That’s honestly kind of wild—I wouldn’t have thought to check for missing underlayment until reading stories like this. I’m learning the hard way how much you have to keep an eye on things. We just had our first big project (new siding, not roofing) and I felt awkward asking for progress photos, but now I’m glad I did. They skipped flashing around one window and only fixed it because I caught it early.
Did you find that asking for photos slowed things down or made the contractor defensive? I worry about coming off as too nitpicky, but at the same time, repairs aren’t cheap if stuff gets missed. Also, curious if anyone’s ever tried using a third-party inspector during the work—worth it, or just overkill?
I totally get the hesitation about asking for progress photos—I felt the same way during our window replacement. At first, I worried I’d seem like a micromanager, but after seeing how easily things can get missed (like your flashing issue), I started asking for updates more often. In my case, the contractor didn’t seem bothered, but I tried to frame it like I just wanted to understand the process better, not that I didn’t trust them. Maybe it helped that I was upfront about being new to all this.
I’ve thought about hiring a third-party inspector, especially when I realized how much I don’t know about building codes. The cost has always made me hesitate, though. For a major project, maybe it’s justified, especially if you’re not comfortable with the technical details. I wonder if anyone here has seen a specific dollar amount saved by catching mistakes early—does the inspector fee really pay off, or is it just peace of mind? Sometimes I think reading up and being present is almost as good, but then again, I’m no expert...
I can relate to that feeling of not wanting to come across as a helicopter client, but honestly, being proactive is usually a good thing—especially with commercial projects where underbids can lead to corners being cut. I’ve seen a few jobs where just asking for regular updates or photos made a huge difference in catching things before they became expensive headaches. Contractors who are confident in their work usually don’t mind, and sometimes they even appreciate the chance to explain what’s happening.
About third-party inspectors—yeah, the cost can sting upfront, but I’ve watched one catch a waterproofing issue that would’ve cost five times more to fix after the fact. That said, I’ve also had projects where being present and asking questions was enough to keep things on track. I guess it depends on how complex the job is and how much you trust your contractor. Sometimes it’s not about saving a specific dollar amount, but more about avoiding those “how did this get missed?” moments down the line. Peace of mind isn’t nothing, especially when you’re dealing with big budgets and tight timelines.
Totally get what you mean about not wanting to be the “helicopter” type, but honestly, I’ve noticed that the folks who stay involved usually avoid the biggest headaches. Even on smaller jobs, just asking for a quick update or walking the site can show you care about the details. Sometimes I wonder if people worry too much about being a bother—most crews I’ve worked with actually like explaining stuff if you seem interested. Catching issues early just makes everything smoother. Peace of mind’s worth a lot, especially when the stakes are high.
- Totally agree about being present—I've caught a couple of small mistakes just by stopping by and asking questions.
- I do worry sometimes about being “that person,” but honestly, the crew seems to appreciate it when I notice details.
- One thing I learned: documenting everything (photos, notes) helps if there’s a dispute later.
- I’d rather risk being a little annoying than end up with a big, expensive fix down the line.
