Are you saying you left the red rosin paper in place and just had him sign that he would be responsible if any issues arrive? Does he sound like a guy who will stand behind that?? I would address that issue NOW. If the flooring company specifically does not recommend that underlayment then your flooring warranty will be voided. Where will he be then ?

Why do some of the walls have baseboard and others don't? I would remove all baseboard and replace when finished with flooring to avoid any shoe moulding or quarter round. It will give a cleaner look.

OK- I just reread your dilemma. They left dents in your refrig from the nail gun and the built ins?? Have you discussed what their plan is to repair these issues?

How much of this job have you paid for?

I can only imagine how furious you must be.

A person who does damage needs to make that person whole again. If you took your car in for an oil change and came out with a dented bumper, you would expect the auto repair shop to fix it right?

I think any work you have done by these people needs supervision on site. I would either be home or find someone to oversee this job, sad it is, but, if someone was there this could have been addressed immediately. So many horror stories. I have my own horror stories and I am always home for my home remodels. It is amazing how fast these things can happen.

I hope you let us know what the contractor tells you when he does get back to you. These dents are truly unacceptable.

It sounds like you need a "sit down" with all parties involved. You have bought materials and service through a contractor? Or a store that has an installer attached to it? If this is an independent flooring contractor, you may have to figure out some things before you continue. If this is an independent flooring contractor who has your money AND your materials, you are in a very, very, very tight spot. This gets sticky and right quick!

If this is a store, you have a fighting chance to get this resolved quickly and without much pain.

I would try to have a face to face with this person. I would have your contract ON HAND (prior to this you would have read it end to end and back again) ready for the meeting. You need to bring to his attention that the "crew" has done damage as well as has use "inappropriate installation techniques" (red rosin paper) when installing and that this is unacceptable to you.

You will want to draw up an AMENDMENT that includes responsibility for damages AND inappropriate install and what it MEANS to the "installer". It means anything that is damage = his responsibility to remedy (financially as well as materially). Any "improper installation" is remedied by him - both financially and materially. All of this is to be done in a TIMELY MANNER. And put a DATE to 'TIMELY MANNER'. To some people 'timely' = this year...or next.

Deadlines also help define a legal document. It doesn't have to be written by a lawyer to be legal. It needs words that define the work to be done and damages to be remedied AND a time line. Signatures and dates at the bottom "seal the deal"...that's "legal". And binding.

Building law is all about what is on the page. Define it and sign it. Now you have something that will go a long way in leveraging this person into getting the job done right.

Because of shoddy workmanship, I would find an NWFA certifed Inspector and have them ready to inspect the work done on your home...once everything is finished. I would pay the $750 for the inspection...and make their decision the 'final' word on "appropriate install". Write that into the contract that the installer will receive final payment ONCE THE INSPECTION is complete and considered "in good order". Once the install "passes inspection" you pay out the final amount owing.

Once the installer realizes that a 3rd party will be inspecting the job and his/her payment relies on a "passing inspection" then you might find the work is done to a much higher quality. But you have to spend the money yourself for the inspection.

Good luck...keep us posted.

If you fired the contractor then the payment of labour is on you. You paid for (and received) materials only. You have "hired" the "outside crew" on your own. You now need to pay them. I hope you have an agreed upon price with them. If you do NOT...then I suggest you sit down and negotiate a price per square foot.

The argument is now between you and the original contractor. If you paid him/her for labour (of any sort) and that labour was NOT provided, then he owes you. If you paid for labour and SOME labor was supplied, then you a bit more of a struggle.

If you paid materials only (and would pay labor at the end of the job) then you have nothing more to worry about. You have materials you paid for. End of story. The guys who put it in are now your subcontractors....not his.

I thought I read above that you paid for the carpet and that included the install? so, if that is the case you will have to fight him for the install portion. Did you put this on a credit card? If so, you could put the payment in dispute til solved.

Chat with the carpet installers. These guys often have all the tools (including cargo vans) to pick-up and deliver carpet. Ask them what they would charge you if they went to pick up your carpet and brought it to the job site. I would bet it would be easier than wrangling a rental van and getting another set of hands to help you.

These guys move this type of stuff all the time. If anyone has a handle on how to move carpet, it would be a carpet layer. They will charge for time and gas...but for them it is another way of adding a few dollars onto their job...which most will do without much trouble.