ᐅ Tradespeople leave behind a complete mess.

Good morning,

I couldn’t think of a better title. That’s the classic problem with contractors.

You could already be glad to get anyone at all to provide an estimate. That alone delayed the renovation. A general contractor was hired for the renovation including 2 bathrooms, guest toilet, wall removal, pipe replacement, drywall, window replacement, tiling, and so on.

This is not a shell construction! Some new things are already installed (e.g., kitchen temporarily stored in the living room until the kitchen is finished), part of the floor is parquet, which still needs to be sanded. My problem now: the place is completely filthy because, in my opinion, they didn’t protect it properly. Here are some highlights:

- The entire house is covered with almost a centimeter (about 0.4 inches) thick layer of construction dust, including my kitchen units
- For example, a white wall that was still clean and that I did not want to paint has black handprints on it
- Construction debris dumped on the lawn, even though I provided a dumpster container
- Bathroom door frame chipped and otherwise scratched up
- In some places, my work equipment was used and dirtied (wheelbarrow, shovel, plastering screed, ladder cemented with mortar, placed on a chair in the basement and dirtied)
- Windows not properly covered and dirtied with plaster and so on
- Dirt thrown everywhere and not separated (metal scrap could have been taken away quickly if sorted)
- Natural stones at the entrance were concreted in, they were already partly damaged but were supposed to stay for now and be fixed later; now they are completely ruined (covered with plaster, broken because something was dropped on them)
- Cigarette butts thrown all over the floor, even though I told them three times to stop
- With the deposit from beer cans and energy drink cans lying around my house, a bottle collector could take a week off

And the absolute highlight: one of the workers defecated behind the garage, and I stepped right in it with my nice new sneakers (luckily it was Sunday and no one else was there or I would have lost it). I think that I am not the builder but just the client for the tradespeople’s services, and if the boss doesn’t provide a portable toilet or removes all toilets at once and works on the plumbing, it is his responsibility to take care of his employees’ sanitary needs.

I’m pretty annoyed, partly not fully satisfied with the work (e.g., heating system estimate lost, drywall to close heating niche, towel radiator moved to another location, I’d expect the closed niche to be insulated but it isn’t), and I’m glad when it’s finally over.

Is this kind of working method normal? Can I charge for cleaning?

barfly666 schrieb:

My problem now: the place is completely filthy because, in my opinion, it wasn’t properly protected. Here are some highlights:

This is more or less normal with the measures you mentioned. A full renovation inevitably creates dirt everywhere. The bigger issue seems to be that you are storing furniture already in the “shell” phase or expecting everything to be without dirt.

barfly666 schrieb:

Is this way of working normal? Charging for cleaning?

Regarding the mess the workers made: no, this kind of working method is not normal.
From what you describe, it sounds like you have a consumer construction contract. In that case, you certainly have a retention security holdback—you should make use of that.
That aside, you are also assuming things that are not standard unless agreed upon (for example, no portable toilet contractually agreed = workers still need to use the restroom somewhere; no insulation in the niche = was insulation contractually agreed and paid for?).

Regardless, the tradespeople are responsible for any damages.

Hello,
I would have them come back to fix and clean up.
Replace any dirty private tools.
Otherwise, hold back the payment.
Make sure you have witnesses to document the condition before and after.
Or were these some obscure, super cheap hired laborers?
With a proper company, this shouldn’t happen since they have their own tools.
They usually cover the work areas as well.
And the issue with the toilet is usually clarified beforehand.
Best regards, Olli

Has everything been invoiced??? Just asking 🙂 Otherwise, I can't imagine that anyone would defecate in your garden except for a dog. Or did you lock the toilet?

Document everything with photos.

HilfeHilfe schrieb:

Or did you lock off the toilet?

Hello,
the toilets were probably already removed...
Olli