What is with the construction profession? vent

[RadioNate]

If I waltzed in and out of my job the way these guys do I'd be fired.

Yesterday my painters got mad that the flooring guys were kicking up too much dust so they left. Even though their job was no where near where the flooring guys were working. They also had outside paint to do that they didn't do.

Now it is 10:45 am on day 5 of a 'two day job' and no one has shown up yet.

Flooring at least called to say they'd be late.

I need their billing info and paper work for the insurance but no one will bring it to me.

They seem to think I have nothing better to do than sit around, confined to one room, with a baby and wait for them.

 

[KATHINOWA]

I lived through an extensive home renovation and I feel your pain. People not showing up, showing up late, leaving early, leaving HUGE messes. It's funny how they're always on time when it's time to collect a check.

I hope your projects are completed quickly. We had our family of 5 sleeping in one room for months!

 

[mickeyboat]

Well, they are not all like that.

DH is a self-employed carpenter, and there are many reasons why he may be delayed on a job - many of which are not things he can control. Sometimes orders and deliveries are late, sometimes the weather does not cooperate, sometimes homeowners schedule more than one contractor to be at the house at the same time which causes them to disturb one another's work, or trip over one another. Sometimes he might not have the materials with him to do another part of the job if he can't do the part he planned on for that day.

The most frequent cause of delays for him is when homeowners ask him to "take a look at this while you are here" and "could you please change this piece of trim while you're here?" All those little delays cause him to take longer than expected to start the next job. He would love to say no, he can't do any more than he originally planned, but what he likes to tell customers when this happens (and he does keep them informed) is that I might be later than expected to your job, but when you add little things, I will stay and finish them for you, too.

Good luck with your project.

Denae

 

[Poohgirl]

oh boy, not the thread I wanted to see today. Today is day 1 of a large addition being put on my house. I get anxiety when even small amounts of clutter sit around for a day. Yet I have sworn that I will brave what I am told should be a 2.5 month job without becoming a stress case. From what you all have said, should really take 5 months.

Note to self...order valium now...

 

[RadioNate]

I get that there are delays but I'm sick of them thinking their time is more valuable than mine.

I know why the painters were upset yesterday and didn't want to work with the flooring guys. HOWEVER, the painters knew on MONDAY that the flooring guys were starting on Thursday.

They told me Monday it was a 2 day job. THEY forgot some baseboard on Tuesday so it became a 3 day job. On Wednesday they decided to leave at 3 and finish on Thursday. Thursday they stayed about 2 hours, got pissy and left. It is now 11:20 Friday and they still haven't showed. I also asked them on Tuesday and Wednesday if they wanted me to reschedule the flooring contractors and they said NO, the said they'd be done. I also don't know why they can't paint my laundry room while the flooring guys are working in the dining room but whatever.

I've taken time off to be here. My DH has taken time off. It is frustrating.

I'm tempted to finish the 1/2 painted laundry room myself.

They are supposed to paint the entry and family room (30ft ceilings) Tuesday and Wednesday of next week but I doubt that'll happen.

My flooring guys stayed until 7 last night to finish every any where near where the painters needed to be and bumped me to the afternoon today so the painters would have time to finish this morning but they haven't shown yet.

Which I know is going to cause drama.

 

[Disney Doll]

I get that there are delays but I'm sick of them thinking their time is more valuable than mine.

I know why the painters were upset yesterday and didn't want to work with the flooring guys. HOWEVER, the painters knew on MONDAY that the flooring guys were starting on Thursday.

They told me Monday it was a 2 day job. THEY forgot some baseboard on Tuesday so it became a 3 day job. On Wednesday they decided to leave at 3 and finish on Thursday. Thursday they stayed about 2 hours, got pissy and left. It is now 11:20 Friday and they still haven't showed. I also asked them on Tuesday and Wednesday if they wanted me to reschedule the flooring contractors and they said NO, the said they'd be done. I also don't know why they can't paint my laundry room while the flooring guys are working in the dining room but whatever.

I've taken time off to be here. My DH has taken time off. It is frustrating.

I'm tempted to finish the 1/2 painted laundry room myself.

They are supposed to paint the entry and family room (30ft ceilings) Tuesday and Wednesday of next week but I doubt that'll happen.

My flooring guys stayed until 7 last night to finish every any where near where the painters needed to be and bumped me to the afternoon today so the painters would have time to finish this morning but they haven't shown yet.

Which I know is going to cause drama.

Fire the painters.

 

[RadioNate]

Fire the painters.

I think I might. The entry/family room painting is technically a different job, which I haven't signed a contract for, nor given any deposit on. I think they just lost that job.

