handyman repairs not done properly

I recently hired a handyman to do some work for me. I think the job done has been quite poor quality. Where do I draw the line as to something that should be fixed before they get paid? For example, I asked to have some stairs built with wooden railings so people can hold onto while walking up. The stairs has been built and so has the railings but it's not entirely usable as the railings is still wood in its raw cut form, it's rough to touch and you can splinter your hands from touching it. When I told them the problem, they try to sand it down by hand using sand paper, it's better but still not really pleasant to hold on to and still easily get splinters from it.

In theory the job has been done, but the fact it's not usable is a problem.

 

You got a handyman to make stairs? I would have thought you'd go to someone that specialised a bit more.

Did they have experience in stair making?

 

This depends on a range of factors. But it sounds like the job isn't completed yet?

Is the wood going to be painted or oiled? Was the wood unsuitable for the job - did they select rough sawn instead of dressed all round wood?

What was your agreement with the handyman for the work?

 

Handyman not likely to do a good job, also did you describe exactly what you wanted ?

are they compliant ? there may be rules and regs to follow.

 

Maybe start at the end of the problem and work back from there --IF you have landlord insurance as i guess you would have then give them a quick ring and ask the question what would happen if the Tenant goes belly up from a splinter and end up at bottom of the stairs ---im sure they will explain the outcome and who pays---

 

Thanks. I got this person from service seeking and I believe they are builder compliant. Had good reviews and generally when I talked to them want to do a good job.

It will be painted with external color paint. They insist that it won't splinter once paint is on but i don't think that's going to happen because the first coat is on already. I could be wrong so is the second coat going resolve it?

i didn't think this is something that I had to mention - I didn't even think this was a factor at all. The previous old set of stairs with railings was smooth and polished and the agreement was to build a similar one. I didn't think I needed to call that out - I don't have any building background ( i shouldn't need any either) - but from a usability perspective, I just expected it to be splinter free. just like I didn't need to call out the width of the wood or its length because it's implied or how to bolt down it down. I'm not sure what wood they selected, this is outside my expertise.

They are not saying they won't fix it, but the way they are doing it with just sandpaper by hand is not giving me much confidence. Can this be fixed this way? Perhaps an electrical one?

 

My thoughts exactly.

I would have thought that would be outside the scope for the vast majority of handymen. It's quite specialised work - best to pay a pro for this sort of job to avoid disappointment.

Cheers

Jamie

 

He is a carpenter/builder.

 

Pics?

Tools

 

Handyman is a term used regularly on this forum. People to stingy to hire the right trade u get what u pay for although these days they charge top dollar and still stuff it up.These guys do a lot of winging it...

 

There is nothing wrong with sanding by hand.

Acrylic paint is very thick and may very well solve the problem, if the wood has been sanded properly.

What kind of wood has been used?

 

You're right. These days "you get what you pay for" is nonsense.

 

Yeah, who knows, you may be giving them a hard time for nothing & yes, sanding by hand is ok, is slow though, but maybe it is not that rough?

You would have to show hi res images to really have a better clue.

 

Or any images!

 

Yeah, you may pay top dollar for one of your PMs mates to do a bodge job too.

Quite often I have found the cheap ones to do a better job, so it is not just money.

Recently got a guy to do a job for 4k using new material, the other quote was for 17k using some of the existing !

 

Na...poor images means your still flying blind. Or a shot from 10m away with a 1,5mp cheap cam phone with the sun hitting the lens

 

I just used handyman generically as someone that gets things in my property repaired - I may have used to wrong term but that's what I meant. He was listed as a carpenter and builder by trade on service seeking. I got a couple of quotes and this guy wasn't the cheapest but what he said made sense when he came to quote. So I don't think I have selected the wrong trade nor did I cheap out to do a half baked job.

Don't have any images with me, I'll take some next time I go to the property

I really think it's hard to pick the right person, you don't really see their work ethics until the first day they start working. It's almost like a job interview in some regards, some people can sell you the moon and when they start the job you know they are all bs

 

You are right that finding good trades is difficult. You get what you pay for does not apply in my experience. I have 2 excellent plumbers with very reasonable rates. I also have 2 cheap electricians. One is excellent and one is rubbish. Unfortunately, you can't tell if they are any good until you hire them and see their work, which is what you have just found out.