Window Recaulk Job - Give it a grade!

Please grade this window recaulk job that was recently done by a professional painting company that was hired by an HOA property manager. Should the owner be satisfied with this work? Tell me what you really think about it...

(Note: As you can see in the pictures the new caulk was put on over the original caulk, which is old, hard/cracked, and mildew infested.)

 

Looks like someone was in a hurry to get done

Welcome to the forums!

 

I'm thinking...."F"....would be about right....in the "Comments" section we would see "Not Paying Attention" and "No Extra Effort."

They should have treated the area with Clorox to kill the mildew or raked out the old caulking. The new caulking should have been installed with a nice bead, and any excess wiped clean.

Bill

 

I was going to give it a D-. At least they didn't caulk the drain holes shut. lol

 

I remember I use to love a teacher that would "scale" the grades......

Bill

 

I think the D- grade was too high a score. In my opinion not very many people would accept this poor work. I give it a big fat F.

To do the job right the old caulk should have been removed, cleaned up and the trim wood repainted (if necessary) and then neatly recaulked...especially since the old caulk is deteriorated and it has cracks and mildew/mold throughout.

It is incompetent for a [so-called] "professional" painter to do such shoddy work. And also the property manager is incompetent to think the work was done appropriately.

What is wrong with these people? A blind monkey in heat could have done a better job!

 

I didn't say I would accept it or do it that way...but how was the contract worded? If they were told "recaulk windows"..well, thats what they did. Did they do it correctly to a good workmanship standard...heck no. Will it need to be re-done in a year or 2...probably.

But thats what you get when you have a "Manager" making decisions. Just like an apartment complex....cheap cheap cheap....quick quick quick.

 

I totally agree with you. I learned decades ago that you must specify both the process and the materials to make sure you get a proper job. In this particular case the HOA property manager hires a painting contractor. It's left up to the property manger to specify how the work is to be done and what materials are used. I doubt seriously the property manager even specified anything - other than to recaulk the windows, thus the painting contractor can do (or not do) whatever he wishes.

If the HOA had an architectural/building committee (made up of some volunteers with building/maintenance experience) to specify the process and materials this shoddy work would never have happened.

Either the property manager is incompetent or the painting contractor is incompetent - and maybe both are incompetent. Regardless, the work is totally unsatisfactory in my opinion.

 

You'll have to cut back on the Christmas Bonus........I fear.....

 

Nope! The property manager needs to go... He's totally worthless.

 

It would be easier to remove Obama as president.....me thinks....

 

You may be right. With a [collectively] incompetent HOA Board of Directors there aren't many decisions based on expertise, common sense or logical reasoning. In fact there is only one Board member that even knows which way to turn a screw driver to loosen, or tighten a screw - and he just resigned... Go figure!

 

The HOA Board President responded to a homeowner (that has seen the poor/unacceptable work the property manager has done) who wants to supervise the recaulking of his windows by saying this:

"We have hired our property manager to manage the maintenance. He does not need to be, nor will he be, supervised by residents."

The HOA has no means for oversight in the maintenance process and materials the property manager uses.

The maintenance this property manager has offered the homeowners in the past (as exampled in the pictures) confirms there are no specifications, process requirements, or material requirements.

Pretty sad...

 

The minuses of owning a condo...methinks...any pluses? Here is another scenario: I once had a friend that owned a condo. The builder managed the intial construction and sell off, and then sold it to a management company. After a few years all the window casings in the complex rotted out due to the fact they were incorrectly weatherstripped and caulked. Each unit owner had the option of fixing their particular windows as deemed faulty by a company hired by the association to assess them. You had your choice of fixing them yourself, hiring the company, or being assessed for not fixing them. Luckily only one of her 9 windows needed work. After a bit she sold it and bought a house.....

 

I think it looks like crap.

This is why it is very important to make sure that you ask explicitly for what you want. I think that this is a case of someone saying "recaulk the windows" and meaning "remove, repair, replace etc.." which is a completely normal intention, but not always how it works. On my proposals, I make it very clear what steps are included in my price, and if you want more or less, then ask. That no way, no one turns around at the end of the day and wants my work graded. It's unfortunate that it is this way, but there are contractors doing crappy jobs, and there are clients who don't know what they want, and the only way to avoid it is to say what you mean and mean what you say...and put it in writing!

 

Proper caulking is an art in itself, and painters that have serrved an apprenticeship, and learned how to do it right are the best. Unfortunately condo management companys take the cheapest price, and unfortunately that is the result....