Bath Project: Contractor Problem

10 years ago

Our GC hired a cabinet specialist to build the vanity. Of course, we agreed on the price, which included painting the vanity. As the cabinet is being built, I asked the GC if he intended to brush paint it or spray it. I initially had just assumed it would be sprayed, as all new painted cabinetry I've ever purchased has been sprayed. When I asked it it would be brushed or sprayed, he responded, "We can do either." I told him I preferred spray. He said no problem. No further discussion beyond that.

Fast forward to the day the cabinet was installed. As the cabinet guy is leaving, the GC presents me with an invoice that is 65% higher than we agreed. In a bit of shock I ask why it is so much higher. The GC tells me the additional 65% is what they had to pay to get it sprayed. He said no one on his crew or the cabinet guy's crew is capable of spraying cabinetry so they had to use a third party. I expressed my concern that none of this was discussed with me.

After the installation and the cabinet guy leaves, we look the vanity over and the finish and paint is terrible. Many flaws and scuffs in the paint -- around 25 areas that need to be sanded and repainted, including the backs of the drawers and doors which were not painted at all. We point the issues out to the GC and he tells us not to worry as the cabinet guy will be back in a day or two to make all the corrections -- he explains this is the normal process as cabinetry often gets scuffed and damaged in transport and installation.

So, today, the cabinet builder, who I've already been told is not a painter, comes back to finish the job and he is now in our bathroom spraying the entire vanity again. So now I'm really wondering what the point of the 65% surcharge to the third party painter was for? Any paint work that was previously done is now lost.

Advice?

Featured Answer

PRO

Joseph Corlett, LLC

10 years ago

Finishing is a trade separate from cabinetmaking. A good finisher knows how he's going to alter his mix because of the way the weather felt on his drive to work. They've got very sophisticated finishes sprayed in shops with explosion proof lights and you've got a guy spraying in your bathroom.

Tell them to remove the cabinet and the bill. Buy a factory cabinet and have it installed by someone else.

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Comments (8)

jellytoast
10 years ago
I would have no faith in a contractor whose "normal process" includes scuffing and damaging a client's cabinetry. And to overcharge you for a sprayed finish that then has to be resprayed by someone who he already said was incapable of the job ... ridiculous.
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millworkman
10 years ago
"Tell them to remove the cabinet and the bill. Buy a factory cabinet and have it installed by someone else."

And what jellytoast stated........................
PRO
Precision Carpentry
10 years ago
I have to agree with Joseph.I have been a remodeling contractor for years and owned a custom cabinet and furniture shop for 13 of those years.I had a dedicated finishing room with a pro spray booth and everything else that was needed to make quality cabinets with a quality finish.

That being said,Not all do but for the GC to outsource your vanity to a "finisher " and to upcharge you for that amount with an inferior finish is unacceaptable.

Then to have the cabinetmaker which already stated he is not a finisher to be redoing it in your kitchen just adds insult to injuiry.

In the first place I would not be able to sleep at night calling myself a custom cabinetmaker if I could not aplly a quality finish to the cabinets I built.that is part of the process.

Secondly,it seems to me as if they are just trying to get the money and run.

Not really enough info here for me to make that assumption and hope I'm wrong.

JMHO
PRO
Cabot & Rowe
10 years ago
Just how many red flags do you need ? From the information given, the GC sounds poorly informed at best.
cpartist
10 years ago
Stop the check, and do as Joseph said.

Honestly, if this is acceptable to the GC, I would be very concerned if you also had them redo or retile a shower.
MongoCT
10 years ago
"Our GC hired a cabinet specialist to build the vanity...we agreed on the price, which included painting the vanity."

Done.

Unless the original contract includes "brush painted only", or unless a change order was signed?

His comment that "We can do either", again without specifying an upcharge, without mentioning that he'll have to send it out to a spraying sub, or without executing a change order?

Done. No upcharge.

I build cabinets as well. I paint myself; mostly hand, some spray. But I have someone else do stain finishes or when spraying anything tricky.
megamorph
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for all the great input. I feel better about discussing this with the GC knowing this information.