I wouldn't accept that the backup "is higher". The GC should find you a replacement who shows up and does the job right -- at no additional cost to you.

Our wood floors were a mess. I wouldn't allow that sub in to "fix" his mess. (The layment was fine; badly sanded.) Our GC found another outfit to come in and re-sand, stain and seal -- and he paid to move us out to a rental for a week while it was done.

You absolutely have the right to reject a subcontractor. Contrary to chisue's comment, when you are on a cost plus contract whatever the subcontractor costs, is what you are billed. The GC has no responsibility to take care of this out of pocket. However, I would advise you to call area concrete guys and look for your own replacement. Let your GC know what you are doing and he will probably get someone in there pretty quickly to take care of the problem. As a GC, it is my responsibility to make sure my subs show up, it sounds like your GC is falling down on the job.....you might want to withhold your next draw until this is resolved.

Take care

Sorry, I didn't note the "cost-plus" part of your post!

You will have to pay the higher amount, that is the way cost-plus works. You now know why the sub is cheaper - he's unreliable and not very good.

I wouldn't demand that the GC switch, make it his decision. Explain to him that you are very, very unhappy with this sub. Outline the reasons why (don't get into the personal like you don't like him or he smokes, whatever). Explain that he is unreliable, that he doesn't follow specs, that you believe the guy cheated you on the fiber deliberately (I'm assuming that), that his work is shoddy (give details) and that you do not want him to do something as important as the work on the porches. Tell the GC that you respect that he wants to have a say in who the subs are, but that you believe this guy will not do a good job and (important) you WILL NOT live with a shoddy job on the porches. Tell the GC that if he insists on using this guy then HE will be responsible if you are not satisified with the work the guy does and that that will entail removing poor work and redoing it, at the GC's cost, if necessary. Tell him you'd like something from him agreeing to this.

The GC will most likely agree to use sub #2, especially since you will have to pay the difference.

Still no concrete guy this morning. I got a call into the builder to explain this to him. The way I see it, he shouldn't care if I want to use another sub he has dealt with before since I will be the one paying the cost difference. I can see his hesitation about a sub he has never used before as he would be responsible for overseeing him. It is more about him not being reliable than shoddy work. That is point that is sticking in my craw. I will talk with him after lunch and see what hes says. GC got chapped with him a month or so ago and called him to tell him not to show up on any more of his jobs. Told him he was a liar and always had some excuse. Concrete guy called back 5 minutes later begging him to give him another chance. Now it is back to the same old same old.

CB

I assume you have a construction loan? Time=interest=money. Stress this to the GC.

How about a time deadline? Let's say Thursday morning. Be there or don't come back.

I don't have a construction loan. I am paying as we go out of my own pocket. GC knows this and I have thought to myself this may be part of the problem. I told the GC I didn't want to use this guy and he said the back up guy is booked for about 2 months out. Who knows if he is lying. It really is crazy here building. Subs are hard to come by. We have a thriving economy for now, and we are at the subs mercy. That still does not give them the right to lie about when they will do the work. He said the concrete guy will be here in a day or so. We will see.

CB