Changing contractors mid-stream?

13 years ago

Anybody have experience (good/bad) changing GCs in the middle of a job?

I'm doing a small bath, 5x8, a complete teardown. The CG did all the rough work so far, and my town did the rough inspection. Then after putting up the drywall, the contractor tells me that the electric inspection was never done. The electrician is insisting that the drywall and insulation come down to do the inspection (thank goodness the tile hasn't gone up yet!). We would have to expose one wall and the ceiling. The GC is balking at the doing the extra labor of taking down then reinstalling the drywall, and he's keeping me twisting while he researches alternatives. I think he can take down the drywall sheets intact then put them right back after the inspection.

So now I'm thinking of calling another GC to get a quote on finishing the job. The first guy has about 65% of the money so far, so that's my budget to finish. But I'm concerned that I'll have to pay town fees all over again, plus get out of my contract with the first guy.

Any thoughts?

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Comments (4)

kitchenkrazed09
13 years ago
You could put yourself in a position where you are in breach of contract and he is not. Was he responsible for the electrical work (or one of his subs) and for having the inspection done? If so, then he has to do what is necessary to get the work inspected. If he didn't already tape and spackle, he should be able to remove the drywall and then replace it.
bridgecross
Original Author
13 years ago
It's not even taped or spackled. Heck, I could take down the necessary pieces myself in 2 hours. He was responsible for the electric and inspections. I know he HAS to do what is necessary, but he's just not. It's amazing that he would hold up the job for over a week for a half-day's work taking down the drywall.
I'm just thinking of my options if he is in breach for not doing the work.
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User
13 years ago
Just call the city and ask them to schedule the electrical inspection for the next day. Then tell your contractor that they're coming and to do what is necessary to pass inspection. He'll have to take down the drywall or be redflagged and stop work on the job until the electrical passes. If he chooses to abandon the job at that point, then you get your lawyer to send him a letter explaining that he is in breach of contract for not getting the electrical to pass inspection and that he has X number of days to correct the situation, and if he does not correct it in X number of days, you will consider him to have abandoned the job and be forced to hire another contractor to finish. Then tell him that as X% of the job has been completed at this point and because he has received 65% of the funds, you will allow him to keep those funds if he signs a lien waiver ASAP and allows you to proceed with another contractor. If he disputes this, then you expect a refund because he has received more funds than the completion stage would deem proper.
dianalo
13 years ago
He messed up and needs to make it right. It is not professional to leave you hanging. Make it clear that that is unacceptable and that you expect that he step up and do what is necessary (and use those exact words).
This was entirely on him and you need to communicate that you will not dither about it, nor will he be allowed to waste any more of your time.
Just tell yourself before you speak to him that you do not have to be his friend and he does not have to like you. He can think you are a b*tch but he will have to do a professional job, as contracted, anyway. He will smell it if you are at all wishy washy or trying to convince him to do anything. Make it crystal clear that he has had his time to gather his thoughts, but now he must prepare your bathroom for the next inspection pronto. You have indulged his disappointment as to the situation, but he was the cause, so he can fret about it on his own time and worry more about making it up to you than about any extra work he caused for himself.
This situation is backwards as he should be the one worrying about how to salvage his reputation and to make sure you are satisfied after his error.

Changing contractors mid-stream?

Comments (4)

kitchenkrazed09

bridgecross
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Changing contractors mid-stream?

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kitchenkrazed09

bridgecrossOriginal Author

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bridgecross
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