Getting a contractor to actually show up to look the job over is remarkably challenging.
Getting one who shows up to actually give you an estimate on the job is remarkably challenging.
Getting one to understand that you the home owner understand it's an old house and the job may well vary and change is remarkably challenging.
Getting one to understand you want the job done right and you're willing to pay for quality work, and not simply cheap bodges, is remarkably challenging.
I do understand that homeowners can be total flakes, and can drive contractors nuts. But boy, many contractors hold their own on the driving people nuts competitions.
Ian F
SuperDork
6/30/11 7:16 a.m.
To say I am "concerned" about our pending project is an understatement. In a nutshell: the g/f wants to add a 2nd floor master bedroom suite over the existing living room/dining room/kitchen area on the back section of the house (front section is already 2 floors). This is require a new foundation on one side and all new 2x6 structural walls. All she is contracting for is a weather-tight shell (walls, roof, window installation & siding). All MEP and interior finishing will be DIY.
Did I mention the original house was built in 1890 and the additions were done ad-hock over time? My g/f is an engineer who wants everything to be Perfect?
I am a afraid... very afraid...
tuna55
SuperDork
6/30/11 7:56 a.m.
I forgot this cool story, while my Mom was building some bits of the framing on their house, they watched next door as the contractor's truck drove up, three guys got out in very light rain (we were still working) and proceeded to move all of the lumber which was delivered into the back of the house back by the woods. Then they left. When the homeowner arrived later that day, he walked over to us complaining about that stupid lumber not showing up on time. The contractor had all of their guys there, he said, and they didn't have lumber to work with. Imagine that! That contractor was fired immediately. Another was hired in their place and we still beat them.
Ian F wrote:
My g/f is an engineer who wants everything to be Perfect?
And she is a woman, so she is also clearly being irrational about the whole thing. That sounds like a nightmare of a job... of course, most houses around here get knocked down completely if they are older than 1930.
Edit-
Also, your guys' system is... berkeleyed to put it lightly.
You could NEVER pull that kind of crap here in Alberta (my father is a home builder). Maybe the rules differ, but I've very, very rarely heard of stuff like that happening. Of course, our Amish put up cheap steel quonsets in no time and for cheaper than anyone else.
Ian F
SuperDork
6/30/11 12:01 p.m.
HiTempguy wrote:
And she is a woman, so she is also clearly being irrational about the whole thing. That sounds like a nightmare of a job... of course, most houses around here get knocked down completely if they are older than 1930.
Also, she is a "design" engineer... and being so tends to focus on little details... I have a bit more project management experience and tend to look at projects from a "whole" perspective... Part of what really worries me is I wasn't involved in any of the contractor discussions... some of that was a conscious choice, but at the same time having another set of eyes and ears may have been a good idea... but in the end, it's her money - I'm just labor.
The house is in a historic area, so a knock-down isn't an option (not that she could afford that anyway). She had to submit plans to the planning board and local neighbors for comment before we could even think about a contractor. But since the house has gone through so many changes in the past 100+ years, the board approved the new changes without any drama.
Jake
HalfDork
7/5/11 4:24 p.m.
Wait, is there supposed to be fun?
Remember:
Fast, cheap, good- pick any two.
For my part, I do most if the work myself (cheap) and do the best work I can get away with (good), but MAN am I slow. 5 years in on the never-ending remodel…
