Spray foam is very expensive in my view. If it was my bathroom, no way would I want to disturb that tub once it has been set. Tough call, but it is the contractors responsibility.

No, I would not (and did not, when it happened to me) pay for contractors mistake.

It is his responsibility to know or find out building code when he accepts a job.

If your contractor had to answer to a general contractor, he would have to make repair at his expense. But since he's working directly for the homeowner, he is likely to balk and resist. His profit margin just flew out the window, and unless you have the connections to impact his future work, he has little incentive to eat the cost. Perhaps you could offer to split the difference, in order to ensure quality completion?

"My bathroom remodel failed the insulation inspection because my contractor forgot to add a vapor barrier to the pink insulation."

Having a vapor barrier has been a requirement for more than 50 years. Your contractor isn't a very good one. He's the 'pro', he should do a proper job, it's his responsibility. He should eat the costs.

His mistake his loss. His options are to start from scratch with the agreed upon materials or provide you with the more expensive material that saves him time . Save and document every step with notes and pictures in case it proceeds to litigation.

If he makes a mistake, why should you have to pay for it? It's HIS MISTAKE. He needs to make it right completely on his dime. Don't let him try anything else.

Should and will, are likely 2 different things here. Unfortunately - if he walks away and leaves you high and dry - there's little impact to his business. If he stiffs a GC - word would get out.

You are getting a benefit with the spray foam - but it's not want you wanted - and the spray foam solution is ultimately to HIS benefit - so he doesn't have to rip out the entire job...

Tough situation.

Spray foam is a superior product to FG so I might kick in a little extra because I am getting the better product.

I wouldn't pay for his mistake and I would want it redone exactly the way the inspector initially required it to be. I'm thinking that this solution will be documented and affect future sales. Be very careful about what you allow to be done at this time, because it might affect you later down the road.

Hi, I just wanted to thank everyone for their feedback. I didn't take a hard-line with my contractor on his error but voiced my concern on having to pay for something that could have been avoided. He apologized for his mistake and we amicably agreed to an 80/20 split on the cost of the spray foam. So in the end, inspection passed, we got a superior product at an 80% savings, and the project moves forward.

J-chou22:

You're my kind of customer; K Sissy, you are not.

WAIT ---- the waterproofing around the tub - which goes up the walls, sealed to the tub, IS the vapor barrier. That is, if your contractor was fixin to waterproof the tub. Now he will waterproof as he should anyway. He can safely tell the inspector the NTCA recommends only one vapor barrier, behind the ceement board or better yet, a surface applied membrane such as Kerdi which is a tangible material he can hand to the inspector to examine then approve. The kerdi handbook will give specs on installation, noting the single vapor requirement.

I agree with Cabot & Rowe. What is the point of a vapor barrier behind the tub. The tub itself is a vapor barrier. Which is pretty much proved by the fact it holds water -- try it yourself and see if I'm not right. (If it does not hold water, you have a more serious problem.)

A second barrier behind the tub just traps any minor leaks under the tub and absolutely guarantees mold and mildew.

What no-brain wrote your town's building code? I would patiently explain to the inspector, and if no him/her, then his/her superior why this is a very bad idea.