Many times labor is close to the same and most often more than the materials for a project. Sometimes close to 2/3 of the project is labor. Allow 10-15% above the project contract for unseen needs or unexpected problems. I would hire a contractor with a project total and not by the hour.

Thanks . I do realize that. I am still trying to 1) calculate what it should break down to per hour, and 2)address the lack of skill/ slow pace in some way. I check the amount of progress daily - I know some about how long things take- and can see that on some days not much is happening and some of the workers aren't experienced or competent to be working without more specific direction from the contractors. Any ideas?

Speak to the contractor about your concerns. Press the issue that you think the project is not progressing as he stated. Is there a completion date? Check your contract. What does it state? Are they being negligent?

Although the actual people are most likely making much less, that's an excellent rate. Keeping in mind that on top of their wages, their employer is also paying (or SHOULD be paying) workers comp and unemployment insurance, not to mention he's entitled to make a profit off of their labor. He's not running a charity. So the 30.00 an hour is more than reasonable. I know around here (and my area is priced pretty low, in comparison to most of the country), 45.00 an hour is not unheard of.

They are at the high end for this city. The hourly rate is not the problem- it's that 4 workers a day make so little progress on simple things - we are near the end- nothing complicated going on. And so when it's by the hour, efficiency and skill are everything. Since I'm in the jam- can't change
Contractors now-trying to figure out how to deal with it. The biggest problem is that no one is supervising on site.

Not a thoughtful comment " not running a charity"....very assumptive. I have been very respectful of their need to make a profit, and way too patient with these issues.

I didn't say it to be arrogant. I was trying to illustrate why, although it might sound high, that labor rate was really quite reasonable.

As for not making progress, not sure where they are exactly in the process, but toward the end of any project, there are a lot of minute time consuming details that must be looked after that if rushed, could really mess up the end result. Now, I could be washed up, and they could be sandbagging. But I'd ask for justification of the time before anything else.

Also, if there are that many people on site, the GC SHOULD be there.

The hourly rate can really vary and has to be evaluated based on the experience and quality of the work done. Paying $10 an hour is too much if the work is poor and takes forever and $75 an hour may not be unreasonable for quality, fast work. Nevertheless, you are unhappy and it won't change unless you address it with the contractor. I have found that you rarely save money by hiring hourly for construction work. I would seriously look to getting your job bid by the project.

Yes. The problem is that unskilled workers with no design sense have made many time- costly mistakes and things have to be re-done or lived with. Didn't sand the floors completely, stained them before anyone checked- now stain and poly over existing old stain marks that were not removed. Laid the tile in the wrong pattern . Grouted the wrong color in 2 baths. Laud the wood floor without staggering. All very preventable if someone had design sense or were following my instructions . So I discover these things at have end of my work day when I re-check the site. The contractors have not overseen or communicated the details to the workers.

The stain and poly on the hardwood floors on the whole upper level happened in a 2 day period when I didn't see it - just showed up and it was in. The fastest they ever moved for the whole project- I just couldn't believe no one checked between steps, or checked with me. I have a morning through the next evening clinic each week so that one day to the next I can't be there.

Isn't that what a contractor is for?expertise and over site?

Unfortunately all comments about not hiring by the hour are hindsight for me- job is almost done. I knew the contractor well so chose them even though they bill hourly. Can't change now. 1 week left. Trying to review recent charges for time, mistakes, and discuss with them. And yes. I have communicated , requested, advised, questioned throughout the process. Demanded corrections etc

Just asking for ideas/ advise about this next discussion and review with them. I am miserable enough with the mistakes and have plenty of hindsight.

At this point there isn't much you can do except talk with the contractor. For problems you can't live with, ask that they change/correct them. For problems that you can live with, ask for a credit to the bill. If you are unhappy with his response, you can try things like reporting to the BBB, posting reviews online or even legal proceedings. Unfortunately, the BBB and online reviews will really only help potential future customers and using the legal system would most likely be more costly and trouble than it would be worth. If his guys were there, it's hard to prove that they worked too slow. Your best bet, in my opinion, is too have a fair and honest discussion with the contractor and try to work it out.

As far as the tile and hardwood are concerned. That's not design sense. That's knowing your trade and knowing the project. Those aren't things that anyone should HAVE to oversee, although in this case, they should've been.

