Bad Contractor Work

The plumber's truck has pulled out, the invoice is on the counter, and something under the sink looks wrong, or just different from what you pictured. You cannot tell whether you are looking at a shortcut or a perfectly normal installation, and you are not sure whether you are allowed to say anything. Bad Contractor Work is a plain-English guide for homeowners who need to judge finished plumbing, HVAC and building work, raise it fairly, and know what recourse exists if it is not fixed. It gives you two simple tools: the Four Tests, which show whether the job matches the contract, the code, the manufacturer's instructions and basic craftsmanship, and the Fix Scale, which sorts a problem into Cosmetic, Correctable, Redo or Danger so you know what to ask for. This is not a book about hiring a contractor, pricing a quote, claiming on a new-build warranty or suing a home seller; those are separate subjects. It starts at the moment the work is done, or nearly done, and you have a question and an unpaid balance. Inside, you'll learn: How to tell a sloppy or non-code installation from normal practice using the Four Tests and the Fix Scale What to photograph, measure and write down before the work is covered up or the contractor leaves What normal looks like, and what raises questions, in plumbing, HVAC installs and general building work How permits and inspections work, how to ask the building department, and what a passed inspection does and does not prove How to get a fair second opinion without being sold a tear-out How to decide between a redo, a repair, a credit or a full tear-out, and what to say to the contractor in person and in writing How final-payment timing creates leverage, and the risks of withholding The Escalation Ladder: building department, licensing board, consumer protection, mediation, small claims and when to call a lawyer You do not have to become a tradesperson, and you do not have to win a fight. You need a calm method, a good file and a clear next step. This book is designed to give you all three.