Eagle Carports destroyed my yard

[fastbike02]

Sorry for the long post! First I'm sure some people are going to say you get what you pay for in all, but it's what I could afford and really it's built pretty well. But the crew that installed my 20x20 shop buried their f-350 and trailer in my backyard! Instead of calling a wrecker service to pull them out they tried everything to dig their way out! So now i have 2 big ruts going across my whole back yard and 2 big holes where the wrecker had to dig in to winch them out! My question is should I hold the check till they offer some resolution to the damage to my yard or go ahead and pay for the building and then hope the company will fix the damage without having to take it to court.
https://goo.gl/photos/S5MGxMVEPCCfiYGy6
https://goo.gl/photos/xVrStUvJPYwjvJyV8
https://goo.gl/photos/MAGSWNQYhYW96rZXA

 

[Andamo]

Did you even talk to them about this situation ?

 

[Jinks]

Kind of your choice. I've quit paying until the job is done & cleaned up, but I take into consideration reasonable problems. Talk to them. They might be willing to fix the problem. Looks like it was night when it happened & not a good time to be repairing sod. Even if they refuse any help it's just grass. Smooth the ground & the grass will grow back.

 

[CTyankee]

Personally if I was happy with everything else, I'd probably pay them and fix the ruts myself. It *****, but it's just dirt and grass.

You didn't post your location so don't know where you live, but if you tried driving across my lawn right now, I'd expect the same results.

 

[bczygan]

How can you even ask that question?

OF COURSE YOU HOLD THE FUNDS UNTIL EVERY SINGLE THING IS DONE TO YOUR SATISFACTION PER THE CONTRACT!!!

I've been the contractor who had funds held on him, and it is perfectly correct.

I am also the general contractor who held funds and when the subcontractor refused to finish, used the funds to finish for them.

So your next step is to make a phone call to request a proper repair, follow this up with a registered letter, return receipt requested, noting your agreement on what repairs they will do, and when. If they fail to do this, you then have it done, document it, and send them the remaining funds, if any.

You MUST be made whole. You owe this to yourself. And you owe it to the rest of us, to make sure contractors do what they are contracted to do. Otherwise this will become the standard for everyone.

Bill

 

[justanengineer]

Are they building in a backyard a distance off any street/driveway? If so its on you. Beyond that, if your lawn is in decent health and you smooth it now those spots should fill in quickly when fresh grass pops up in spring.

 

[pepi]

At the very least you should expect them to grade the area. That's not what you payed for, and they are responsible for the damage. I cannot believe the above so easily accept such a condition... I would not. If I want a trench in my yard I would ask for it. The damn truck is down to the rear, any FOOL would have known when to quit.

Let it go .......... Nope I would ask the company owner about fixing or compensation, be sure to know the cost .... before you speak to the owner.

 

[DBendr]

Call a few yard guys or landscape center places and get three estimates. It's just sand-rake shovel work and a little sod or seed.Probably a few hundred unless the ruts are 300 feet ?
Show it to the contractor. He'll probably say ...OK

 

[memphisnate]

At the very least you should expect them to grade the area. That's not what you payed for, and they are responsible for the damage. I cannot believe the above so easily accept such a condition... I would not. If I want a trench in my yard I would ask for it. The damn truck is down to the rear, any FOOL would have known when to quit.

Let it go .......... Nope I would ask the company owner about fixing or compensation, be sure to know the cost .... before you speak to the owner.

+1. I'm shocked by those who would easily accept this and move on.

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[hemifalcon]

Pretty shocked at the above posting telling the OP that he should just "eat it" basically and fix it.. Secondly--OP-have you attempted to resolve tgis with the company/contractor who did the work?


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[jb3]

So they didnt initially call a wrecker and people are miffed and when they did call a wrecker people are miffed by the damage that truck did also.

**** happens. Call the contractor and im sure something can be worked out.

Numerous vehicles have gotten stuck in my yard and honestly even a huge hole is so easy to fix why get steamed about it. Dirt can be moved, and grass can be planted.

 

[thickhead]

I think you should get an answer from them about what they plan to do, come to an agreement and then hold payment until they do it.

Not a big deal really and I'd guess they don't think so either.

 

[jb3]

Similar story was at a friends pig farm looking at his dangerous evil looking porkers, and a sewage truck appeared to pump out a portadump he had on his property as he was renovating bathrooms. Damp late winter warmish day with wet ground.

