Actually it's as much friendship advice as anything.

Background: A good friend of mine is a handyman. He's really good at what he does and can do pretty much anything. He's done everything you can think of, up to and including building new homes from the ground up. I have full confidence in his abilities. He's constantly busy (even in the horrible FL construction market) and I've seen his work on other houses so I know he's good.

About a month ago we noticed a crack in the tub of our master bath. We stopped using it once we noticed the crack, but I had no idea how much leakage had occurred before we noticed it. The crack got worse thanks to my heel so we stopped using that tub (it was also a jacuzzi). We decided to let our buddy replace it for us. He came over and gave his assessment: Replace the tub, tile would need to be replaced, probably the floor tile as well since we're not installing a new jacuzzi. We agreed to let him do the work. A week later he came over with his crew and they demo'ed everything. It now looks thusly:



That's one of our fat cats enjoying the scenery. The water hose is from outside, we also have a valve leak that needs to be fixed and unfortunately the only fix is new faucets so I jury rigged that up to keep the thing from filling up and overflowing (buckets were obviously cumbersome).

Anyhoo, as his guys tore out the tile and tub he gave us a list of things to buy to replace everything. We bought a new tub, surround, tile for the floor, grout, green board, caulk, faucets, everything. We got the stuff the next day. That was a week and a half ago. Since then, I can't get in touch with the guy. He won't return my calls or answer texts. I gave him a check last Friday (not last night, Friday before) at our weekly 1/2 cash game and still nothing.

How long should I give this guy before calling someone else? We need the bathroom fixed. I don't want to jeopardize our friendship and it would make things REALLY awkward at the poker game to get someone else in here but I'm not sure what else to do at this point. How long should I expect to wait?

 

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i would say 3 days. you have to live there after all, not him.

[EDIt] that's 3 days total, not 3 more days. you've already been too kind.

 

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Your cat needs a tool belt to start with!!

 

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Ash you are not the one jeopardizing the friendship. You got what he requested the next day, paid him with a check, and he has been a ghost for a week and a half?
Call into your next poker night and cancel, informing someone else at the card game taht you can't make it because your gal got hurt on the tore out bathroom and you are rushing her to the hospital.
Your friend will be there the next day to complete the project.

 

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..I'd start in the Husky section of the warehouse, oh and a hard hat.. You do not want to be sued by the Feline Contractor's Union I hear they really sink their claws into people over stuff like that.

 

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<groan> That was horrible!

 

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When they were here demo'ing he said, and I quote, "I can't stop that leak without shutting off water to the entire house so time is of the essence!"

 

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"o mang, if you don't have time do you have a buddy or know of someone who might want the job?" Thanks, fyi my wife is going to kill me if I don't fix her tub.

 

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Awww just think how cute he would be in a little hard hat and a toolbelt..

 

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