do insulation work in my attic and basement. He suggested that I get seismic bolting done and, as new homeowners, we thought it sounded reasonable and went ahead with it, paying $3,500. Fast forward three years later, and I had a foundation specialist look at my home due to some concerns. He mentioned that my house already had additional seismic bolting, which was actually required in California before my house was even built in 1979. Now I'm wondering if I have any recourse against the contractor who recommended this unnecessary work. Is there any way to get my money back or report him?
6 Answers
It can vary on what different contractors are licensed for. It wouldn’t hurt to look into his background, just to be sure.
Totally, check what qualifications your contractor has. I wouldn't be surprised if an insulation contractor isn’t really qualified to suggest seismic reinforcements. Definitely check the license and see if you have any leverage there.
Honestly, it's been three years. The contractor isn't responsible for keeping up with code compliance; that's on you. It sounds like he recommended something you agreed to, so I doubt you have much ground to stand on for reimbursement. Maybe educate yourself a bit more next time before making bigger decisions?
In my opinion, you got off relatively easy with a $3,500 lesson. Still, it's worth checking what licenses your contractor has. If the insulation guy wasn’t licensed for seismic work, you could bring that up if you wanted to threaten a complaint. Also, you might want to look into California's rebate program for brace and bolt services; you might get something back even if it’s been a while. Lastly, if you need repairs, consider consulting a structural engineer first for independent advice before committing to any work.
It all depends on the meaning of 'recommended.' Contractors are part expert and part salesperson, and ultimately, it's on you as the homeowner to do your own homework. You might feel upsold, but unless there’s a clear case of dishonesty, I doubt you'll find recourse, especially after three years. Just a tough lesson learned, I guess.
So, you paid for a service that the contractor provided, but now you're questioning whether it was necessary. Unfortunately, once a contract is completed and both parties agreed, it’s tough to get any money back. It's like buying a car and then deciding you didn’t need that much horsepower after three years and wanting to return it.
Yeah, it's better than getting hit with a much bigger bill for actual repairs later.