Sewage truck immediately got stuck. Friend jumped in dually 4x4 farm truck, chained up to the sewage truck, and he got stuck also. Wrecker showed up and was able to pull out his truck, but got stuck pulling on the sewage truck. Back to 4x4 farm truck pulled the wrecker out. Ultimately a tractor trailer wrecker that out weighed the sewage truck had to be called and that was able to cable the sucker out from the street.

Hundreds of dollars later and a desire to GTFO of there by all parties before someone else got stuck, everyone shook hands and left

Yard looked like the surface of the moon. We just filled in the holes and tamped down the ridges and a few months later it looked like it never happened, but its gotta be done same day before things dry out and harden, or freeze in our case

 

[fastbike02]

I am in southern ms and yes when they asked if they could pull in the back yard i expected them to pull the trailer in the yard not the whole truck! The ruts wouldn't be such a bad thing except I just had the backyard graded and new sod put down last year. I haven't talked to the company yet but when they do the final walk through today I will request the ruts be repaired.

 

[shoot summ]

To me there really is no question, if they damage something, they fix it. I wouldn't pay until it's fixed.

 

[John in OH]

I am in southern ms and yes when they asked if they could pull in the back yard i expected them to pull the trailer in the yard not the whole truck! The ruts wouldn't be such a bad thing except I just had the backyard graded and new sod put down last year. I haven't talked to the company yet but when they do the final walk through today I will request the ruts be repaired.

I think this is a VERY important point. If I were the contractor and asked the homeowner for permission to drive on his lawn, I would thus assume that his permission implied that the lawn was stable enough for me to drive on and the homeowner was not going to be concerned with any subsequent damage!

They asked for permission and you gave it to them.

I suggest you proceed as Dbendr above has suggested. Get a quote or two, take some GOOD photos of the resulting damage, and discuss it with the contractor. Be reasonable and friendly and the contractor may be willing to pick up a portion of the cost. Since you gave permission, your position isn't too strong here.

If the contractor says, "No", then I'd take the landscaper's estimate, divide it in half, and withhold that amount from the final payment. Essentially, you'll be splitting the repair cost with the contractor which is probably reasonable. Don't withhold too much as you don't want the amount to be significant enough that the contractor will go after you legally.

 

[DBendr]

I am in southern ms and yes when they asked if they could pull in the back yard i expected them to pull the trailer in the yard not the whole truck! The ruts wouldn't be such a bad thing except I just had the backyard graded and new sod put down last year. I haven't talked to the company yet but when they do the final walk through today I will request the ruts be repaired.

Like I said. Call the sod company back and get them to quote putting it back like it was when they left the first time. The contractor shouldn't have an issue( I sure wouldn't had I done the job) and the sod guys are probably fair or you wouldn't have hired them last year.......or maybe Jerry Springer would want the members here to come and shoot it out in the audience with paint guns ( USA vs. China, of course)

 

[ishiboo]

Is there a contract? If I installed stuff on peoples lawns like this, I would definitely have something in the contract stating I am not responsible for lawn damage. Certain conditions/times of the year/etc. I just simply stay off my lawn because I know I can't safely drive on it with any of the stuff I own.

 

[fastbike02]

Well they fixed it.. sort of!! Since I gave them permission to drive in yard I am responsible for damages (total bs). Also Eagle Carports made it clear that I was on my own, and that they sub out the jobs and was not liable for any damage they do (great business model they have)!! but the contractors broke out shovels and smoothed out the ruts after I told them I wasn't handing check over till something was done. Now I'm just missing grass and I expected that going in so I can live with that! On the plus side the contractors didn't clean up the scrap tin (I told them I would take care of it) and while moving it I found 2 boxes of screws, 3-25ft steel beams, 4 concrete anchors, and a whole bunch of uncut trim.

 

[wood02]

Hold the check. Get estimates. Tell contractor he can "fix" to your satisfaction or you will deduct the average of the estimates from the check...

 

[fastbike02]

Like I said. Call the sod company back and get them to quote putting it back like it was when they left the first time. The contractor shouldn't have an issue( I sure wouldn't had I done the job) and the sod guys are probably fair or you wouldn't have hired them last year.......or maybe Jerry Springer would want the members here to come and shoot it out in the audience with paint guns ( USA vs. China, of course)

I miss Springer and Maury, when I was laid up from a shop fire that was the highlight of my day

 

[bczygan]

Well they fixed it.. sort of!! Since I gave them permission to drive in yard I am responsible for damages (total bs). Also Eagle Carports made it clear that I was on my own, and that they sub out the jobs and was not liable for any damage they do (great business model they have)!! but the contractors broke out shovels and smoothed out the ruts after I told them I wasn't handing check over till something was done. Now I'm just missing grass and I expected that going in so I can live with that! On the plus side the contractors didn't clean up the scrap tin (I told them I would take care of it) and while moving it I found 2 boxes of screws, 3-25ft steel beams, 4 concrete anchors, and a whole bunch of uncut trim.

