I am an architect and a builder. Me and another guy recently formed an LLC on the side to GC a custom home for one of our firm’s clients. The home is complete and the owners have moved in. We have a snag that i am looking for some guidance on:
We hired a custom woodworker to build 5 custom 2/6, 8/0 doors (around $4,000). The owner specified the doors be made of red birch (birch heartwood) to match the new kitch cabinets. The owner also insisted that she be the one to finish the doors. The doors arrived in pristine condition, and they remained that way for about two months. They were on site for about 4-6 weeks before the owner got to finish them. They were all hung and finished within two months of arriving on site. We and the owners were very happy with the doors at that point.
While the owner was finishing the doors, she mentioned that she could not easily get to the bottoms (since they were hung). I stressed to her the importance of finishing the doors on all six sides. She and her husband disagreed with me and told me that not finishing the bottoms was not a big deal. A position that they hold to this day. The doors have all warped so far that they are useless now. We have subsequently learned that perhaps birch was not the best material choice for solid wood doors. The stiles and rails were laminated, and the craftsmanship was very good. The construction of the doors is not an issue as far as all are concerned.
The owner and the woodworker deicided that nobody was at fault for the doors warping. They decided that we should split the cost of the new cherry doors 3 ways ($1,500 each party). We (the GC) were not involved in that discussion. We don’t feel financially responsible in any way.
We hold that the guy who made the doors that warped, and the owner, who finished the doors incorrectly are the responsible parties. For the owners part they are stepping up to the plate more than the woodworker. They have agreed to pay for the warped doors in full (which they have done) and pay for a third of the new cherry doors. I think that the woodworker should have known that birch was a poor choice for solid wood doors. Building doors is a risky business. One that I am not involved in. I also think that the doors should have been finished on all six sides. I don’t know what I could have done differently. Am I, as a GC, way off base in saying that I’m not paying for any of it?
Replies
I may be way off base here but…
What did the “Signed†contract specify? By what I read, the owner requested the Birch and insisted on finishing the door… I cannot understand why the woodworker would accept 1/3 of the responsibility for the doors warping. All six sides should have been finished properly. Since only 5 sides were and the sixth side was “no big deal†then I would let them accept full responsibility and the contract should have stated it. No contract? Maybe this is why the woodworker is willing to dish out 1/3…
Since I have not seen the doors and can only rely on your words that the craftsmanship on the doors was “very good†and the doors were “true†when hung. What is the problem here? I am sure if I was the homeowner, who through their/my own incompetence screwed up five doors… You bet that going thirds on a new set of Cherry doors would be 2/3 rd’s better than they should be getting.
Lee
as the GC......did you agree to the choice of wood?
And..did you pick which door maker to use? Or did the clients pick?
But...back to my first thought.......what's $1500 out of the totoal cost/profit of building a whole custom home?
Good will and good word of mouth mean nuttin' to you guys?
Jeff
I just re-read and see you are an architect...so did you also spec the doors to be made in a certain wood?
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
I'm sure I'm way off here, but why didn't someone pull the doors so the bottoms could have been dealt with? I as a GC would have made sure that the bottoms were sealed after the "no big deals" were finished taking their time (that's too long to wait in a changing environment) or had them sign a full responsibility change order. I have no idea whether or not birch is an acceptible wood choice for a solid wood door (I assume the laminations were solid birch) but have seen walnut for example move around even when sealed in a timely manner. The thing is, you as GC pushed for all sides sealed and your advise wasn't followed. So I guess technically (?contract) you are not at fault, but hells bells, you as general have a little responsibility to see all the ducks are in a row.........whatever that means. But, best of luck in however this pans out.
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Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/