4 ms·

Wonder how much of it is related to contractors underbidding to win a contract and then saying they need more money which slows everything down. Or just throwin

Wonder how much of it is related to contractors underbidding to win a contract and then saying they need more money which slows everything down. Or just throwing a bid out without really doing the due diligence required to understand what needs to be done. For example the New York tunnel project that's billions over cost and years behind. I see this every time I hire a contractor to do work on my house, every experience is terrible and over cost and behind schedule. Currently looking to raise a sunken living room due to flood risk. I have a room that is connected to the sunken living room that is raised currently via a wooded frame. The dry wall is open so its clearly visible. There is clearly open space under the floor lift. Guy gives me a quote, I was very clear when I met him that I needed under the side room filled as well and that the goal was to prevent water seeping in due to the floor being lower than ground level. I have him come out again because I am ready to hire him but want one more walk through. I ask what the risk or complication is pouring concrete under the raised side room and the existing floor lift system. He acts surprised and says it was not part of the quote. I ask the complexity of pouring the concrete behind the fireplace because there is a gap behind it and the wall. He acts surprised and says its not included. All of this was clearly visible when he came out the first time and the stated goal was to raise the floor to prevent water seepage due to height discrepancy inside and outside. He says he would have to demo the giant fireplace... My prior experience I had a contractor that I was working with who kept telling me that the crew was at the house working and I had to call and tell him over and over that no one was there. For months... They do this nonsense every single time, they submit a BS quote just to get the job figuring once they are in they can just charge whatever and figure it out. I have yet to meet an honest or competent contractor.

pixl97 4y ago
If you have a contractor looking for jobs, at least recently, it's likely they are a terrible contractor. The good contractors tend to be booked out for months
linuxftw 4y ago
Have you considered what you're asking for is not practical? Nobody is going to attempt to pour a slab under an existing structure through a hole behind a fireplace.
- wonderwonder 4y ago
  I have now after ensuring that he came back the second time and he said its not practical. I would have expected him to have told me the first time as that's his area of expertise. He only said its not practical after he came back out and I asked him to confirm that he was confident there would be no issue with the existed lifted floor. That's exactly what I mean, they say yes to anything to get the job and then only after the deposit is made do they start to hedge that there is a complication. We are now not going to fill the sunken living room but are going to attempt to seal the exterior of the house, add gutters and add a french drain system. Something completely different from what he originally pitched. If I ask a contractor how to prevent water seeping into my sunken living room and surrounding areas, and he tells me filling it with concrete is the best approach and provides a quote to do so I expect that he has taken all existing facts into consideration.

pixl97 4y ago

If you have a contractor looking for jobs, at least recently, it's likely they are a terrible contractor. The good contractors tend to be booked out for months

linuxftw 4y ago

Have you considered what you're asking for is not practical? Nobody is going to attempt to pour a slab under an existing structure through a hole behind a fireplace.

wonderwonder 4y ago
I have now after ensuring that he came back the second time and he said its not practical. I would have expected him to have told me the first time as that's his area of expertise. He only said its not practical after he came back out and I asked him to confirm that he was confident there would be no issue with the existed lifted floor. That's exactly what I mean, they say yes to anything to get the job and then only after the deposit is made do they start to hedge that there is a complication. We are now not going to fill the sunken living room but are going to attempt to seal the exterior of the house, add gutters and add a french drain system. Something completely different from what he originally pitched. If I ask a contractor how to prevent water seeping into my sunken living room and surrounding areas, and he tells me filling it with concrete is the best approach and provides a quote to do so I expect that he has taken all existing facts into consideration.