Would You Say Anything? - Spokane,WA

Updated on July 25, 2011
S.H. asks from unknown city, unknown state
30 answers

We had a company come out yesterday and do the concrete edging around our yard. I had asked them to put a little "wave" to it and they did, but only in a few spots. That I can live with. It's not exactly what I wanted, but it does look nice. We have over 400 feet of this stuff so it would be a lot to ask to re-do it all and I'm not about to do that.
BUT.....at the front entrance of the house there is a slab of concrete then steps up to the porch. On the right side they came straight out from the step and made a big swoop out and around. Then on the left side they came out from the side of the step and went directly out. Does that make sense?? I will put a pic up on my profile.
My question is Do I have them fix it?
I was completely disappointed when I got home last night and even more so this morning. I am not happy with it at all.
**PHOTO LOADED ON PROFILE**
**ETA: When he came out for a bid we walked the yard and sprayed it with paint. I even printed out pictures and drew on them with a marker where I wanted edging to come out from the porch. He got one side right. Our contract is that we are to pay $3 per every foot they did. The way they did the left corner they have actually made it so that our sprinkler head is now on the outside of the concrete edge.
@ Jo ~ it is one long piece of concrete edging, not blocks.

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So What Happened?

Thank you for all the advice! After receiving many similar responses I did call and the owner of the company is coming out tonight to take a look and see what we can do to fix it ;) wish me luck!! He said he won't charge us for the material, but he will charge us for the labor.

Featured Answers

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

If you're not happy with it, address it with them... you're paying them to do it right, the way you like it. However, maybe there was a reason they did it like that?? Ask about that too.

5 moms found this helpful

A.S.

answers from Sarasota on

You are the customer. If you paid for the service, you have the right to ask to change whatever you are not happy with. Especially if you expressed what you wanted before you got it and now it is not what you expected.
Good luck!

5 moms found this helpful

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

You shouldn't have to live with something you aren't happy with. There may have been a miscommunication or there may be some reason they had to do it that way. But you'll never know until you ask.

4 moms found this helpful

More Answers

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Are those poured concrete or just blocks?

Did you pay for 400 feet or the project per the contract?

If you paid for 400 feet and it turns out what you wanted done was more than 400 feet that may have been why they did that. It looks like they ran out of materials so they couldn't go out as far on the second side.

The other thing they may have had happen is going around roots or something else under the surface.

I do a lot of retaining walls in my yard and have had to change path because of things under the soil. If I had a set amount of material I would not have done what they did but pull the one side in a bit and brought the other out a bit so they were even. Then again I am anal retentive perhaps OCD.

6 moms found this helpful

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

Call them ASAP and let them know you want the sides of your stoop/steps to match please!

Sounds reasonable to me!

5 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

if it was not to what you originally agreed to - DO NOT sign ANY completion form until it is done to your liking...that's what the contract is all about and the completion form states you are happy with the job...DO NOT sign it until you are happy.

4 moms found this helpful

M.J.

answers from Dover on

I can't quite picture what you mean, but it doesn't matter really. The truth is just like the other responses have said: if you're not happy, have them fix it!

My parents put an in-ground pool in this past spring/early summer. My mom contracted all of the individual businesses herself to get it done. She still has not paid her landscaper the last amount of money owed because he didn't do what she asked & what they had talked about/agreed upon, but instead added different (and much more expensive plants) that she doesn't even like. She said until he comes & fixes the one sprinkler head & either changes out the plants for what she wanted or removes them from the bill altogether, she's not paying him the rest of the money. That's precisely how I would handle it as well.

3 moms found this helpful
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K.P.

answers from New York on

If he "marked it" and you "drew it" AND he didn't attempt to call you about changes, then they need to come redo it. It's expensive to have this project done and bottom line is that there may have been a "logistics" reason for needing to adjust the shape, but he needed to call and OK it with you first!

3 moms found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Dallas on

YES! You paid this person money to do a job and they didn't do it right. Have them come back and fix it, and they shouldn't charge you anything, it was their mistake.

3 moms found this helpful

B.F.

answers from Toledo on

Yes, i would have them come out...you paid for aservice and if you werent happy with it and they didnt follow your directiosn, you are intitled to it.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.N.

answers from Cleveland on

You certainly have the right to have them fix it. You paid for a service to be done and it was only done half right. I just had carpet put in and they cracked the drywall. it's VERY small, and I could fix it myself, but I paid them for a service and I shouldn't have to fix it, they were Happy to do it.

2 moms found this helpful

L.G.

answers from Eugene on

Complain and make sure they fix it the way you ordered it.

2 moms found this helpful

L.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Looked at your pic, and YES, I'd DEFINITELY have them come fix that. That would drive me bonkers, not to mention you paid for them to do it a certain way, and the completely changed it. If there is a reason it had to be that way, they needed to clarify that with you first.

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R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yes I would say something. You paid for this and will have to look at it for a long time.

