When the Contractor Won't Return Your Calls

Homeowner unsatisfied with driveway project asks an expert for advice.
By: Dwight Barnett
House with Concrete Driveway

How to Prevent and Fix Driveway Cracks

According to Dwight Barnett of Holmes on Holmes, concrete slabs will crack. It's the nature of a product that contains a lot of water, which eventually evaporates and at the same time is exposed to the changes in the weather. To fix cracks, simply purchase a tube of clear silicone caulking to seal the cracks. Use rubber gloves when working with this sticky substance.Apply the caulk and work it deep into the crack with a plastic spatula. Clean up the excess caulk with a dry, disposable cloth towel. Seal the caulking tube's opening with duct tape and store the unused caulk in a warm area of the home or garage.

Question: I had a driveway put in last July. Unfortunately, during the winter, one of the slabs cracked. In March, I got in touch with the company that put in the driveway, and it promised to fix the slab in May. When May came, there was a death in the family, so the company said it would fix it in June. Come June, the company wouldn't even answer our phone calls. Is there any way we can get these people to fix our driveway?

Answer: First, concrete slabs will crack. That's the nature of a product that contains a lot of water, which eventually evaporates and at the same time is exposed to the changes in the weather.

Most general as well as private contractors receive a lot of their work from referrals. If you are pleased with the work and pricing, you tell your friends, who in turn tell their friends, and so on. I have heard that a satisfied client will tell 10 friends about a good job but a dissatisfied client will tell 100 people about a bad job.

There's no way of "making" the contractor return, even if you have a binding contract. It would take a court order or a lawsuit, which is too expensive and time-consuming. If you're not getting through on the phone, try using a friend's phone to contact the contractor. With caller ID, he may not be answering your calls.

Write a letter and let him know that if he is not willing to honor your written or verbal agreement, you will tell everybody you know just how dissatisfied you are. I have heard of people going to the lengths of placing a sign in their yards stating the contractor's name and the problems they are experiencing.

Be careful of the wording you use. An attorney friend once told me about a restaurant that served poor-quality food. If, upon leaving the restaurant, you told someone, "The food was lousy," you might have to prove that in court. However, if you told someone that "you did not like the food or the service," that is an opinion you don't have to prove.

If you want to avoid all of these problems, simply purchase a tube of clear silicone caulking to seal the cracks. Use rubber gloves when working with this sticky substance.

Apply the caulk and work it deep into the crack with a plastic spatula. Clean up the excess caulk with a dry, disposable cloth towel. Seal the caulking tube's opening with duct tape and store the unused caulk in a warm area of the home or garage.

If it gives you any comfort, most people who do not honor their word do not stay in business very long. Next time, get referrals from any contractor you use, and contact the local Better Business Bureau for information it might have on past complaints.

Also, contact the contractor's suppliers to make sure he is honest enough to pay his bills in a timely manner. If he does not pay his suppliers, you might find yourself financially responsible for the materials you have already paid for once. A supplier may be able to place a lien on your property and file papers for collection from you.

(Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors.)

Next Up

So You Want to Start a Renovation - How to Shop for a Contractor

Contractor and host of Holmes on Homes, Mike Holmes gives advice on hiring a contractor.

How to Pressure Wash Your Driveway

Erase years of wear and tear from your driveway in just a few simple steps with a pressure washer.

How to Whitewash Wood: Whitewashing and Pickling Techniques

Easily brighten and add rustic charm to furniture and a variety of wood surfaces with these budget-friendly whitewashing and pickling techniques.

How To Care For a Wood Fence

A wooden fence can be a great way to give a home a definitive border and add style. Learn the proper maintenance required to make sure your fence lasts a long time.

Maximum Home Value Landscaping Projects: Driveways

Choose visually interesting designs and materials for your driveways and walkways to add value to your home and make a statement. These tips will get you started.

How to Build a Stone Path

A path made of stepping stones is a simple, inexpensive way to add charm to your landscape. Stone paths offer a practical route for foot traffic from the sidewalk or driveway to your front door and along the side or back of the house.

Which Home Improvements Pay Off?

Basic maintenance, such as the roof and exterior painting, are frequently more important than an awesome kitchen.

How to Repair a Walkway

Put an end to the cracking and crumbling with these step-by-step instructions.

How to Lay a Brick Pathway

This weekend, elevate your home’s exterior by installing an elegant brick paver walkway in your landscaping.

Perfecting Your Path

Check out these helpful tips to incorporating the perfect path into your landscape.

On TV

Good Bones

6am | 5c

Good Bones

7am | 6c

Good Bones

8am | 7c

Good Bones

9am | 8c

Good Bones

10am | 9c
On Tonight
On Tonight

Unsellable Houses

6pm | 5c

House Hunters

11pm | 10c

House Hunters

11:30pm | 10:30c

Rock the Block

12am | 11c

House Hunters

2:30am | 1:30c

House Hunters

4:30am | 3:30c

House Hunters

5:30am | 4:30c
What's Hot

Home Town

All new January 7 at 8|7c

Follow Us Everywhere

Join the party! Don't miss HGTV in your favorite social media feeds.

Luxury Home Giveaways

HGTV Smart Home

A sophisticated Southwestern home in Santa Fe, New Mexico

HGTV Dream Home

A modern mountain getaway in Morrison, Colorado

HGTV Urban Oasis

A Southern-inspired escape in Louisville, Kentucky