Chapter 4: Scope of Work
Chapter 4 of Quit Getting Screwed, by Karalynn Cromeens Lioncrest Publishing “They can’t deduct $23,000 from what they owe me for lintels; I never agreed to provide the lintels,” Jeff said in a panic. “Structural steel subcontractors never provide the lintels; the masonry subcontractor would provide those.” Jeff owns Super Structural Steel Fabrication & Erection Subcontractor. […]
Chapter 3: Subcontractor Bonds
Chapter 3 of Quit Getting Screwed, by Karalynn Cromeens Lioncrest Publishing Super AC Subcontractor was awarded their biggest subcontract ever: $3 million. All they had to do before starting was to obtain a payment bond and a performance bond for the full amount of its subcontract. This was a requirement, so they did it. After they […]
Chapter 2: Subcontract Documents
Chapter 2 of Quit Getting Screwed, by Karalynn Cromeens Lioncrest Publishing The first rule about subcontracts is…there are no rules. Whatever you sign in a subcontract will be used against you. “What do you mean I have to pay delay damages of $500 per day for every day the completion date is delayed? That was not […]
Don’t Wait, Innovate!
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s the saying, right? When it comes to innovation, we tend to take a needs approach. I know I do. We’ll leavesomething until we absolutely need to fix it. I get it. It’s easier just to keep getting on, but weneed to look at needs in a broader […]
Chapter 1: The Bid
Chapter 1 The Bid “I did not agree to do the electrical work. I never agree to do the electrical work.” That’s what Josh from Super Door Subcontractor told me after the general contractor on his community college project had sent him a notice of default letter. The letter demanded that he return to the […]
Indemnification in Construction Contracts
I think a lot of contractors are afraid of indemnification provisions because they do not know what they mean and how they are supposed to work. The general idea behind indemnification in construction contracts is that you are responsible for any damage you cause and any injuries to your subcontractors or employees. This basic idea makes sense […]
Beware of Bogus Construction Back Charges
Recently, I have had several cases where my clients were being assessed large back charges on commercial projects. Only to find out, after a little digging, the evidence relating to the back charge claims was bogus. What is a Back Charge in Construction? A back charge involves withholding or deducting money from a contractor or subcontractor’s […]
What Happens If I am Terminated?
Termination happens when you are fired from a project; this is not to be confused with a default; you are in default under the terms of a contract when you fail to do something required by it. For example, if your contract requires turning in daily reports and fail to do so, you are in default […]
Can I Stop Working If I Have Not Been Paid as a Contractor in Texas?
“Can I stop working if I have not been paid?” This is a question my clients ask very frequently, and my very “lawyerly” response is, it depends. Most people think it’s a given if they have not been paid, they can stop working. However, you may be in breach of the contract if you stop […]
How To File A Contractor Lien In Texas
I have studied the procedures for filing liens in all states, and I must say that Texas has some of the most complicated rules. That is where the learning curve for understanding how to file a contractor lien in Texas arises. It is astonishing to me that there are so many different ways to achieve […]