Others doing my job

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jeff43222

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Location
Minneapolis, Minnesota
I went over to a kitchen job yesterday to finish up the last few items on the punch list, only to discover that they had been taken care of by various other people. The plumber installed the electric range, and the drywall guy installed the undercabinet lights and the outside light fixture. I previously installed the wiring for these things and had tails where they needed to be, but since the trim work for these items was not done by me, I don't know if it was done right. As far as I could tell, it was, but I just don't know for sure.

Anyone else encounter this kind of thing? Any suggestions as to how to deal with it?
 
Re: Others doing my job

Hey Jeff,

As the electrician of record for the job, I'd have to open up the installs to be sure that they were done to Code.

What a pain.

The HO or GC has to be informed prior. The leverage of the final electrical inspection is all you've got. However, the liability exposure for the installations they did is ALL yours.
 
Re: Others doing my job

Either that, or you invoice the owner for the complete job you were contracted to perform, including the final connections you described. Then you present the owner with a document for his signature, waiving any right to hold you responsible for the electrical work that you were not permitted to complete.

My guess is that the owner will not want to sign that waiver. That will give you the leverage to recover the additional costs associated with checking the work done by others. You might even suggest that the owner backcharge this additional costs to the plumber and the drywall installer.
 
Re: Others doing my job

Getting paid isn't an issue, as it was done T&M. :D

Having these final tasks done by someone else was probably done so as to avoid having to pay electrician's rates and keep costs down. This job has already cost the homeowner plenty.

The carpenter/GC is the one who brought me in on this job, and he and the homeowner go way back. We've conducted all business thus far via handshake. I suspect the homeowner wouldn't make a fuss about any of this even if I did go to him and explain that the last few tasks were done others. I did check the j-box housing the 240V wiring for the range, and it looked good to me.

I think in the future I'm going to have to make it clear in advance that since my name is the one on the permit, I'm responsible for all the electrical work, which means I have to do it myself.
 
Re: Others doing my job

if your name's on the permit, T&M to open up and check plus registered letter. If the owner wants to pull permit, then T&M and job responsibility can be proven his; otherwise, it is all yours.

paul
 
Re: Others doing my job

I had it happen to me...once.
I told the GC what al said..."My permit, I check it, you pay me to check it." He refused, I cancelled the permit. I have no idea what happened after that. I never heard from the GC again.
 
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