They are absolutely and totally liable for any and all work they sub out. And you are being too nice. The fact that you gave them permission to access the yard in no way absolves them from prudent action and care. If they had knocked a corner off your building, would you be responsible?

I would still hold out enough to have final grading and sod installation done, to bring it back to original condition, period. I would really want something just for the aggravation.

Bill

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

The sub-contractor that dug my foundation did the same thing, twice. Except it was right on top of my septic tank/field and I had just told them not to drive there because the ground was soft (low spot, it's always been soft and the tank/system were put in only about a year earlier).
The SOB actually quoted me a price (stupid high) to fix the ruts. I should have fired them (and the general contractor) that first day.

 

[fastbike02]

True but to be honest I got my yard acceptable and I no longer have to deal with the contractors. I will cover the area with hay and by summer I should have a nice green grass yard. If that doesn't work the company that did my yard work would prob give me the little bit of sod I need if I wait till the cut a large order of it (they were really great guys).

 

[zkdiesel]

True but to be honest I got my yard acceptable and I no longer have to deal with the contractors. I will cover the area with hay and by summer I should have a nice green grass yard. If that doesn't work the company that did my yard work would prob give me the little bit of sod I need if I wait till the cut a large order of it (they were really great guys).

Glad you have a fair restitution. Seems fair
When people do fair and affordable work, you can't account to have them fix your lawn, and pay general geeviance fees like some people are asking. They would be out of bussiness quickly

Glad your taking it in stride and giving guys a chance

 

[Thumper68]

I just don't get some contractors.

At one time I had the contract to assemble and install wooden playsets for a local lumber yard, So I had to drive on peoples grass all the time with my skid steer and trucks and trailers.

I would always walk the path checking for solid ground (Did a lot of these in the spring/early summer) and if there were any soft spots I had 5/8 ply cut into runners 2'x8' to lay down and drive over.

A bit of common sense goes a long way.

Glad that you got it worked out and things will be back to normal.

Question for OP, if they got stuck how are you going to use the carport without leaving ruts?

 

[Playwme]

Sounds to me like both parties have been very reasonable here. Blame can be tricky in this kind of situation. The contractor probably expects solid access to the site and the homeowner should be aware of the capabilities of his property. Then again, the contractor probably should be aware of the size of his own truck. From Eagles point of view, they probably get plenty of people trying to claim stuff that possibly pre-existed and if I had a company like that I'd probably have damage liability clauses too.

All in all, there was some experience chalked up and a situation resolved relatively easily. You get a big thumbs up and a "Top Bloke" award from me Fastbike02.

 

[Slowgsr]

They should grade it and seed - you can hold back 10% without being unreasonable. Don't except sod - any type of construction which involves travelling over grass is going to cause surface damage, but ruts are a bit much

They should have made you well aware it would damage the lawn then you could have discussed options

 

[owenst7]

My family owned a construction company for three generations. We ALWAYS put down 2x12s and plywood to drive over peoples lawns with. Even after our c60 scissor truck would park on a marshy lawn in Alaska for 8 hours, you couldn't tell where it had driven.

This sounds like an extremely amateur move, that was "corrected" even more amateur.

 

[fastbike02]

I just don't get some contractors.

At one time I had the contract to assemble and install wooden playsets for a local lumber yard, So I had to drive on peoples grass all the time with my skid steer and trucks and trailers.

I would always walk the path checking for solid ground (Did a lot of these in the spring/early summer) and if there were any soft spots I had 5/8 ply cut into runners 2'x8' to lay down and drive over.

A bit of common sense goes a long way.

Glad that you got it worked out and things will be back to normal.

Question for OP, if they got stuck how are you going to use the carport without leaving ruts?

I plan on having a driveway poured this summer but bikes and atvs are light enough that they don't rut up the yard for the most part

Yes I could have raised "hell" and made the contractor pay out of pocket for the damages but they make very little on the work as is and he was nice enough to work with me, but had he refused to work with me I would have took further action.

