I cannot determine the State in which you reside. I do not know for sure that all your personal perceptions are accurate, they may well be. In NC, the State Board of Examiners Of Electrical Contractors has field representatives who will come and investigate claims such as yours. They can suspend/revoke licenses, levy penalties up to $10K, bring criminal charges. They will make sure your job is right. But they will back a contractor who work is proper. Check with the similar authorities in your State.

I had a similar experience. Even after I told the builder he better watch over the sub, the work was shoddy. I got the builder and sub together and gave, you know what, to the sub. After the altercation, I TOLD the builder that sub was not allowed back on the property. The builder finished the job himself,and did a much nicer job than the sub could ever think of doing. You own your own project, in my opinion. I believe in the Golden Rule when hiring people----he who has the gold, RULES. You've contracted for a certain price. Shoddy work shouldn't cost more money to fix on your part. The GC hires the subs--let him deal with the headaches of bad choices. Sometimes, you have to be really demanding when "nice" fails to work.

Thanks for the replies.

Anyone else have difficulties over asking the GC to replace a subcontractor?

I didn't read the entire post, but I did request a subcontractor be fired. Well, actually, I believe I said "he's not welcome back on my property." I would have no difficulty requesting a different sub if they were not performing satisfactory work (as determined by my husband and myself...not the GC), if the work was not to Code, if they did not perform the work in a professional manner, etc. However, the conversation with the GC would be, "We are not satisfied with the work that has been performed to date. We will not accept it (ie, pay for it) the way that it is now. We would prefer if it was completed by a different sub as we do not have confidence that this one will be able to rectify the mistakes and complete the project properly."

BTW, the reason that I said our sub was not welcome back was because they worked for an entire week on a specific area of our house(not kidding...4 whole days!) and did it wrong! I told the GC and the sub for all 4 of those days that it didn't look right, but I was assured, over and over again, that it was correct. Well, sure enough, on day 5 I arrived to find them ripping it out because "we miscalculated!" When I questioned why they didn't listen to me for the last 4 days (or at least, I don't know, use a level and a measuring tape before cutting), the response that I received from the subcontractor was a roll of his eyes.

Good luck. It is hard to replace a sub once a substantial amount of work has been completed. The GC has to find another sub who is willing to pick up the project and warranty it, etc...not that easy.

"The GC has to find another sub who is willing to pick up the project and warranty it, etc...not that easy." This is very true. Once the new sub touches the job, it then is his "baby" in it's entirety. There is a likelihood that the new guy will not find all the shortcomings of the previous sub. This scares everyone, especially the new sub. And this is especially true for electrical.

Ditching the old sub and getting a new one in is going to cost you more money. You must be ready to pay the new sub what ever he wants to do the job. It is your decision to get rid of the old sub so it is your responsibility to pay the new sub his price. All most any sub coming in to a job in the middle is going to charge as much or more than the first sub. One it is a teach you a lesson thing and two they are guessing that all the work must be replaced.

dumaspup, not if your project is fixed price on an AIA form.

We ended up banning a sub from our job. We had cause, so it was the GC's problem and cost, not ours.

To the OP, it's all about what your contract says.

Your rights depend on the contract between you and the gc.

Usually, I'm building on my lot with my money and the "homeowner" owns nothing till the day they close and has no say on whom I hire--only the results. I don't even allow them on the property, except at specified intervals.

If the lot is owned by the homeowner and he's paying the bills as they come, it's a different matter. If the client were so involved after one week of construction that he was adamant on firing a sub for not doing work "properly" and a "bad attitude" and I disagreed with that assessment, I would reconsider my commitment. If the homeowner is such an expert, they should be their own gc and fire me. Please!

I've had the reverse situation, where the client wanted their own subs and I've usually not allowed it. Where I have allowed client choice, beyond cabinetry and security systems, I've deeply regretted my leniency. I've been stuck with less then competent fast-talkers. (Hey, I can usually find those guys on my own!)

