ᐅ Poor workmanship on the interior staircase, or is this something I just have to accept?
Created on: 6 Jan 2024 11:18
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Berlinho2
Hello dear forum,
I am at the final stage of my construction project with a general contractor.
Yesterday, my interior staircase was installed, and I was really shocked by the quality, appearance, and the staircase builder’s decision to install everything exactly like this.
I want to set aside the “Frankenstein” look for now, since the staircase builder says we approved it this way, but I believe that nowhere in the world would anyone “voluntarily” approve something like this.
What really bothers me right now is this unbelievably ugly railing structure on the ground floor with posts of different sizes and this unnecessary grated dust barrier between the stair stringer and the railing itself. I have never seen anything like this and never expected that with a new build, despite detailed measurements and enough planning and preparation time by the staircase builder/carpenter, such an on-site improvisation would have to be accepted in the end.
Is this already poor workmanship, or is this something one has to accept?
No payment has been made yet, as a retention is in place and the general contractor is still owed significantly more money overall than the value of the services delivered.
Thank you very much for your assessments.
I am at the final stage of my construction project with a general contractor.
Yesterday, my interior staircase was installed, and I was really shocked by the quality, appearance, and the staircase builder’s decision to install everything exactly like this.
I want to set aside the “Frankenstein” look for now, since the staircase builder says we approved it this way, but I believe that nowhere in the world would anyone “voluntarily” approve something like this.
What really bothers me right now is this unbelievably ugly railing structure on the ground floor with posts of different sizes and this unnecessary grated dust barrier between the stair stringer and the railing itself. I have never seen anything like this and never expected that with a new build, despite detailed measurements and enough planning and preparation time by the staircase builder/carpenter, such an on-site improvisation would have to be accepted in the end.
Is this already poor workmanship, or is this something one has to accept?
No payment has been made yet, as a retention is in place and the general contractor is still owed significantly more money overall than the value of the services delivered.
Thank you very much for your assessments.
B
Berlinho27 Jan 2024 08:13xMisterDx schrieb:
On what basis should the acceptance be refused here? There is no planning; this was left to the general contractor or the staircase builder, probably a master staircase builder(?).
If the client doesn't provide any specifications, I design the HMI freely, based on what I think fits.
Sure, a few minor things need to be corrected. But you can’t reject a staircase worth 10,000 EUR and refuse payment over cosmetic defects costing 500 EUR.
[...] @xMisterDx
Thank you for the different perspective.
What does "HMI" stand for?
Which points do you think need correction?
Is having "no planning" or "on-site planning" by a staircase builder not inappropriate, or is that also your own professional standard?
Would you accept such a staircase in your own home?
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Berlinho27 Jan 2024 08:19@11ant
Nerves – worn out.
Money – spent.
Patience – gone.
Unfortunately, there is little room for maneuver once contracts are signed. It is clear that the initial mistake of signing it in the first place was wrong.
However, dwelling on the past doesn't help. Instead, I need to focus on what active options, arguments, and leverage I still have available to get the best possible outcome.
What can I bring to the table here?
Thank you.
Nerves – worn out.
Money – spent.
Patience – gone.
Unfortunately, there is little room for maneuver once contracts are signed. It is clear that the initial mistake of signing it in the first place was wrong.
However, dwelling on the past doesn't help. Instead, I need to focus on what active options, arguments, and leverage I still have available to get the best possible outcome.
What can I bring to the table here?
Thank you.
H
hanghaus20237 Jan 2024 10:40As mentioned, once the damage is done, it’s hard to change anything. If you never saw the plans, it clearly didn’t go well. The openings for the staircase are probably quite complicated, at least for the stair builder.
So, my stair builder (contracted separately) sent me a technical drawing (with precise measurements) and a 3D visualization after the selection process. The staircase was only put into production after I gave approval by email.
What I really consider a defect is the installation height of the short railing. In my opinion, the finished floor height should have been taken into account there.
Everything else is not ideal, but from my point of view, not a defect.
What I really consider a defect is the installation height of the short railing. In my opinion, the finished floor height should have been taken into account there.
Everything else is not ideal, but from my point of view, not a defect.
B
Berlinho27 Jan 2024 11:37@Tolentino
We didn’t have anything like a "planning" phase.
The process was: material selection, additional agreement, installation.
The small railing section is not yet screwed in so we can tile underneath it.
The stair builder asked us not to lay the last row of tiles yet to avoid issues with the stair opening trim.
Now I’m wondering how you are supposed to tile under the bottom step between the ground floor and the upper floor, and also where the (non-selected) posts are located.
To me, it seems like he pushed us into something that reduces his work but significantly increases the effort for all the following tasks, which I hadn’t realized at all.
It could have all been tiled two months ago...
We didn’t have anything like a "planning" phase.
The process was: material selection, additional agreement, installation.
The small railing section is not yet screwed in so we can tile underneath it.
The stair builder asked us not to lay the last row of tiles yet to avoid issues with the stair opening trim.
Now I’m wondering how you are supposed to tile under the bottom step between the ground floor and the upper floor, and also where the (non-selected) posts are located.
To me, it seems like he pushed us into something that reduces his work but significantly increases the effort for all the following tasks, which I hadn’t realized at all.
It could have all been tiled two months ago...
Well, if nothing was specified, you can only point out any potential workmanship defects. If you don’t like the appearance, you should have made sure during the planning phase that you knew what you were getting. If you order "one staircase," you’ll only get "one staircase." Since you mostly deal with people on construction sites who think only as far as their own nose, you really have to keep an eye on everything yourself.
I generally find the staircase quite unattractive. Did you actually want this type of construction, or did you only specify the wood species?
I generally find the staircase quite unattractive. Did you actually want this type of construction, or did you only specify the wood species?
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