Q: I hired a roofer to put a new roof & gutters on but 5 months later they are still not done.
I hired them in May and its the end of October and they have only 10 percent left to do. I have paid them 2/3 of the contract but I cant get them to come out and finished the job. they keep telling me they are really busy. Can I just not pay them the rest and hire someone else to finish or do I need to settle up with them.
A: If you hire someone else to finish, the roofer can put a mechanic's lien on your house. That will make things messy. The roofer's contract might not have had all the required consumer protection terms, so if it went to court, the contract might be deemed invalid. If the roofer didn't comply with certain required terms, it might even be required to refund the 2/3 you already paid. Tell them that. Maybe it will move your job higher on their list. Otherwise, use the Find a Lawyer tab to consult a local construction law attorney who can review the contract and advise you on the consumer protection issues.
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