Construction workers play a vital role in society, yet they can sometimes display a surprising lack of consideration for others. A Denver, Colorado homeowner recently experienced this firsthand when returning from a visit to their parents, only to find their garden in complete disarray. The adjacent construction crew had treated the property like their personal dumping ground, scattering concrete debris among flowerbeds, tearing a hole in the picket fence, and destroying once-flourishing tomato plants.
“Apparently, wrecking my garden wasn’t enough; they had to litter too,” the homeowner lamented after discovering wrappers from the workers’ lunches buried beneath the ruined marigolds.
After some persistence, the homeowner managed to contact the managing office of the construction company next door. The manager responded vaguely, stating, “Oh yeah, we can compensate you for that.” However, the homeowner questioned what that actually meant: “Are we talking a $50 Home Depot gift card or full replacement costs? Because my destroyed plants and broken sprinkler timer aren’t inexpensive to replace.”
It seems the managing office’s offer was more of an attempt to placate rather than a genuine commitment to reimburse or repair the damage.
Construction site absolutely wrecked my garden while I was out of town need advice
by u/Palmaseed in legaladvice
One leading comment advised the homeowner to “Take pictures of everything, document everything and consult a lawyer immediately.” Many commenters agreed, emphasizing, “You put love and labor into that garden; don’t let them bulldoze it without accountability.” Others suggested itemizing the damaged items, including labor costs, to file a small claims case if necessary. Regardless of the approach, it’s essential the homeowner doesn’t accept this treatment silently and holds the construction company accountable for the trespassing and property destruction.
Whether it is working on weekends, creating noise disturbances, or damaging neighbors’ property to get their job done, construction workers must become more mindful of how their actions affect the community around them.