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K.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Absolutely have them re-do it. It's glaringly obvious and looks pretty awful the way it is (but would look REALLY nice if they'd done it correctly). Unbelievable that you agreed how it should be, you showed them PICTURES of how it should be, you spray painted and marked how it should be and they STILL messed it up. It's a mistake and they need to fix it. Period.

Updated

Absolutely have them re-do it. It's glaringly obvious and looks pretty awful the way it is (but would look REALLY nice if they'd done it correctly). Unbelievable that you agreed how it should be, you showed them PICTURES of how it should be, you spray painted and marked how it should be and they STILL messed it up. It's a mistake and they need to fix it. Period.

2 moms found this helpful

K.L.

answers from Medford on

I read your post, and showed the picture to my husband who has worked in enough construction over the years to make a comment. He says they made a mistake, and if youve got it on paper with the drawings you made, and if theres any paint on the gorund(he cant see any in the photo) they should redo it and make it right. He also said, you should NOT have to pay for labor for this redo either. You didnt make the mistake, they did and its not your problem if they have to come back and work again. You should get what you asked for first for the cost you agreed on first. The material and the labor should be at no charge to you now. Otherwise, they could keep making mistakes and youd keep having them come back and it would be a full time job for them at your expense. So, good you called, and the owner should come see, and compare the pictures you showed them first and it should be his problem to pay for the repair. Dont pay them for anything else. Lets hope they are licensed.

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T.V.

answers from San Francisco on

You paid for it, you have a right to get the job that was agreed upon. I would ask them to make it right even if the job has to be redone 100%.

Blessings....

2 moms found this helpful
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A.G.

answers from Albuquerque on

Yes. If you arent happy than their work isnt done.

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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

YES! They need to come fix it--for free. They didn't do what you asked.

GL

M

1 mom found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Sacramento on

yeah - I think you should say something - the left side and the right side should match in my opinion. It sounds like you were pretty clear with what you wanted and have drawings. Hopefully you kept copies of those drawings for yourself and can reference those when you speak to him.

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

The sprinkler head would be the final deal-breaker for me. It sounds like you went to great pains to describe what you wanted. That information was not passed on effectively enough to whomever worked on the "straight" side of your steps.

My daughter had a concrete patio with back steps installed. The professionals were not very professional, and bungled the job badly. She finally had them do the job over twice until it was barely "good enough." Nobody was happy, but that wasn't my daughter's fault.

You have a right to get what you are paying for, and if you point out that this is the only section you want corrected, the concrete guys may actually be relieved. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.S.

answers from St. Louis on

Don't pay him until its done correctly - if you discussed in advance what you wanted, and they did not fulfill on that, then you don't pay them until they fix it. Its your money, and you are not happy with their work - they should fix it free of charge. If you do not, you will regret it, each and every time you step outside and see it. Explain the situation as well about the sprinkler - have them fix it until its done to your satisfaction.

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N.H.

answers from Austin on

You didn't say whether you did this but I would've drawn out on paper what I expected. Otherwise, that just tells them little info & gives headway to put it how they see fit. It's like going to a hair stylist & saying to them "just cut it however" or "just cut it short" & not giving them any more info on how you like it. If you completely, directly told them 'how' you wanted it to look, aka shown on paper to give them an idea of what to do, & they didn't do it the way you stated then yes, I'd make them redo it (w/o charging) b/c it wasn't done the way you showed them but if you just gave them simple instructions w/o much detail from what I read in your post, you didn't give them much detail on how you wanted it throughout the project, then to me, it seems like you just gave them headway to make it the way they thought it should go & if that's the case then they're not obligated to redo it IMO. Hope this helps! Good luck.

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N.K.

answers from Philadelphia on

So the left is supposed to be a curve just like the right? Definitely tell them. Just be polite and tell them that you noticed a mistake in the work that doesn't match the plan, and would like to schedule a re-do. It's pretty obvious that it's wrong.

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R.S.

answers from San Antonio on

I would have them fix it...they do not match and look "off".

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A.K.

answers from Phoenix on

You need to be happy, so they need to redo it. It would be beneficial for them to fix the problem. You will have guests and neighbors looking at their work and they should want a good reputation.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.F.

answers from San Francisco on

I think you should talk to them. It sounds like the directions they were given may have been vague but they should have had you do a drawing or put it on graph paper to make sure you were all on the same page. It does sound strange that they followed your directions in some spots and not in others.

About the picture, I think there is a box that if checked uses your FaceBook profile photo. That may be interfering with your profile picture.

1 mom found this helpful

M.M.

answers from Tampa on

Actually he should give you a break on the labor since his crew messed it up... it was THEIR mistake, not a communication or lack of direction from you.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Houston on

You need to tell them that the left side is not acceptable. I saw your pic and it doesn't look the same. Big time tell them!!!

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J.B.

answers from Birmingham on

Yes they need to fix it. Even if they ran out of materials, they STILL should have kept you informed. They could have given you the choice to pay extra or to do a different design. Any shortcuts or changes in the original plan should have been yours to make.

1 mom found this helpful
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