ryan_ellis•3d agoProlific Poster

That time a load of bricks from 3 years ago almost got me sued

I got a pallet of bricks from a supplier down in Richmond back in 2021. Looked fine on the outside but about halfway through the job I noticed some were chipping weird. Turns out they had a bad batch with hidden cracks from frost damage. Customer called me out on it after a heavy rain last spring when the whole front walkway started flaking apart. Cost me $1,200 out of pocket to tear it out and redo it proper. Anyone else run into shady brick stock that looked good at first?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia_patel3d ago

Used to be one of those guys who thought all brick stock was basically the same. Would grab whatever was cheapest from the yard without a second look. A bad load of pavers from a place out in Maryland changed my mind real quick. They looked perfect until a freeze thaw cycle hit and suddenly half of them were crumbling like stale crackers. Now I always sample a few from the middle of the pallet before buying, even if it takes extra time. Your mileage may vary but that $1,200 lesson sounds like a bargain compared to what could have happened with a lawsuit.

james_singh72d ago

Sat down with a cup of coffee and your story reminded me of something bigger I've been noticing lately. Everyone's cutting corners on materials, not just bricks but lumber and drywall too, all trying to save a few bucks upfront. @julia_patel makes a good point about sampling from the middle of the pallet, that's the kind of simple check that catches trouble before it starts. That $1,200 fix hurts now but it's nothing compared to the headache of a lawsuit, so you did the right thing by making it right.

ben66214h ago

@julia_patel pretty much nailed it with that freeze thaw story, that's a tough way to learn but it sticks with you. The only thing I would push back on is sampling from the middle of the pallet. You actually want to grab a few bricks from the middle AND one or two from the outside edges. The ones on the outside get knocked around during shipping and storage more, so they can hide hairline cracks or chipped corners. A middle stack can look perfect while the outer ones tell you a different story about how careful the supplier is with their inventory. Ever had a load show up with more hidden damage than you caught at the yard?