So the roof guys hustled to get’er done. After they were “done”, I did my usual walk-through to check their work. They left a terribly rusted flashing on the front over hang, I guess they thought I wouldn’t notice.
I don’t know what made them chose to leave it up there… when they were tearing off the shingles they tore that whole thing off and crumpled it up. This inspired the decision to go out into the middle of the street to try and get a good look at the flashing around the chimney.
The shingles looked good even though they also shingled my tree, but I noticed something amiss about the base of the chimney. I zoomed in with my camera to reveal a gaping area in the flashing with exposed brick.
Certainly that wasn’t right. It was so obvious to the eye I know someone saw it, however they made the choice to try and tar the hell out of the flashing edge and leave it. Why not? The homeowner would never go on the roof to see it. LOL… They obviously didn’t know me. I called up the owner and got him to send his guys back out to fix it. He had no problem with that since he hadn’t got his check yet. I tell you all this little story to demonstrate an imperative step acting as your own GC (General Contractor). ALWAYS look at the work before the final payment, and even better never pay everything before the final inspection.
This saves you a lot of stress and lost money.
Also only agree to pay what’s due. How I see it is money is not due unless the contractor has finished the work. So many guys come asking for payment and are no where close to being done. Once the money is paid you have little leverage and they will have less motivation to get the job finished.
Take my the landscaper I found on facebook marketplace. He was doing an amazing job but got a little too eager to ask for final payment. He was adimant about collecting that day even though I had to work hella late. I met him at the house and insisted we walk through his work. WTF!
He was no where near finished… from the look on my face he knew it was negotiation time if he ever wanted to get to check time. In the end he made good, and I would recommend his work cautioned with never pay a contractor everything up front and always check their work before you pay anything.
Check thier referrences, go see the work they have done, check on the progress they are making on your project.
