Reply #28: Thanks for the insight.

[hamsterjill]

I can imagine that the good ones don't profit much when all is said and done.

In my case, I didn't go with the low bidder. In fact, I went with the higher of three bids because this guy came highly recommended. What I am actually running into is the "subcontractors" who are the ones physically doing the work. I probably should have explained that better in my original post, but didn't think to do that.

The general contractor (who I hired) is doing a good job of listening to me and agreeing to stay within the guidelines of our written agreement. But he seems to have a problem getting the subs to do what HE tells them. As an example, the agreement was that ALL trim would be replaced around windows, etc. I found a couple of places where old boards are still in place. The sub tells me that the boards are fine. And maybe they really are because they look okay. But... that was not the agreement - the agreement was that ALL would be replaced so we are starting out with all of the boards being the same type, same age, same thickness, etc. Anything less to me is simply sloppy.

The general has directed the sub to replace these boards, but the sub still has not done it. I've had two discussions with the sub about this, as well, and he simply has it in his mind that the boards do not need to be replaced. I am to have a final walk through with the general, and will discuss all of this at that time. I don't intend to stand over the sub today and see if he replaces the boards. But it will be easy to tell whether he does or does not, and if he doesn't, then the general contractor is going to need to get someone else out here to finish because I am not going to continue to argue ineffectively with the guy who won't replace the boards.

This is only one example of several issues that I'm having. But to me, how much can it possibly cost to replace a few more trim boards? The boards (themselves) are laying in my backyard. It makes me think the sub may want to use them on some other project, etc. I may be sexist myself, but I sense that this sub has a problem with a "female" telling him how to do his job. And I'm not trying to tell him how to do his job, but I believe he perceives that I am and therefore balks at doing it. And he needs to get over that because he can read the written agreement himself and see that it says "all trim boards will be replaced".

Suffice it to say, when the final payment is made to the general contractor, there WILL BE new boards on all of my windows or there will not be a final payment made until there are new boards.