Dealing with a Contractor

[MichaelGrillo]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New Jersey

I am in the midst of dealing with a contractor. We had an addition put on the home. The addition is livable and the contractor has received all but a few hundred bucks of his payment ( a few hundred bucks that he obviously doesn't care about).

The way the addition was built, the contractor has the crawl space connected with an opening to the basement ( an old basement window). This means that in the winter my basement is effectively outside. Which, in turn, means all my heating ducts are refrigerated - which obviously drives up my heating bill.

The contractor tells me that this is because of the fire code regulations. I told the contractor that they could have easily put the opening to the crawlspace in the foundation to the addition and that it is absurd that the only option is to expose a finished basement to the winter air.

The contractor has no intention of fixing this issue. I am not a contractor and not skilled enough to notice these things during construction. They supposedly used an architect to design the addition and I would assume that an architect would not design such a huge flaw.

There are numerous other issues with the house and the contractor let me hold a few hundred bucks to make sure they got finished. Unfortunately, he came for the last payment and threw a big drunk fit on my porch ( with my wife watching ) and bullied me into most of the final payment.

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by MichaelGrillo

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New Jersey

I am in the midst of dealing with a contractor. We had an addition put on the home. The addition is livable and the contractor has received all but a few hundred bucks of his payment ( a few hundred bucks that he obviously doesn't care about).

The way the addition was built, the contractor has the crawl space connected with an opening to the basement ( an old basement window). This means that in the winter my basement is effectively outside. Which, in turn, means all my heating ducts are refrigerated - which obviously drives up my heating bill.

The contractor tells me that this is because of the fire code regulations. I told the contractor that they could have easily put the opening to the crawlspace in the foundation to the addition and that it is absurd that the only option is to expose a finished basement to the winter air.

The contractor has no intention of fixing this issue. I am not a contractor and not skilled enough to notice these things during construction. They supposedly used an architect to design the addition and I would assume that an architect would not design such a huge flaw.

There are numerous other issues with the house and the contractor let me hold a few hundred bucks to make sure they got finished. Unfortunately, he came for the last payment and threw a big drunk fit on my porch ( with my wife watching ) and bullied me into most of the final payment.

**A: then you need to be talking with that architect or one of your own to have the construction inspected.

[MichaelGrillo]

Originally Posted by HomeGuru

**A: then you need to be talking with that architect or one of your own to have the construction inspected.

I didn't hire the architect, the contractor did. However, in inspecting the drawings, the architect drew the plans as if the house itself was sitting on a crawl space and not a basement. In his plan an opening was to be placed in foundation to connect the two crawl spaces. Since the house is on a basement, the contractors didn't follow the plans and instead just busted out a window into the crawl space. ( Literally just busted out a window, didn't even bother to reframe it )

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by MichaelGrillo

I didn't hire the architect, the contractor did. However, in inspecting the drawings, the architect drew the plans as if the house itself was sitting on a crawl space and not a basement. In his plan an opening was to be placed in foundation to connect the two crawl spaces. Since the house is on a basement, the contractors didn't follow the plans and instead just busted out a window into the crawl space. ( Literally just busted out a window, didn't even bother to reframe it )

**A: it does not matter if you did not hire the architect.

[MichaelGrillo]

Originally Posted by HomeGuru

**A: it does not matter if you did not hire the architect.

Maybe I'm not being clear. The contractor did not follow the architects drawings. I did just talk to the architect about sealing off a crawl space from a basement with an access panel, which obviously, is what should be done.

I'm think short obtuse answers really aren't conducive to assisting with a problem, but thanks.

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by MichaelGrillo

Maybe I'm not being clear. The contractor did not follow the architects drawings. I did just talk to the architect about sealing off a crawl space from a basement with an access panel, which obviously, is what should be done.

I'm think short obtuse answers really aren't conducive to assisting with a problem, but thanks.

**A: so what is your new question?

[MichaelGrillo]

Originally Posted by HomeGuru

**A: so what is your new question?

I don't have one! Thanks to your helpful and detailed advice that's devoid of the normal snottery an arrogance of these forums I have contacted the architect and he has agreed to come over to the house and fix the issue himself, free of charge, and on his lunch break no less.

You rule!

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by MichaelGrillo

I don't have one! Thanks to your helpful and detailed advice that's devoid of the normal snottery an arrogance of these forums I have contacted the architect and he has agreed to come over to the house and fix the issue himself, free of charge, and on his lunch break no less.

You rule!

**A: OK, great. My point was that under the NJ state law governing licensed architects and engineers, the proect architect has a duty to the consumer (which is you) to create proper building plans and to check out the construction. Even if you are not a contracting party. In other words, the architect is responsible even if he/she was hired by the builder.
The other issue is the question of whether the addition was built to code and if the building inspector signed off on the building permit.