Hmm...interesting view. Why do you seem to assume that my GC disagreed with my assessment? There have been 5 areas during our build that my husband and I have disagreed with the subs on the way something should be installed (plumbing, electrical, exterior trim, roofing and masonry). In all cases, the end result was that we were right and the "professionals" were wrong. We are not typical homeowners. We are tremendously involved and are willing to expend enormous amounts of energy and research to protect our investments. Anyway, in this case (as in all the others), our GC was on my side. He was disgusted by the attitude of the subcontractor and enormously frustrated by their mistakes. Don't assume that just because I am a homeowner that I am somehow less than qualified to detect errors or to stand up for quality work. That sub cost me money in interest payments for that week of incorrect work (and led to no forward progress as well) and was then rude to me...I think I was justified in my annoyance. As to firing a GC who found fault in the way I handled that situation, let's just say that if you had signed our contract, you would not want to be fired.

Why do you seem to assume that my GC disagreed with my assessment?

"He admits he was unprofessional for awhile but seems to believe he is still capable of finishing the job....
This is the first week in this 5 month project that I am losing faith in the GC, and I think he is avoiding us, and his tone of voice sounds different. I told him we want to walk through everything and see what needs to be done and talk about it. He said he'd call about this weekend when we spoke Friday, and I haven't heard from him as of late Saturday."

That sure doesn't sound like a meeting of the minds to me.

there have been 5 areas during our build that my husband and I have disagreed with the subs on the way something should be installed (plumbing, electrical, exterior trim, roofing and masonry). In all cases, the end result was that we were right and the "professionals" were wrong.

I don't doubt it. But if that's the case, why do you stick with your gc?? Or does he/she only follow your lead?

Subs that delay, screw up and create their priorities are an unavoidable part of any build. On my latest project, I fired the siding company after two weeks of incomplete work, terminated the drywall company (and the drunken, drug-abusing taper he hired) and switched to a different railing company after the owner proved incompetent.

As to firing a GC who found fault in the way I handled that situation, let's just say that if you had signed our contract, you would not want to be fired.

What precisely does that mean? That you're paying an enormously high price? that you have a unilateral right to levy fees on the GC? Personally, if every time I turned around, the owner was second-guessing me I'd be happy to end the arrangement.

Really, if you are so proficient in the art of building and have the time to be on site constantly, why aren't you gc ing the project yourself. Hiring a "gofer" might be a lot easier on you than sitting on the gc's shoulder.

Best of luck!

Hi worthy!
That first paragraph above was not me. I would never have posted a question asking whether or not I could fire a subcontractor- my rights on that issue are clearly defined by my contract with my GC.

As to why we stick with my GC, that is a question that we have struggled with for awhile. Too long of an answer to get into on this site! You mentioned that you fired subs because of shoddy or incomplete work- that's all that I wanted my GC to do. He's too nice to the subs and doesn't demand excellence. However, my contract does, and he needs to meet my needs over those of the subs. Do you disagree with this?

I don't second-guess my GC on every issue. Please do not think that is the case. However, if I notice that someone is installing something incorrectly and no one else seems to notice, should I stand by meekly and allow work to progress to a point where the mistakes do become evident? Thereby, costing me money and all of us time? My GC has actually been glad that I have better eyes than he does on some occasions. I'm sure that he has also been frustrated by some of my observations. Whatever...it's my money, my house, and my land. That gives me a pretty huge platform from which to observe and comment.

I have become far more proficient in the art of building than I had ever thought I would (or wanted to become). I am only on site once a day...imagine the mistakes I'd catch if I were there constantly!

Thanks for the best wishes...I just want to be finished at this point! Christmas of 07 is out now...maybe Valentine's Day for completion?

Sorry for mixing up posters!

However, my last paragraph still stands.

"He's too nice to the subs and doesn't demand excellence. However, my contract does, and he needs to meet my needs over those of the subs. Do you disagree with this?"

Who would? In principle.

As a builder, I'm almost always building my plans on my lot, so I usually don't have much intermediate contact with clients.

The biggest problems with homeowners arise from their unfamiliarity with the process. They leap in with complaints, worries, advice and directions whenever an idea strikes them; and, of course, speak directly to the trades, or anybody wielding a handtool at the time.

What could I possibly know after 30-years of licenced building and renovating that the carpenter's 20-year old helper or Uncle Louie doesn't know better?