I need some opinions please!

[Genuine]

My husband is out of town field training and I need to make a big decision without him. (I didn't know where else to put this post so I'm sticking it here)

We're building a house and I drove by today to check on the progress. Half the siding is up... in the WRONG color! We chose a sable brown shake shingle siding for the dormers (which was ordered correctly) but the house was to be a sand color. It's BLUE! I might like the color, but I've seen so many colors I don't know what I like anymore.

The thing is, if I keep it this blue color it HAS to match the dormers siding color. Take a look at this pictures. In the one picture I have a piece of the dormer siding next to the blue siding. Does it match?? I'm lost without my husband here

 

[mkgal1]

Personally....I wouldn't allow the contractor's error to force me to compromise. You made the color choices (and I am sure that wasn't easy to begin with...)...they made the error...they should have to make it right and replace the siding with the correct color.

I would stay with my original colors...especially if your first impression of the blue is that you "might" like it. If you didn't like it right away....you most likely aren't going to learn to like it any more.

That being said....it is difficult to tell by the pictures....the first picture on the bottom looks like a pretty vibrant blue...but, the one on top looks much softer.

Colors are so difficult and personal.......I hope you are able to get this resolved with as little stress as possible.

 

[CuddlyBear]

The blue is beautiful - but that is my taste. The dormer sidings match 'ok' but, from my impressions from the picture, I do think it would be better if it matched - be that the blue or the sand. Just my opinion and it's harder to tell from pictures.
You have contracted these people to follow your specifications. If they have got it wrong, make them fix it. If you decide to stick with it as it is, they should at least give you a signficant discount.
I once came home to find that the wrong colour carpet had been laid. They offered me a discount to keep what was laid but I hated the color - so I rejected their offer and made them rip it up and put the right one down.

 

[Genuine]

Thank you! I've been so frusterated with this. Thank you for your opinions!

 

[Lilymay]

If you and your husband made the initial color combination as a joint decision, than (especially with him not there) I would stay with the same color combination. It is the contractors responsibility to correct their error.

 

[desmalia]

If you and your husband made the initial color combination as a joint decision, than (especially with him not there) I would stay with the same color combination. It is the contractors responsibility to correct their error.

I agree. It's their error, and they need to fix it.
As others have said, the blue might be nice. It's hard to tell from the pictures. But it's not what you ordered, and definitely doesn't match the colour you chose for the dormers.

 

[FallenPaladin]

Call them and act like you are trying to help them out by pointing this out before your husband sees it. Act like he will get very angry about it when he comes home so you just wanted to bring it to their attention so they can get it fixed before he gets home and sees it. If you call them on your own they might hem and haw about it. If you don't like playing mind games or you are confident in yourself to handle this please disregard my previous advice and call them with the presence of your own person to handle it.

There have been a couple times in my married life where I had to act angry with businesses so they would do the right thing. Both times were after my wife tried to get something done. Now I tell her to call people and warn them about me having to call them if she can't get it done. Things get done when she calls now.

 

[Key]

As for the Match: They match fine, the color contrast can work wonderfully. They do not clash, at all.

However, it's not what you paid for, it's not what you ordered, they should fix it. They will not want to fix it, and will give you grief about it, but they should fix it.

Hope that helps

God Bless

 

[FallenPaladin]

They may offer you a break in the price if you take the other color. If you think its God throwing you a bone maybe it is worth it.

 

[sdmsanjose]

Send a facsimile or email (any document that is verifiable) to the general contractor telling him that it is the wrong color and that you are going to discuss the wrong color with your husband. Tell him also that you and your husband after dicussing and making a decision will decide what action you are going to take.

If you and your husband decide to accept the colors, no problems

If you and your husband do not accept the colors then send a verifiable document to the general contractor telling him he must change the colors to the right colors. I hope the contractor is being paid on the “Draw” system. That is where you pay the contractor at certain points in the construction. If that is the case you have a tremendous amount of leverage in getting exactly what you want and what was agreed upon. We tried other ways but some contractors only respond to money.
Money gives you a much better chance to get it right

I have been through a similar situation years ago and we withheld construction funds from the contractor and that was the only way that something got done.

You should not have to compromise one bit, unless you want to, on what you and your husband had decided on as far as construction color and materials.

The contractor that I had this problem with tried a multiple of things. One was that he SAID he did extra work ( as a favor to me) that he did not plan and another was using a time delay tactic. You will have to wait a very long time to get the right materials, and it will take a very long time to get the construction done, and it will be a very long time before you get to move into the house are some of the contractor’s time tactics.

I hope your contract has a penalty clause for going over the length of time for completion of construction.

This is the bottom line for this situation. You are going to pay the contractor EXECALLY the amount you previously agreed to, the money will be the exact color of green that the banks will accept. In return the contractor must build you EXACALLY what you agreed upon with the EXACT colors that you as the buyers will accept.

 

[Genuine]

Thank you everyone!

 

[FallenPaladin]

This is the bottom line for this situation. You are going to pay the contractor EXECALLY the amount you previously agreed to, the money will be the exact color of green that the banks will accept. In return the contractor must build you EXACALLY what you agreed upon with the EXACT colors that you as the buyers will accept.

Yes, it should be done EXACULLY as was agreed upon.

 

[desmalia]

I mentioned this issue to my husband. He's in the trades, and has seen this happen before. It's a pretty regular problem.

When this happens the contractor will want to keep the siding the way it is. You can convince him to remove it and get the right siding, but if he agrees to it, he may end up charging extra markup on the remainder of the work to be done to cover the lost monies for the mistake that he missed. A lot will depend on the kind of contract you have with him.

So depending on your contract, you could possibly work with him to just change the color for the dormers (if needed, you'll need to compare the colors to see if they'll clash). Or you could casually mention that you're obtaining legal counsel if there's going to be a problem.

So that's just some stuff to be aware of.

 

[Conservativation]

I had similar thing, but funny, we contracted for a house in Atlanta, it was slabbed and some framing and we went out of town for 10 days...when we got back we went here and saw they were building the WRONG HOUSE....it was a completely diff. house than we bought....
They let us cancel the whole thing....

Ive never heard of that before or since

 

[dallasapple]

I agree its not what you wanted..Dont settle unless its actually changed your mind after seeing it..

(((HUGS))))

Love

Dallas