4 Common Trouble Cases with Contractors in Exterior Construction! Are There Ways to Prevent Troubles?

When carrying out exterior construction work, it is essential to choose a reliable contractor who genuinely considers the client’s needs.

If you mistakenly choose the wrong contractor, the likelihood of various troubles arising increases significantly.

This article will provide a detailed explanation of common troubles that occur with exterior construction contractors and how to address them.

Common Troubles and Solutions in Exterior Construction

Let’s take a closer look at the common troubles in exterior construction and their solutions.

Poor quality work is done, but they do not respond

If you hire a contractor that does not offer after-sales service, there may be cases where they do not respond to troubles after the work is completed.

For example,

“I built a fence, but it cracked one month after construction”

If there is after-sales service, they can address this issue at no charge.

However, if there is no after-sales service, you might be told,

“We lowered the grade to keep costs down. Therefore, we cannot offer free repairs.”

Even if the contractor is not malicious, the absence of after-sales service can lead to troubles later on, so be sure to confirm this before making a request.

They do not perform repairs after handover

This is also a trouble related to after-sales support, but many contractors do not respond to repair requests after handover.

For example,

“After the handover of the gate, I noticed that the door does not open and close smoothly”

In this case, if they say, “It’s after handover,” that’s the end of the discussion.

After-sales service may not seem very important before the work begins, but it is a crucial point.

・Contractors without after-sales service = malicious

While I cannot assert this definitively, if you want to make a request with peace of mind, it is advisable to choose a contractor that offers after-sales service.

Charges exceeding the estimated amount

This is not limited to exterior construction, but some malicious contractors may charge amounts exceeding the estimated cost.

Specifically,

“There are things that cannot be determined at the estimation stage”

is a reason they might give, and there have been cases where clients were charged hundreds of thousands of yen.

To avoid such troubles, it is essential to obtain estimates from multiple companies and thoroughly review the estimates before making a request.

Significantly exceeded the planned construction period

If you hire a low-quality contractor, there is a high possibility that the planned construction period will be significantly exceeded.

For example,

・Contractors who are only enthusiastic about acquiring contracts
・Contractors who only acquire contracts and outsource the construction to subcontractors

If you end up hiring such contractors, it may take a long time to complete the project, so caution is necessary.

What points should be checked in the exterior construction contract?

Finally, I will explain in detail the points to check in the exterior construction contract.

Whether the construction details can be specified

When you receive the exterior construction contract,

・What and where will be installed
・What shape will it take
・What design and color will it be

Check whether these details are included.

If the completed form is not clearly defined, it can lead to discrepancies in understanding between the contractor and the client, increasing the likelihood of trouble.

Whether the breakdown of construction costs is included

When reviewing the contract, make sure to check if the breakdown of construction costs is included.

If you don’t understand the breakdown, you won’t be able to determine if the amount is appropriate.

In some cases, it may end up being the contractor’s price, so be sure to confirm this in advance.

Is there a specified construction period?

When reviewing the contract, check if there is a specified construction period.

Basically,

・Construction start date: Month Day, Construction end date: Month Day

is usually specified.

What constitutes completion of handover?

When reviewing the contract,

check if it states “what constitutes completion of handover”.

If the finishing state is not clearly defined, the likelihood of issues arising after the construction is completed increases, so caution is necessary.

About defect liability

It is important to thoroughly check the defect liability.

In construction work, including exterior work, if the original performance is not met, the contractor is obligated to repair it for a certain period.

Since exterior work is also a type of construction work, if there are any defects, the contractor must repair them free of charge.

Even if it is not stated in the contract, by law, the contractor will bear the defect liability.

That said, without a mention in the contract,

・What extent of defects can be claimed for repair
・What is the specified period

these details become unclear, making it more likely to lead to disputes.

Conclusion

When undertaking exterior work, it is important to choose a high-quality contractor.

If you choose a contractor carelessly, the likelihood of encountering issues like those mentioned above increases.

For those considering exterior work, try to find a reputable contractor who will think from the client’s perspective as much as possible.

If you are unsure which contractor to choose, feel free to consult with Kakeru Koumuten Co., Ltd.

For helpful information on other exterior renovations, click here!

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One of our greatest strengths is that we can do all of our own scaffolding, roofing, and painting work. In this industry, where work is generally divided, we are able to provide a complete set of services, which saves time and effort in management and reduces costs. Above all, if there is any trouble, we will come to you right away!

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