Had a contractor start yesterday on a retaining wall to my design.
First day his job was to install 11 posts.
Simple, in a row,3' OC, along my placed line.
I have done this kinda work when I was able, always was accurate end result.
Partially disabled now, so hired it out.
So when they came to start, I went over the job again.. they didn't want to hear it like it was already clear to them ..so I sat 30ft away, saw them be very hurried, concerned, watched for a few hours and noticing odd practices.. commented a number of times, was told "If you want, you can pay us for what we did so far, and we can leave"
Seeing as how I live in an area where it's like impossible to find help, and I need this wall done NOW to proceed w other stuff, I went sat back down.
Few minutes later, I saw more weird stuff like concrete being dumped w C-C at 38" (not 36) pointed it out and was CLEARLY told to " !!! Let us do our job, check it when it's done !!!
So when I noticed that larger gap of 38, they had already poured mud in about 4 more holes, and CONTINUED to pour the rest.
So now, my horizontal plank butt seams will be offset 2" from post centers on S4S 6" posts, among other issues.
ANDDD... Due to a few posts out of plumb left-right, some seams may not even fully land on a few posts !!
See, they were filling w Sakrete w posts in ROUGH position, then trying to final position w the hole partially filled..
But NOT even one at a time..
They had 3 guys, and they had sakrete in the 6th or so hole BEFORE they even final positioned the FIRST post.
And all the time having a rushing hurry up !! attitude.
And NO x-y bracing, just tied at grade w a long 2x6, and then later they moved it to the tops of the row.
I've never seen that, but they said they done this work many time
I was clearly an aggravation to them, so I said OK, and went in house.
I can certainly understand tying posts together like that, but not w/o ANY additional bracing.
I already had done not only a stringline, but also both end of the line posts fully installed in concrete to gauge from. (Post #1, and post #13)
I had pre done this to minimize any "misunderstanding".
His job was to install 11 6x6 posts 3'0" OC.
Auger to spec'd depth and backfill w sakrete/water.
Was clearly told, and could see posts are 1/2" from string.
Later in day after he leaves, I go check it out.
3-4 of the 11 posts are arguably OK, close to Plumb, proper c-c spacing, distance from line.
Still not at all accurate as mine, I would get them more accurate, but arguably OK.
Now to the other 7 posts...
ALL are leaning in different directions.. measured w a 4 ft level (So, amount off of plumb in 4' height) - 3/4", 2" , 1 1/2" ,1 1/2" ,1", 1 1/2", 1 3/8".
Of those posts, 3 also also leaning about 1- 1 1/2" in the other axis.
Also, up to 1 1/2" deviations in few places of C-C spacing.. I can live w that though.
I called him yesterday eve, calmly explained the issue, he hung up on me.
NO money has been paid yet, and material was all onsite supplied by me.
-- I can figure out my physical options, but summarized , those posts are unusable as placed., it needs to be totally re done.. So I'm not asking for advice on that.. too hard to do w/o seeing the whole picture.
What I'm asking is -- How would you deal w the contractor ???
First, no matter what, he is Fired.
Thing is, I'm pretty sure he will demand payment "for what he did"
In reality, "What he did" was burn up $400 + of MY material.
.60 treated CCA posts that I had delivered from 130 miles away cause I can't get them closer, and about 25 80 lb $4 bags of Sakrete.
So know I have to settle for .40 posts local, or drive 260 miles to replace my .60.
Very aggravated, and even more so cause I anticipate he's gonna posture that I'M the crazy fussy one.
So the picture below shows a view of the worst part down the row view at about 4ft above grade.
That belly in the 2x6 is cause preponderance of those posts were leaning that way.
Ya... Marc
Wall stringline view.jpg