Being forthcoming about small issues during renovation

crashdesk

Hi,
We are in the process of getting our kitchen renovated and there are small things that bug me. I am not the type of person to make a fuss but we are spending our savings on a much needed and wanted new kitchen.

A couple of items have been installed without us seeing them. I will give one example and tell me if I am being petty. White patio doors with black handles. They are great...apart from the handle, which is black. I am into design and watch shows like Old House to New Home/Grand Designs etc so I have knowledge of certain things. One is that, because our kitchen is minimal we want to keep materials to a minimum. So light grey/white/stainless steel. Ideally the handles on the patio doors should have been white or stainless steel. We were advised that black handles wear better. Fair enough we did have white handles on old doors which did bubble and the paint came off, so this is a style over substance debate. Do all white door handles bubble and yellow?
The other thing is. The lock cylinder is brass! Why brass? The internals of the door are steel/silver.

Am I being petty, or because it is not what we want we should mention it and be more assertive.

Thanks

Mistral001

Who has "advised" you about black handles wearing better.  If you want white or stainless steel handles, then get them.  You will have to live with them.

crashdesk

Well guy has been installing doors for over 20 years. Said the oil in your hand turns the white paint on the handles yellow. Our previous doors, installed a few years ago did have the bubbling paint issue. I will mention it again. He can't just be going round all customers and stating that you can't have any other colour than black.

scottishblondie

You are paying him to do the fitting and you're paying for the materials - he can advise you on what he thinks are the best choices but ultimately it's up to you.  If you don't want black handles then just tell him you have thought about it and want them changed to stainless steel or whatever you would prefer.  The lock cylinder can also be easily changed for a stainless steel one.

crashdesk

Cheers. Need more people behind me like yourselves lol. Hate confrontation even if it is small.

scottishblondie

I hear you, I'm not a fan of confrontation either.  I tend to avoid it all together, but I can just about manage when it's about something I'll have to live with for a long time!  Just keep it straightforward and professional and it'll be fine.  

Slinky

I'm sitting here looking at patio door handles that must have been in the house 20 years that are still white. If you want white, that's your choice. If that means replacing them in a few years time, so be it, you're prepared for that. Don't let the installer dictate his style choices on to you.

I know what you mean about confrontation, I was almost prepared to put up with some poor finish on some plasterwork we had done, until the bill turned up, then I decided I wasn't paying the large price and putting up with the standard. They came back and redid for us without an issue fortunately.

dunroving

He can't read your mind. Tell him what you want before he goes out to get it and, worse still fits it. 

artform_london

Sounds like there's a degree of bulls..t flying around your property. Never heard such rubbish! Tell him what you want and stick to it. I hope you're holding back part payment until everything is to your satisfaction? If the same guy is supplying and installing your new kitchen, I hate to think where that's heading!

crashdesk

artform_london That's quite a post. Just a tradesman doing the doors. Rest of work is exceptional. He's going to sort so good news.

Doozergirl

crashdesk said:

artform_london That's quite a post. Just a tradesman doing the doors. Rest of work is exceptional. He's going to sort so good news.

Thankfully, people like you are entirely reasonable!  

Sometimes people will try to cover their tracks a bit when they're caught out,  but it's easy fo change a door handle and I'm glad that's happening for you. 

Sometimes things don't quite go right, but the measure is how they deal with it rather than it going wrong in the first place.  You're dealing with humans, after all.  

Would love to see your new kitchen