 

[bwringer]

To go back to an earlier point, I always hate it when I buy something from a company that's then installed by a subcontractor. And it's downright sleazy when something goes wrong and all you get is finger-pointing. "It wasn't us..." Well, you're the one who took my money, so yes, it was you.

I know it's a common arrangement, but this is always something I ask about beforehand. A company that does their own installs and takes responsibility for them is offering me a lot more value than some middleman who takes my money, sends out someone else's crew and then tries to shirk all responsibility.

 

[rslaback]

Just for future reference, you might want to actually talk it over with the contractor before posting pictures in the middle of the night which include the contractor's information on their truck window and making a thread berating them for "destroying" your yard.

Don't get me wrong, they are responsible for the damage, as are you, but threads like this one are exactly why some guys can't even get a contractor to return their call.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Apparently you are happy with the outcome and that's what matters in the long run.

However after your conversation with Eagle, I wouldn't recommend them based on their customer service.

 

[rburke65]

Well I would have held the money or a percentage back and had them fix the lawn. I have had to do this on my own lawn when they drove off the road and into my grass and they left. Not easy work.

 

[justanengineer]

Yes I could have raised "hell" and made the contractor pay out of pocket for the damages.

Maybe. When I was still running a wrecker we had a call to pull a boomlift out of a septic tank. The homeowner had incorrectly marked where the tank was, and a roofer dam near tipped over his lift when the tank collapsed. It took two wreckers to pick&pull it out, total bill from us was ~$8k IIRC. The roofing company paid our bill and to fix the lift but wouldnt pay for the septic so the homeowner sued. When it went to court not only did the homeowner lose, the judge forced him to pay the roofing company back the other expenses.

Regardless, glad to hear you got it resolved. I hate to say it but these minor issues are the reasons why many folks end up paying through the nose for contractors - bc they make every lil thing a huge PITA and word of it gets around.

 

[lakeroadster]

..... But the crew that installed my 20x20 shop buried their F-350 and trailer in my backyard!

Wow.. you weren't kidding! The pictures really tell the story here.

It always amazes me how folks come to a contractors defense here on GJ... when it is obvious from the photo's that these guys are totally clueless.

You mean to tell us that these guys are in any way competent? There is no way they could have walked the route they were going to drive and said to themselves "Yeah, this ground looks solid enough"

Geeze

 

[Banjorear]

So they didnt initially call a wrecker and people are miffed and when they did call a wrecker people are miffed by the damage that truck did also.

**** happens. Call the contractor and im sure something can be worked out.

Numerous vehicles have gotten stuck in my yard and honestly even a huge hole is so easy to fix why get steamed about it. Dirt can be moved, and grass can be planted.

This. Give the guy a chance to do right. If he doesn't, word travels fast that he did sloppy work. It's been a weird winter. He could have charged you more to carry materials or supplies to your back yard, but he didn't and tried to help you out.

Up to you, but you need to be able to sleep at night.

 

[fastbike02]

I posted the pics not because he got stuck but because when he saw he was getting instead of stopping he kept "digging" in and only stopped when the truck frame had touched ground. Eagle Carports have horrible customer support but for the price you have to expect shortcomings some where. Over all I am happy with the building and the crews work, yes I had issues but in the end they were resolved. I probably would use eagle carports again but I wouldn't tell them it's ok to drive in the yard.

 

[fastbike02]

I just don't get some contractors.

At one time I had the contract to assemble and install wooden playsets for a local lumber yard, So I had to drive on peoples grass all the time with my skid steer and trucks and trailers.

I would always walk the path checking for solid ground (Did a lot of these in the spring/early summer) and if there were any soft spots I had 5/8 ply cut into runners 2'x8' to lay down and drive over.

A bit of common sense goes a long way.

Glad that you got it worked out and things will be back to normal.

Question for OP, if they got stuck how are you going to use the carport without leaving ruts?

This. Give the guy a chance to do right. If he doesn't, word travels fast that he did sloppy work. It's been a weird winter. He could have charged you more to carry materials or supplies to your back yard, but he didn't and tried to help you out.

Up to you, but you need to be able to sleep at night.

My drive way was less than 50ft from where the truck was and it was a prepaid thing, the crew just didn't want to have to walk the extra 50tf to unload the trailer!

 

[CTyankee]

Are you insane? Thou shall not bury thy truck in the holy blessed sanctuary, the area also known as the lawn.
C

Probably....but we all can't be keyboard commandos..