Quite frankly, if it were me, I'd be stopping work until I could have a face to face with the general contractor (I'm assuming he's the one who hired the flooring guys and not you). Point out these things that you've mentioned, let him know you're not at all satisfied, and let him know no one gets paid until it's right. This is elementary stuff you're talking about. I'm a tile guy-- I don't do hardwood-- and even I can tell you that hardwood NEEDS to be staggered. The sanding NEEDS to be complete before staining. As for laying the tile in the wrong pattern, It's not a matter of doing something wrong. I've actually misunderstood before. What it IS a matter of is how the installer handles it. The time it happened to me, it never got questioned, as to whose fault it was. The tile came up, and what couldn't be saved, got replaced on MY dime, as did all the thinset, and the labor to rip out and replace. We all make mistakes. We're human, after all. The difference is how those mistakes are handled afterward. As for wrong grout, that's another stupid mistake that never should've happened. All in all, I'd say the crew working on your home is pretty careless and has a don't give a crap attitude. yeah, a meeting with the GC is in order. ASAP.

I hope the contractor is not paid in full. You can refuse to pay him anything else if you are unhappy, even in the smallest of details that was previously discussed. They are legally obligated to finish each part of the project to what was discussed and written in the contract with your total satisfaction. I would not have them continue any part of the rest of the project until the wood flooring and tile are what was expected. They need to start over. I personally would not settle for what they messed up. I hope you have your desires in writing. I would take them to court if it is not corrected. I wouldn't care how long it takes them and their expense to correct it . A client of mine hired a contractor not recommended by me or anyone else. It was a mess. Removing popcorn ceilings. It took them three times to get it right. Three separate work teams. She luckily owed them a good sum of money. She did not settle until the project was to her satisfaction. They probably lost money on this, but work expected and promised has to be right. She was concerned of extra time also as her free time was planned. It is so frustrating. I really feel bad for you : ) I hope you can get the job done to your expectations and done right.

Why can't you throw them out? I would, and then either finish it myself, or hire someone for less money to finish it, not on an hourly basis.

You first have to give them the chance to correct their work, or they can take YOU to court being that you broke the contract, and didn't pay them. I know it's a crappy thing, but I've seen it done,
If they don't fix it right, or refuse to fix it, THEN you can toss them off the job and hire someone else and pay the new crew out of the balance owed.

Typically, contractors do not charge by the hour, but rather, by the project. You should have received a a quote at the beginning of the project with an estimated time of completion. More often than not, due to unforeseen circumstances, projects do last longer than the time estimated, but you should be able to discuss the project's progress throughout. Do you know if the contractor is licensed and insured? If you've tried to contact him and cannot get ahold of him, look into reporting him to BBB, you city's Chamber of Commerce, and the Contractor's License Board. - Good luck!

First labor rate sounds perfectly fine. If these workers are not competent- and it sounds like they aren't, then some type of supervisor should be there daily to direct them. Sometimes with older houses and remodels, hourly billing makes sense but you have to have a competent contractor/designer and he has to have quality people. Our company is all about having our team understand process and constantly improving their skills. I try to explain why we are doing things in a certain way, what we are trying to achieve. By including them in this, I encourage them to think which , if you have picked good people, makes them better and more enthusiastic about their work. When people are properly taught, mistakes become rare. If there are any questions and I am not there, that little device called a cell phone means instantaneous feedback is possible. Frankly some of the things you describe sound inconceivable in a skilled company.

I truly hope they make it right. Best to you!

Good for you, Dianne! And don't let them intimidate you!! All they can do is huff and puff-- just means they make great blowhards. :-) Don't back down. Don't forget the golden rule-- the one with the gold makes the rules! Sometimes people forget just how much over a barrel they have us as contractors, and a lot of contractors will exploit that. DON'T LET EM!

Yes ... the issues you mentioned on the floor and the tiling are NOT "design sense", it's floor installing 101.

A contractor has to deliver things done according to the industry standards *for that trade*. If he's hiring less skilled workers, that's his call, but he has to make sure the final product is done "in a workman-like manner".

You shouldn't need to be doing his job of supervising his crews.

Take pictures, take LOTS of pictures!