Hi – Ive just had some balustrades installed and it’s mostly lovely but there’s areas where there’s overhang, the top wood piece not quite on flush and there’s chips in the posts. Is this acceptable?
I asked the guy who did it and they said that ‘outdoor timber is never neat and straight and that the overhangs are deliberate’. I don’t know if I’m being too fussy? I’ve not done work like this in the garden before.
Thanks in advance!
by fluffycaramel90
25 Comments
I think the finish is unacceptable.
Where are the overhangs?
I’m not sure how much you paid but as an amateur DIYer I would say that finish is not something I would wish to pay for.
The cuts are not straight or finished properly. The top piece looks too thin and I would imagine snap if anyone leant on it., I can’t tell how big the gap is that it spans though. The exposed screws look terrible.
Not acceptable if you’ve paid a professional. The finish is poor
“outdoor timber is never neat and straight”?? What a bizarre response. It’s neat and straight if you make it neat and straight, and choose the appropriate timber bits for the job?
Not an acceptable finish in my opinion
If your BIL did it, sure.
I always think that if I could honestly do better, then it’s a poor job. Offer to pay them appropriately, or full payment if they finish to a good standard.
Put those photos on his Google page and let his future customers decide…
That’s a bit shit tbh
BS. Im an amateur DIYer and am capable of a better finish than that.
Challenge again, if the guy comes out with the same shit, get a couple of other quotes for the job and say hes paying for it to be finished or he needs to sort it.
There are legal routes after but this is the 1st step.
Edit to say text or email him, you need a paper trail.
For paid work? Definitely not.
You want to avoid having end grain facing up and exposed to the rain so the handrail should cover it ideally.
It’s looks like poor planning as well. The top cap/rail should be wider than the upright if it’s done this way. If not then the end upright should go higher (like a Jewell post) with a cap on top and the rail goes into the side of it
This is not rough sawn timber it is planed. If you don’t like the overhang he should cut it back also
As a gardener and house owner I would not like work of this standard in my garden. Over the years we have had lots of work done from small to large building projects, and never pay in full until the work is finished to our satisfaction. If you have paid then they are just trying to get away with it. If not, no cash until…
That is really shit even if it was DIY. My wife would tell me how shit it was if I’d done it. Whoever did it was a lazy fucker and has no standards whatsoever. I bet their underwear was stained as fuck.
As a master bodger myself I’d say that’s a really poor job, and won’t those screws rust in the rain?
Absolutely not acceptable, I paid to have my bathroom done a few months ago and called them back to rectify all the problems I found. It doesn’t matter who you paid, if they can’t complete the job to an acceptable standard then they shouldn’t have taken on the work, don’t let them get away with your hard earned cash make a list of anything your not happy with and contact them and get them back to rectify their shoddy workmanship. Other than the visible problem’s the work would have been okay..sincerely hope that you get it sorted….
Acceptable? Maybe. Good? Debatable. Excellent? Absolutely Not…
As long as it’s structurally sound, then it’s probably acceptable. If it wobbles, won’t take weight, or is simply unstable, then no, it’s trash. However, if you’re asking about it’s form, even though it functions, you migjt be being a little picky. Give it a lick of paint and you won’t even tell.
Let’s be honest if you’ve paid a lot of money and your expectations was of a high quality I’d be rather disappointed at the standard they’ve left it in, yet what agreement do you have the people doing the work? Because your agreement is a factor in the finished work ie Cost etc
With that in mind you have your answer.
I’d be annoyed if I’d done that as a DIY job, for a pro that’s awful. However if it was very cheap then it may be acceptable.
Thank you everyone for your comments – there is a clear consensus. Now for the awkward conversation 🫠
I’m sorry but I think that’s disgusting work, it looks like it was done by someone, who “thinks” they can do the work. I wouldn’t present work like that to my wife, let alone a customer. 💚🤟🏻
No, you’ve got good timber and shite workmanship, the really sad bit about this is that it’s easier to get precision cuts with good timber, but you do need sharp tools and the knowledge to use them.
looks like a flat pack installation? unfortunately they often look like this and need a good workman to make the best of it