Shoddy contactor

[ESOXER]

So my renovation wasn't moving along fast enough for the wife, so we hired a contractor for a deck, siding, soffit, facia and removing two windows and replacing with doors. They were here all last week and still aren't done with the deck, im not upset about that, but i keep finding little things that are upsetting, they're being corrected. Then the neighbor comes out tonight and says they put my 6x6 posts in without footings and he questioned them and said they weren't putting them in, just hand tamping because its sandy soil. I sent an email about it, no response. I'm not really happy as I already paid them 20k for the deck and 6k for the siding job. This is why I do **** myself, hopefully my neighbor was mis informed, about the long portion, but the free standing ones I could pull out by hand.
If this isn't corrected should I contact the BBB? A portion of the deck frame is still good and an addition is being added so no building permit was needed.

 

[68-500]

Hopefully they dug below the frost line and at least installed some sort of foundation. I can get down with the hand tamping as I believe if you pour concrete around wood post they rot faster.
Hindsight is 20/20 but never pay up front, pay for work complete.
I understand about doing things yourself I’m never happy with other people’s work.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

but never pay up front, pay for work complete.

^^^This. Now you’re in a hard spot. Posts should be resting on footers, not in the ground. The footers would have been poured first and would be clearly visible. Anything else would not be correct. Since you already paid the contractor at this point you don’t have much of a choice other than to let him finish what you paid him for because I seriously doubt he is going to give you back your money. I would watch him like a hawk from here on out and make him do things correctly. Be a royal pain in his *** and if he gets upset tell him he can’t be trusted so it’s either this or give me money back for what you didn’t finish and take a walk.

 

[Dave6T4]

Pour concrete footing in sono tube and embed a post saddle in it. Then bolt posts to saddles. No premature post rot.

 

[dadsbee]

Wow, I only try to work as fast as the Wife.

 

[Kern Dog]

The Better Business Bureau is a toothless organization that has no authority to penalize, fine or force the other side to do anything.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

I already paid them 20k for the deck and 6k for the siding job.

Why?

 

[Kern Dog]

Yeah....why would you pay before the work is completed? Are there no building inspections where you live? An inspector would immediately put a stop to work that does not meet code.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

Was there any permits pulled?

 

[Mopar Hunter]

I already paid them 20k for the deck and 6k for the siding job.

Cash, Venmo or PayPal Friends and Family? Hopefully you paid with some kind of recourse.

 

[ESOXER]

The amount paid isn't in full yet. I'm still waiting to hear back. He normally responds to my emails right away.

 

[RR Fan Dan]

The amount paid isn't in full yet. I'm still waiting to hear back. He normally responds to my emails right away.

That better be a nice deck and huge for 20k down payment.

 

[Mopar Hunter]

The amount paid isn't in full yet. I'm still waiting to hear back. He normally responds to my emails right away.

That’s good to hear. Did both parties write up a contract?

 

[ESOXER]

That better be a nice deck and huge for 20k down payment.

About 650 square foot, composite decking.
14.5 was the down payment, 5k for a progress payment. That was due to issues they had with the original concrete staircases the previous deck was built over.

 

[ESOXER]

That’s good to hear. Did both parties write up a contract?

Yes, I haven't reread it yet.

 

[Hey-O]

Years ago we did things a bit different, but today in this part of the country, the post can't come in contact with the dirt at all. A fence post is different. Hope you get it squared out.