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Updates on the Cabin Part 1

Posted in Family, and Homesteading

Bathroom Wires

As you know, we headed to Michigan for Christmas to spend time with our family. While we were there, the contractor (R) was scheduled to get a good bit of work done including the electric, hvac, and the plumbing. Much to our displeasure, we returned to the cabin after our trip (Wednesday, Jan 2) to find that not only had the work not been completed, but also that the work that had been done had not been done right. We were exhausted from the trip, but we immediately jumped on the phone to find out what was going on. Later that evening, we finally got in contact with R, and he said that he’d be out the next day to find out what was going on.

Crooked Wall Switch Box
Don’t you love this professional installation? Crooked cut in the pine tongue and groove paneling. Shove the box in so it is also crooked. Don’t forget to write in pen on the T&G paneling as well…

The next day (Thursday, Jan 3), R arrived, and we went over everything. He assured us that everything would be made right. The electricians came and took care of the hvac (or so we thought). We later found that they did not do what they said they had done, and the work was not complete. In fact, due to their incompetence, we ended up heating up the under side of the house. This was after we had just complained that the insulation was still not installed, so we had gone through an entire 250 gallon tank of propane heating the place up. GRRRR!!!  Little did we know the huge change that was going to take place….

Incorrect Outlet
This professional installation includes a crooked cut as well as a cut that is too large. Since it’s in the T&G paneling, it’s not an easy fix.

The following morning (Friday, Jan 4), I received a phone call informing us that the company had fired R. What????  Apparently, we weren’t the only people who were having issues. (Side note: I will say that the R was not the entire problem. The subcontractors were also a huge issue, but when you’re the general contractor, the buck stops with you.)  He (K) introduced himself as the contractor who would be taking over on the job.  He said that he could make it out the next week to talk to us. I told him that he was welcome to come out that day. lol!  To his credit, he did end up coming out that day. We went over everything, and he appologized over and over.  He said that he needed to get his boss (P) out there so we could go over the numbers and all other factors involved in the situation.

Broken Thermostat
Did I mention that these professionals also broke our thermostat?

I talked to P later that day, and he came out on Saturday, Jan 5.  We walked the job, and then he and I sat down to go over the numbers while D worked on getting the proper framing up. (Yes, at this point, we decided that we were going to take the reigns and start really getting things done. D has the background for this, and we have the skill set to do most of the work.)  P was shocked to see how much time and work we had already put into all of this and how little the company had done. He was also very apologetic about the work that had been done wrong. He asked that we give him the opportunity to make it right. He asked for me to give him until mid-week to get the paperwork together, so we could start moving forward with everything. We agreed, but also told him that we needed to get some work done as D had already taken too much leave while waiting for them to actually do work.

After P left, we continued to get work done. By the time that we left on Sunday, everything was framed in, the pocket door frame was installed, and the subfloor had been laid. It was all set for the electricians to get everything wired in. (They had said they hadn’t completed the work because the framework wasn’t done.) We had completed more work in 2 days than had been accomplished since the construction company had been sent by our insurance company back in November. D had to get back to work, and I had things that I needed to get done at home.

To be continued….

 

3 Comments

  1. I am so sorry you all have had to deal with other peeps’ incompetence. SO frustrating. Time to call that Mike Holmes on HGTV. Wonder if he does the US? But seriously, hope it gets worked out correctly and you can all get to enjoying instead of being overwhelmed by it. Hugs
    Sheri H recently posted..Archimedes projectMy Profile

    January 28, 2013
    |Reply
    • It’s so funny that you said that. We’ve been saying all along that we just need Holmes to come. lol! We’ve also been looking for the Bath Crashers, Kitchen Crashers… from DIY network at Lowes and Home Depot, but no one has been there. 😉

      January 28, 2013
      |Reply
  2. Jen
    Jen

    life has gotten in the way
    playing catch up
    hope P worked out better

    February 6, 2013
    |Reply

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