[mikester]

I have a contract where I've paid for services basically as they are rendered. Unfortunately the countertops were part of the cabinet install and I made a mistake in giving him the check before that work was completed.

I realize a week late is no big deal and I'm not making a big deal out of it.

My intention is to give him the opportunity to make it right if that does not work out then of course I will look at my options then. I have to at least give him the chance to make it right though. Up until this point he has done just that. It's just that I get real angry when I see things get f'd up and he's simply not around or reachable to discuss it. The workers do the work unsupervised unless I'm there - frankly I paid him for that service. I have to go to work during the day and can't babysit for him (at least not without my $7 an hour I suppose). When I can't get to him; I get even more irritated. So; hopefully he'll call me tomorrow and come look at it - I won't be talking to him about this over the phone. He needs to come see it and that's simply it. Also; I've worked real hard to work with him on scheduling times to meet and I've missed work to do it. I won't be doing that any more; he will conform to my schedule even if it delays the completion - I've worked with him quite enough. I don't care how early he has to get up to traverse the 405 to meet with me first thing in the morning.

This is nearing the end of the project. If this had gone correctly all that would be left is the floor tile and the appliance installation. Now seriously he does have to redo this and as I said - I'm not paying for it. His contractor (which incidentally was not supposed to be a contractor - I asked him at the beginning in the interview if he used contactors or employees and he said the only contractor he used was the carpenter who did the cabinets - it's one of the reasons I hired him) f'd up the stone. Order more, order the right amount so I don't have that unsightly seam and get someone here who can do it without f'ing it up.

The reason I posted this was simply to make sure I wasn't insane. The pictures aren't great but in all the showrooms I've seen I've never seen anything this bad. No; he wasn't the cheapest bid - in fact he was the most expensive bid and came down a bit. I choose him mainly because he showed some creativity that none of the others showed. The kitchen looks great now comparted to what it was and the space is fantastic (at least it should be when done) so I have to give him the credit for that.