Backyard Reno - is this normal?

[fela]

Demo started today on our backyard renovation, hooray!!

Except there is already a problem. We are getting a paver patio which includes 2 steps being built from our sliding glass door to the patio. The PM just got here and is saying there is some issue with that original plan which means they would need to haul away a bunch more dirt or increase the height of a retaining wall (like 20 feet away). I’ll get a better explanation soon, but the reasons don’t really seem important to me right this second.

Here’s my question: if these 2 steps are in our contract, is it normal that they’d be asking us to either change the plan or take on the additional expenses? The PM has been here multiple times, and the company owner and foreman were here with her for several hours a couple weeks ago. So they’ve had ample opportunity to measure, make adjustments, etc.

I do understand that things come up unexpectedly, and I don’t want to be unreasonable. But if the contract states they’ll deliver X plan for Y price I guess I expect them to absorb extra costs?

I have some irritations already with this PM so if I’m in the wrong I need to hear it. I don’t want to be unreasonable but I also don’t want to be a pushover if they made an error or failed to do their due diligence...

[ellipses84]

It depends what kind of contract you have, if there were drawings / what kind of drawings/ when they provided an estimate for the contract, and what was included or excluded in their original estimate. The responsibility should be on them to explain any cost increases, provide adequate backup and get your consensus before physically making changes. Unfortunately that can take time so they may have to stop or not be able to start work.

[hbomdiggity]

I would require them to explain what the unforeseen condition is and why the original plan is not buildable as shown.

[fela]

Thanks for the responses - I got the explanation.

Our yard is sloped, and the PM says she underestimated the degree of slope, which means they have to remove more dirt to level the area. She also underestimated the height of the retaining wall - I guess she measured the height of the existing wall and the hill behind it but when they started removing dirt the wall is taller than they thought.

She is blaming it on there being some bark on the ground in one area, and my compost bin in a corner by the wall. I find this really infuriating - the bark was a very thin layer in the center of the space - there was tons of space around it and it in no way made the area appear level. And the compost bin was near one end of the wall but also had space to walk all around it, it wouldn’t have blocked any measurements and even if it had we could have just moved it.

So anyways they are splitting the cost of the dirt removal ($3k) and increasing the wall height from 3 ft to 5 ft on their dime.

AND she had volunteered to have their crew dig up 1 rose for me - I removed all the other plants we wanted to save but I’m 6 months pregnant and she said she’d have the crew dig up this one for me. It’s not huge, I only planted last year, but I love it. Of course when I got back from dropping DS at daycare this morning they had bulldozed the whole area. I’m so sad!

[simpsongal]

fela, I'm sorry about the rose

At least you split the costs a bit but I would be frustrated. Let's hope it's all good work in the end. Contractors survive on recommendations, it doesn't sound like they'll be getting one from you!

[ssmjlm]

Sometimes slope is different once they start grading. We didn't realize when we did our patio, but the way our yard slopes toward the drainage ditch created a very high side on that end. It wasn't anything we could have foreseen until you're out there measuring and surveying the area.

We did have to increase the cost to add 1 step and a pad because the other option was a steep drop/hill and/or making it all a flower bed, so not way to get off the patio on that side. We didn't want to remove the ability to exit on that side, so we added a step with an undermount light.

If it's something simple I wouldn't be too upset, but I guess it would depend on how things are communicated and how much more money it might cost.