What people keep running into with contractor issues
Complaints tagged contractor issues, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
31 recurring problems · 739 people · 25 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 7Concrete slab sloped toward the houseWhen a new concrete slab slopes toward your home instead of away from it, water runs directly against the foundation rather than draining safely into the yard. Fixing major leveling errors usually requires breaking and replacing the incorrect section or applying a specialized leveling overlay, depending on the severity of the slope.
- 6Roofers left mono roof top exposed without a capContractors frequently finish single-slope or mono roofs without installing necessary ridge caps or drip edges, leaving the exposed edges vulnerable to rain and snow. Homeowners are left arguing with general contractors over missing flashings and trying to figure out what specific finishing corrections to demand.
- 6Contractor installed a different size unit without askingContractors sometimes swap in a larger unit because they claim the correct size is out of stock, doing so without permission after the sale is finalized. This leaves homeowners stuck with an oversized system and a contractor who stops answering their calls.
- 5How to fix burnt water heater thermostat wireHeat can cook the insulation off the internal wires connecting the upper and lower thermostats, making it impossible to route a replacement wire through the closed-cell foam insulation inside the tank shell. While running a temporary wire on the outside restores hot water, you need a safe and permanent way to route or splice the wire without paying for a professional repair.
- 4Can you service an HVAC system with leak seal in it?Stop leak products can gum up recovery machines, valves, and gauges, leading technicians to give conflicting advice ranging from attempting a recharge to replacing the entire system. Because leak seal reacts with moisture and components inside sealed lines, many pros refuse to work on treated systems, leaving homeowners stuck between expensive full replacements and unserviceable cooling.
- 4Landlord installed a dangerous makeshift furnace exhaust ventLandlords frequently use improper materials like dryer vent hoses, blocked chimneys, or makeshift plywood window blocks for gas furnace exhaust. This leaves tenants terrified of carbon monoxide leaks and fire hazards near their bedrooms, with management companies and handymen failing to fix the issues correctly.
- 3Contractor poured concrete over basement floor access holesContractors sometimes fill uncovered floor access holes and cleanouts with concrete without asking homeowners first. This eliminates critical secondary drain access, leaving homeowners with no way to reach the pipes except through the backflow prevention device.
- 3How to tell if unlicensed electrical work is dangerousUnlicensed contractors often skip critical safety steps like load calculations and proper wiring, creating severe shock and fire hazards. Discovering that work was done incorrectly leaves homeowners with unverified installations that can energize metal conduits or cause catastrophic system failures.
- 3Where to find replacement vinyl gutter hangersFinding exact replacement parts or compatible brackets for specific vinyl gutters at local hardware stores is difficult because these parts are rarely stocked anymore. This leaves homeowners unable to easily reattach loose or detached gutter clamps without knowing what the specific components are called or where to source them.
- 2How to move a heavy backyard waterfall yourself when contractors flakeWhen contractors repeatedly no-show, moving a massive water feature yourself requires figuring out how to handle the extreme weight without specialized equipment. The main difficulty is finding a safe way to transport it while preventing property erosion in the donor yard and planning proper structural placement in your own.
- 2Contractor ghosted me with a leaking steel shed floorThe contractor failed to install the damp proof membrane correctly up the walls, leaving the steel shed floor damp and prone to leaks during storms. With the contractor now refusing to return calls, the homeowner is left trying to figure out whether part of the concrete floor needs to be pulled up to fix the issue.
Comes up alongside
Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.