I live in a new construction home and we just hired a contractor to pour a cement back patio for us. He is liscensed and got the proper permit.
He came yesterday to dig and put in the gravel.
My husband told him to be sure to just come around back to do it.
We have a back alley(all the garages are in back).
Well he drove right thru the front yard around the house to the backyard!!
It had rained so he ruined our yard. We have to get it re graded and re sodded. First estimate was $1500. and the guy said why didn't he just come in thru the back. Duh!.
He also ruined part of our neighbors yard.
We called the guy and he said sorry he couldn't fit in the back. Won't do anything about the lawn. Contract says not responsible for landscaping.
Four of our other neighbors have the same thing and the contractors they chose came in the back way.
We don't know where we go from here, do we just chalk it up to lesson learned?

Judge Judy

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Usually when it says Landscaping not included it means that they wont plant grass/flowers or level where the construction was done. That does not in any way absolve them from damage they did to your yard above and beyond the site the cement pad is laid on. I would talk to them and tell them that they messed up your front yard and I would withold any payments to them until they fix it or come to a decent agreement with you on repairing the damage.

This is so irritating. We had some work done and I had to stay on top of all aspects, including my yard being driven through. I got them stopped before the damage happened.

Landscaping is an upgrade, not a down grade !!!!!!!!!!!! Usually there is wording to the effect of a "workman-like manner" and also points about the site being maintained in your contract. A workman-like manner is not destroying your yard.

My suggestion is to insist that the contractor pay, I hope you took pictures. Stand firm. If the contractor refuses, I wouldn't pay (although watch for a mechanic's lien slapped on your property by him) until they did.

You can try reporting to the state regulatory agency as well as any trade assocations he might belong to. It's possible/probable depending on your state, that he has a license and the business has a license, separate.

I would think the contractor would be insured for this type of thing, maybe that's a possibility? It just makes you so mad when people are so stupid in their conduct.

dl

Thanks for the input. We tried talking to the guy, even told him the neighbor was going to sue him, because he drove in his yard also. The guy wouldn't budge.
We contacted a lawyer who told us it would cost us to much.
We also have a call into the city hoping to get his permit pulled.
We filed a claim with our homeowners insurance they are paying for our yard and our neighbors yard and they are going after the contractor. I hope they make him pay.

Report him / the company to the state licensing board! What a shame people aren't responsible for what they've done.

What about paying the lawyer just to write a stern letter?

dl