XP: Contractor damaged our porch WWYD

[tripleshot]

I posted on H&G but thought this board might get more traffic. Or maybe everyone is on ML.

We're getting a stamped concrete patio installed in the back of the house. They were here all day doing the prep work, forming, and gravel base. I noticed saw marks on our front porch from where one of them used the saw to cut wood. There are 2 long marks and 1 small one. Our house is less than 2 years old.

I texted the owner a pic when we noticed it tonight and he was very apologetic and obviously pissed at his workers and said he'd do whatever we wanted. He said they can fill in the marks but the color wouldn't blend in perfectly. He said if we wanted he would repour our whole front porch. I'm torn because that seems extreme but damnit my house is brand new and I shouldn't have a damaged porch right at the front door.

What should I ask for?

[tripleshot]

Here's a pic of the porch. The marks are in front of the front door.

[badgergrl]

Could they do a decorative stain or treatment to make it less noticeable?

[tripleshot]

Apr 17, 2014 18:14:19 GMT -5 badgergrl said:

Could they do a decorative stain or treatment to make it less noticeable?

Good idea. I can ask him tomorrow. He's coming over to look at it.

[audette]

Honestly, I'd be fine with the apology. It's a bit of damage, yes. The workmen should _not_ have been working there, and they should have been more careful of your property. But, in the grand scheme of things, that's going to be barely noticeable...

I'd let the contractor know that I was happy with the apology, and just wanted to point it out to him as a heads up.

[thatgirl2478]

I would at least want the top either skim coated or roughed up and restained. Dirt is going to accumulate in those scratches and it will be more obvious with time. I don't know if I would go so far as to have the whole thing repoured - that's a major inconvenience to you too.

[AAM2012]

Apr 17, 2014 18:42:59 GMT -5 thatgirl2478 said:

I would at least want the top either skim coated or roughed up and restained. Dirt is going to accumulate in those scratches and it will be more obvious with time. I don't know if I would go so far as to have the whole thing repoured - that's a major inconvenience to you too.

Yeah I don't see this as a big deal in the bigger picture. If they can smooth/buff it out that would be great but I would not ask them to re do the whole thing because they would have to jack hammer everything out, etc. I am not sure the owner would even be willing to accommodate such an expensive request.

[dexteroni]

I think I would be ok with having them filled in to keep dirt and crud from accumulating in the scratches, like thatgirl2478 pointed out. But I would be ok with it not matching perfectly, as long as he got it close.

Are they in a spot that can be at least mostly covered by a larger doormat?

[tripleshot]

Apr 17, 2014 19:06:38 GMT -5 dexteroni said:

I think I would be ok with having them filled in to keep dirt and crud from accumulating in the scratches, like thatgirl2478 pointed out. But I would be ok with it not matching perfectly, as long as he got it close.

Are they in a spot that can be at least mostly covered by a larger doormat?

No, it's in a spot that can't be covered by a larger doormat or furniture. It's probably 3' from the front door but it's right in the middle. If it were in a less noticeable spot I might be more forgiving. The porch is pristine (since it's still relatively new) and this sticks out like a sore thumb when you walk up to the front door. If my house were older or the porch had other damage, I probably wouldn't be as mad.

I called a family member who works at a contractor supply company and knows and recommended this company. He said they're really good people and will make it right. He said i should say "I want it to look as good or better than it did before." And see what they come up with but that they needed to do something.

[vanillacourage]

I would ask them to fill in the scratches and then stain the whole piece to make the colors match. Should only set them back $100 or so and will look even nicer than it odd before. 

[onomatopoeia]

That stinks. I'd probably just have them fill it in, but I might also see if I could negotiate a small upgrade/deal on the back patio for good will. Normally (and with my own 107 year old house) I'm pretty easy about stuff like this, but that's a big scratch in a pretty noticeable area. I also agree with a pp that it might look worse over time. You *could* make them re-pour, but it might be a better deal all around to negotiate something else.

[asoctoberfalls]

Apr 17, 2014 21:39:00 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

I would ask them to fill in the scratches and then stain the whole piece to make the colors match. Should only set them back $100 or so and will look even nicer than it odd before. 

This is what I would do.

[CloudBee]

Have him fill them in, and ask for a slight discount on the work he provided. VERY slight.

You're 2 yrs into this house. The first bit of "damage" is always hard to swallow. But really, this is so minor.

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2014 11:00:03 GMT -5 asoctoberfalls said:

Apr 17, 2014 21:39:00 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

I would ask them to fill in the scratches and then stain the whole piece to make the colors match. Should only set them back $100 or so and will look even nicer than it odd before. 

This is what I would do.

Me too! Probably have him stain it a slightly darker gray.

[CloudBee]

Do people even notice scratches in pavement/cement? It's not something my eyes would ever go to if I were visiting someone's home, and something I certainly wouldn't put thought into.

[mollybrown]

Apr 18, 2014 15:17:17 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Do people even notice scratches in pavement/cement? It's not something my eyes would ever go to if I were visiting someone's home, and something I certainly wouldn't put thought into.

Yeah, I think there is a big difference between wood and cement.  I doubt anyone expects cement slab to be perfect since it has a rough appearance anyway.  If this were a different type of material, I might feel differently.  I'd at least let him try to repair and stain it.  He might also be able to add another layer of cement, rather than removing the whole thing and starting over.

[Deleted]

Apr 17, 2014 21:39:00 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

I would ask them to fill in the scratches and then stain the whole piece to make the colors match. Should only set them back $100 or so and will look even nicer than it odd before. 

This is what I would ask for too.

[tripleshot]

This is our forever house so we don't plan on moving. The owner came over this afternoon and he was very apologetic and angry at his workers. DH doesn't want to repour the slab. The owner was going to look into resurfacing , staining, and/or the filler and other options. I told him I didn't want the solution to be something that needed more maintenance in the future or a short term solution (peeling/flaking color in 5 years). He's going to call me next week. He said he'd do whatever we wanted and would make us happy.

On a side note, thank goodness for autocorrect because I had a half a Long Island at dinner and I'm a buy woozy.