Legal Question in Construction Law in Virginia

Verbal contract, shabby workmanship...now what??

We ''hired'' a gentleman (who had done some work for a friend) to remodel our bathroom for an agreed up price of $2500 in labor. We provided the materials. After he partially tiled the floor and tub surround, we inspected the job and found several chipped corners, two very obvious cracks and just overall shabby workmanship. When told about these cracks he just told us that some of those imperfections were to be expected. Also a partial wall that he constructed was not straight. Consequently, we asked him to not return to the job fearing that the entire job would be sub-standard.

We paid $1000 up front and, given the fact that he gutted the whole bathroom and moved some plumbing as well as built the wall, we are not looking to recoup any of the $ that we paid. We just hope that he will have no claim for any of the extra $ he would have gotten for completing the job as we will now need to pay someone else to tear down the defective tiled areas and finish the job not to mention eat the cost of the tile that was laid by him.

Is there anything that we need to do legally to protect ourselves?? We have photograhed all items in question as well as videotaped. I also have all receipts for my purchases. THANKS for any input.


Asked on 7/15/04, 12:05 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Verbal contract, shabby workmanship...now what??

Your photographs, video, receipts, as well your eidetic memories of his botched job should provide more than sufficient basis for a defense to any claims(in quantum meruit or otherwise) which this home improvement jockey without proper portfolio might bring against you in the future.

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Answered on 7/15/04, 10:28 am


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