So I get a call from the builder today. He says that the hardwood floor guy broke one of the tiles on a floor that I installed. So now I get to go back to the job and interrupt my current job so I can resolve the situation. I guess I have been lucky over the past 10 years, but this has never happened to me. My question is, who do I charge for the repair? The hardwood guy? The builder? The homeowner...? I've tried searching CT for previous post on the matter and can't find any.
Oh ya, here's the exciting part, the tile is installed over Nu heat as well, tearing out that tile will risk ruining the heat mat.
Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.
Ask the person who called you who will be paying. Make sure that's established from the get-go, and there should be no problems. If you feel it to be necessary, get it on paper. :thumbsup:
Bill the builder a fair rate that he can mark up and pass along to the hardwood installer if he sees fit. No reason you should have to bill and try to collect from the HW contractor yourself. Your contract is with the builder not the hardwood guy.
The builder would pay you and then take it out of
the flooring subs retainage. No way should you be
chasing another sub for pay. The builder controls
paying the subs, so this is a no brainer for him.
I agree get it in writing before doing the work
this will serve all three parties better. First there
will be no sticker shock when you bill him, also this
gives the flooring sub an option to repair
the tile himself if he thinks your price is to high. Second
it is hard to argue about your price AFTER he signed
the CO.:thumbup:
Include in your bill any material, drive time and however
long you think this will take. Also if you are worried about
the nu heat system work this out before you accept the
job.
Steve
Retainage is an illegal practice applied to those that know nothing about business and how business between two separate businesses is conducted, by those preying on the uneducated.
If you sign something for retainage, you just signed your right to not warranty any of your work and your at the mercy of what they wish to charge you for the repair and even marking it up.
Tell them all retainage is lent to them at the same rate you loan anyone else money. 22%, compounded weekly. Your not their bank!
I agree with pinwheel but if it's not that easy and I did not have a very confident expectation of being paid for my efforts I would not even look at it until the payee agreed to the terms.
It could go from a pain in the ... to several thousand dollars. If the GC has to get the dough re me from the hardwood guy and he can't pay out of pocket and has to file a claim with his insurance, well ......then the real fun begins.:no:
Accidents happen from time to time when you have trades in and out on new construction or remodeling...My tile guy never made an issue if he had to replace a tile due to an accident or any other trade if they had to fix something because someone nicked a wire,etc. If there is something major, then it's understandable.
If the builder was giving me lots of work and I've been working for a guy a long time, I wouldn't make a big deal out of it...I would fix it without making a big deal...doing the right thing goes a long way.
If you want to collect on it, give the builder your bill and he will back-charge the hardwood guy or take care of it himself...
I built a stair staircase/balcony over a newly installed tile floor. For whatever reasons, I damaged three different tiles. That tile guy did replace all three at no cost.
Only difference was, he was there working in another room. Still on the third tile, he wasn't happy. Also if he had charged me on the first tile, I'm willing to bet tiles 2 and 3 might not of happened.
I have reciprocated on other occasions. Cleaning grout where it doesn't belong, picking up after him, lugging tile around, and not getting overly upset when he's causing delays.
Gotta get along with people, there's far worse out there.
If your making a special trip out for a repair though, they should pay you for your time. In all truth, my tile guy had a right to get paid for his time as well.
Thanks for all of the replies, you guys are great! I'm really glad that I signed up for CT!
I went and looked at the floor this morning. It looks like the wood guy was replacing a header board when he broke the tile. He actually broke 2 tiles (24x24's special order). I think he was prying against the tile in the caulk line where the 2 floors meet. Not to sound like a know it all, but I would have made some relief cuts in the wood instead of trying to pry up a 4' piece of glued down hardwood, or anything for that matter. I just wish he would have thought a little more strategically about what he was doing before jumping right into it with a crowbar and hammer. Oh well, I guess we can't all think like the tile guys! :laughing:
I'm still fighting with my conscience about how much to charge though. Out of frustration my 1st thought was to charge at least $500.00 for the repair, but I've learned not to make decisions out of haste. It's ALWAYS better to give than receive. It's going to be a PITA for me either way so I think I'll just ponder it over the weekend and come to a decision when I'm in a better mood. I know I definitely can't do it for free because of the risk involved with the heat mat and the fact that the tile has to be special ordered with freight charges and all. I'll submit an estimate to the builder on Monday so at least it will be in writing. Lucky for the wood guy I tend to be a little more generous after having a nice weekend, and if I have a s****ty weekend... well...
Again, thanks for the replies. It's nice to know that I can come here with a problem and get good feedback from people that I can relate to.
... I'll submit an estimate to the builder on Monday so at least it will be in writing. Lucky for the wood guy I tend to be a little more generous after having a nice weekend, and if I have a s****ty weekend... well...
Again, thanks for the replies. It's nice to know that I can come here with a problem and get good feedback from people that I can relate to.
Oh ya, here's the exciting part, the tile is installed over Nu heat as well, tearing out that tile will risk ruining the heat mat.
Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.
Set up a Big Mouth alarm, take your time and be very careful. Contract to be time and material with the rider to be electric failure to be time and material for the electrician or you to repair.
Ive never back charged any one, for any thing ?
Ive never been back charged ?
I hate fixing tiles but accidents happen If a sub back charged me he would be gone .
My flooring guys broke a marble saddle in my bath room door way yesterday . We fixed it in 20 minutes .
I had a plumber burn down a house he was on my s--t list .
John
As the guy who broke the tiles, I'd expect to get the bill. Plain and simple. If I don't get billed for it, then a case of beer mysteriously shows up in the tile guy, and GC's truck... I can't count the number of repairs I've done for free, only to find a gift in my truck afterward.
Yes, it has taken me this long to fix the broken tile, but it's done, heat mat is ok, and I did it for FREE! Accidents happen and I rather enjoy being generous.
IF you feel that you MUST be paid for this... The one who hired you to do the job is the one who pays you.
I say IF because sometimes a quick favor in trade builds a better relationship.
One must often "Leave a little money 'on the table' " when doing business!
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