Gardening & Landscaping

When should I have reported concerns with the work my tradesman completed?

Anonymous user 12/06/2025 - 8.01 AM

I asked a builder if he could reconstruct a 2 tier set of replacement decking steps approx. 1.2 metres wide - I showed him a picture of the original steps and asked if he could build a new set to the same specifications, from scratch. He took around 4/5 hours to complete the steps and when he’d finished asked me if it was ok. The steps he’d built looked nothing like the picture I’d showed him but I said there and then that it was ok as I thought it would just take a bit of getting used to. As soon as he left I took a closer look and identified several areas of poor workmanship. I photographed these and contacted him later the same day to explain these and why I wasn’t happy and asked if he could please return to rectify the issues. At this point I haven’t paid him, which I do feel bad for, but expected he would return to correct the issues in workmanship and at that point when the job was properly completed I would have paid him. He has said however, once he is paid he will return. Now he’s said I should have pointed out the issues when he was there and as I said ok when he was standing next to me I’ve as good as signed off on the job. I’m happy to pay the price we agreed, for the job we agreed on. But not really sure where to go from here, because I haven’t paid him in full (I have paid some, and for the materials which he cut all unevenly), we’re at a stalemate.