What was supposed to be a backyard upgrade became a source of frustration for one homeowner, who said a contractor installed stone steps instead of wood but left gaps, unfinished areas, and exposed siding.
Still owing the company several thousand dollars, they took to Reddit's r/HomeMaintenance community to ask if their complaints were unreasonable.
Here's what to know
The homeowner said that the staircase was part of a much bigger backyard project, yet the final result looked unfinished.
In a Reddit thread, the original poster listed three main problems: sizable openings in the steps where water could seep in and freeze, spots from a removed railing that were never sanded, filled, or painted, and siding behind the new stairs that was never replaced.
OP said the company later tried to address one issue by setting a stone paver over a gap, but insisted that the missing siding behind the stairs "wasn't part of the work and would be extra." The homeowner summed up their concern by asking the forum, "Am I being too unreasonable? What is normal in this situation?"
Most of the replies backed the homeowner's view. One commenter wrote, "You don't always put in those tiny but crucial details. It's usually implied by the contractor having pride in their work." A second user joked, "I mean they literally cut the corners."
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Other commenters suggested having an outside inspector review the job before making any final payment. One even advised homeowners to "tell them in your first meeting that you will have a third party inspect their work before they are paid."
Another recommended that OP "always get a written scope of the job before agreeing to a price. Sometimes you don't know what you don't know, and some of these things wouldn't be on your mind at that time. … But things like painting where the old wood was attached, sanding the bricks, capping the ledger board, these should have been listed."
More background
Sloppy exterior work can quickly become more than a cosmetic problem. Gaps around steps can trap water, and in places with freezing weather, that can lead to expanding cracks, shifting materials, and more costly repairs later.
And when a job has to be redone, homeowners often end up paying twice, once for the original work and again for repairs, while also creating avoidable material waste.
Poor workmanship can mean extra stone, siding, paint, and labor are needed just to bring a project up to the standard many homeowners expected in the first place. One way to reduce these disputes is to spell out the scope of work in writing before the project starts.
Where can I learn more?
Disputes over unfinished outdoor projects are part of a broader pattern of homeowners questioning the quality of work around their yards.
• A homeowner returned early to find a landscaper had destroyed a mature tree.
• A builder's landscaping choices left live oaks suffocating under piled mulch in a homeowner's yard.
• A neighbor's gravel project killed nearby grass and soil, leaving one homeowner worried.
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