Do not pay. We had a similar situation and I paid the guy b/c I just didn't want them in my house ever again. But in hindsight, I should have had them make it right.

Work that is completely properly gets paid. I've been very fortunate with the people I've hired and none of them expected to be paid until everything was finished to my liking.

And that means I hire them again and recommend them to others.

Thank you. Like jpmom I kind of just want to start over and have them out of my house and not deal with them. But I know I won't be happy and will regret it...

We have had such wonderful people in our house (tile guy, finishing carpenter, tile guy, carpet guy) that I know it's not all me. I am picky, and the ones that do great work have no problems with me. It's the lazy ones that do bad work that have issue with me.

I hate shoddy work, too, but at some point you do just want them out of your house. I guess that's why they don't do a better job...they don't have to in order to get paid. Skilled and careful craftsmen are like gold.

One time I put a tarp down for some workman and they pushed it out of the way and oroceeded to mark up my carpet!

it sounds like the carpenter has already reduced the rate because of the quality. You could propose to the carpenter that if he finished the job and fixed the errors that you would pay him in full. You hired him and did not expect to have to deal with some random guys from the street corner.

Don't give him any more money until it's corrected. The decorator we hired had his contractor strip and refinish our old, oak hardwood floors. His painter came back for touch ups and managed to get paint on several areas. The painter get the paint up either since the finish hadn't completely cured. They ended up stripping the floors and refinishing them.

Your problem is that your contractor's subs messed up the floor because they didn't mask things, and apparently did not finish all the work they were supposed to do.

FIXING IT IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM. It's J's problem.

Tell him that when the floor is back in the condition it was in BEFORE his hired hands got there, AND when the rest of the painting is done ... then he gets paid. He can bring in the old subs and properly supervise them, bring in new guys ... whatever he wants to do. But it's HIS PROBLEM, not yours.

If he can't or won't fix it, you hire a contractor that can ... and pay him using the rest of J's money.

I feel your pain :-(. We have had many mishaps, overruns and plain thievery as part of our house renovations. And it can be difficult to get anyone to do the work! If anyone remembers, about a month ago I bought new runners for our library stairs and hall, mainly so our arthritic dogs could join me in the library without falling up and down the stairs. I called three different installers and FINALLY one showed up yesterday to give me an estimate. He won't be able to do the work until the 23rd, more than two months since I got them!

I get that workers are busy and have a lot of work. But tell me. Be honest and don't lie right to my face about 'my guys'. Who are not his guys!

lazy_gardens...I think that's what I'll do. I am doing the floors myself because God knows what my floors will look like after people get their paws on it.

d_gw...Oh man, they moved the tarp out of the way?? Ridiculous.

Our finishing carpenter had those big square foam mats like for kids play rooms...he used those to walk on, protect our floors, etc. Was awesome. And if something did happen to the floor, I knew he was being super careful so I was forgiving. When DH went to sweep up some sawdust the carpenter made, the carpenter told him to use a vacuum as the broom might scratch the floors. It was then that I fell in love with him and give him all my money :)

"Our finishing carpenter had those big square foam mats like for kids
play rooms...he used those to walk on, protect our floors, etc"

My husband the king of the scroungers brought home a ton of those kids' squares that he kept finding in trash piles on his way home :). At first I just sighed at yet another bunch of stuff to store but once I started using them I fell in love. Those things are AWESOME. They do indeed protect the floor and they are also fabulous if you are painting--I usually lay them down and then lay a drop cloth or old sheet/blanket on top. Since they interlock, you can really get a nice solid base. Sorry to hijack the topic but if you ever see them or have them for your kids, hang on to those babies!

IMO, wanting a good job without damage to your house is not being picky or unreasonable. However sadly it's on the homeonwer to make sure that it doesn't happen. Granted, that should be the contractors job, but realistically, they usually can't be trusted either.

When we had the bulk of the work done on our house, I found a guy that did great work and was equally as easy to work with. But whether he liked it or not, (I never asked so I don't know) I was always present in the house and had an uninvasive eye on things at all times. I was forwarned in the forum not to trust anyone 100% and I took that advise.

One day our contractor "M" was in the garage doing something while his guys had gone upstairs to start sanding drywall in the hallway. After I heard them start, I went to see and found them working on our newer carpet without a tarp or any plastic covers over anything, the carpet, our bed or other furniture. I was pissed. So I went to "M" and casually said that I didn't know new carpet was included in the quote but would pick the same kind because I just LOVE my carpet. "It's not" he said with this confused look on his face. "If you're guys continue working on our new carpet w/out tarps it sure as hell will be" I responded. He tossed his tools and off he ran to stop them but if left to their own devices, he wouldn't have ever gone upstairs at all to check on his own.

A few days later, he called to say he was on his way but that they'd forgotten the tarps. Even though he promised to be careful, I said no "M", no tarps, no work. You either turn around and go get them or don't bother coming. He was 40 miles from home and it really angered him that he had to stop to buy tarps but that wasn't my problem and by the end of the day, looking at the new tarps, he saw I was right.

My point is, is that as homeowners, no matter who it is or how much we like someone, we have to assume that strangers working in our home just aren't going to take the same care with our property that we would. It's up to the homeowner to set the tone and make sure that the job is done to our satisfaction without any damage. I'm sorry you're going through this, it's a hard lesson and I hope you're able to find a good outcome. In posting about it, lets hope that at the very least someone can learn from your experience.

Well, we have a game plan. I know what you're saying lukkiirish... we were home most of the time but busy with other things. What about people that let contractors in their house because they work full time? It's just sad. We are paying these people a lot of money and the least they can do is take care not to ruin what we have. Even when I brought things up, I was ignored. Even when we told them about the floors, it was ignored.

We will get this sorted out. Eventually.

During my last kitchen repaint & remodel I installed rosin paper over wood floor and carpet shield to the door. When the customer came home she told me I was over the top. I told her new flooring and carpet cleaning isn't included in the quote, but the rosin paper is. :)

If "J" is meticulous, he can come over and fix the problems. Or send one of his competent guys over. When work is done to your satisfaction, then pay.

It is sad, I couldn't agree with you more, to be ignored when you bring things up just isn't acceptable. My fingers are crossed that it works out for you.

I would not pay him. I would insist that he, not his subs come and fix and finish everything, and then I would pay him, but I would try for a reduced rate. Then I probably would only have him work at my house, if he did the work himself, without subs.

I'm happy to report that we have come to a fair resolution.

DH and I will finish the painting. Slowly! And carefully! A lot of the prep is done (patching, caulking - some we have to fix!) but my dad came and helped out with the bigger pieces and gave us some confidence to tackle it ourselves.

Thanks all!