 

[WDSearcher]

Seriously ... fire the painters and hire new ones. If they signed a contract, there has to be a provision. If they didn't, then you have no worries. They're not doing the job, so fire them.

Sure, it's a hassle to find new painters and have them pick up where these guys left off, but if that's too much of a hassle to go through, then you have to be content with who you have.

Good luck!

 

[corie161]

Well, they are not all like that.

DH is a self-employed carpenter, and there are many reasons why he may be delayed on a job - many of which are not things he can control. Sometimes orders and deliveries are late, sometimes the weather does not cooperate, sometimes homeowners schedule more than one contractor to be at the house at the same time which causes them to disturb one another's work, or trip over one another. Sometimes he might not have the materials with him to do another part of the job if he can't do the part he planned on for that day.

The most frequent cause of delays for him is when homeowners ask him to "take a look at this while you are here" and "could you please change this piece of trim while you're here?" All those little delays cause him to take longer than expected to start the next job. He would love to say no, he can't do any more than he originally planned, but what he likes to tell customers when this happens (and he does keep them informed) is that I might be later than expected to your job, but when you add little things, I will stay and finish them for you, too.

Good luck with your project.

I agree, it bothers me to some extent to see that all contractors get a bad rap because of the bad ones that are out there. My DH is gone from the house every morning by 6:00-6:30 and usually isn't home until after 5:00. He tries his best to work his schedule so that everything falls into place, but like mickeyboat says, things come up. Today he's at my Dsis tearing off her garage that was damaged by fire. It totally did not come apart as expected and he has to leave to make a trip to the lumber yard which delays his from his original plan.

I don't agree however with contractors that don't keep people informed. Communication is key.

Good luck with your project!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I would have to agree with firing the painters. It's not until they hear that the money train is ending that they get into gear. My parents told their painters that they were going to go elsewhere for the second floor when their first floor took over a week past their finish date and there was a lot of showing up late and leaving early. (thank goodness my dad works from home). Once they told them that, everything was finished in no time and the work looks better in the later rooms than the ones that took forever! haha!

 

[chisnpeke]

We had a one room addition put on last year and the man who did it thought he could do whatever he wanted. He would say he was going to be here at 8:00 in the morning and we'd wait and wait and wait. We'd call his phone and we'd get no answer. That was toward the end of the project though. It was truly pathetic.

 

[RadioNate]

My flooring guys are here. They did call and say they'd be late.

The painters are still not here. I left a message for my general contractor to get him on them.

The problem with firing them for the next job is that they are already 'approved' by our bank and insurance to do the job. I'm 90% sure I'm going to fire them but it'll push the work back at least 2 weeks to get another vendor approved and out here.

The bank inspector also comes next Wednesday and won't free up the money if work isn't started. So it delays the money too. I can't afford to keep shelling out cash and have the reimbursement delayed.

So annoying.

 

[RadioNate]

Calling the general contractor worked. They came, the job is finished and will be back Tuesday morning to put up scaffolding for the rest.

And they did it all with smiling faces.

 

[Barbossa]

With a few exceptions, I'm absolutely amazed at the lack of quality in the construction industry. There seems to be no pride whatsoever in doing a good job. I hire contractors only if I have to, and when I do I make sure they have several recommendations from people I trust. If cars were built like room additions, we'd all be dead.

 

[MAKmom]

I get that there are delays but I'm sick of them thinking their time is more valuable than mine.

I know why the painters were upset yesterday and didn't want to work with the flooring guys. HOWEVER, the painters knew on MONDAY that the flooring guys were starting on Thursday.

They told me Monday it was a 2 day job. THEY forgot some baseboard on Tuesday so it became a 3 day job. On Wednesday they decided to leave at 3 and finish on Thursday. Thursday they stayed about 2 hours, got pissy and left. It is now 11:20 Friday and they still haven't showed. I also asked them on Tuesday and Wednesday if they wanted me to reschedule the flooring contractors and they said NO, the said they'd be done. I also don't know why they can't paint my laundry room while the flooring guys are working in the dining room but whatever.

I've taken time off to be here. My DH has taken time off. It is frustrating.

I'm tempted to finish the 1/2 painted laundry room myself.

They are supposed to paint the entry and family room (30ft ceilings) Tuesday and Wednesday of next week but I doubt that'll happen.

My flooring guys stayed until 7 last night to finish every any where near where the painters needed to be and bumped me to the afternoon today so the painters would have time to finish this morning but they haven't shown yet.

Which I know is going to cause drama.

If you have a general contractor you should not have to be there for anything or deal with anyone.

 

[RadioNate]

If you have a general contractor you should not have to be there for anything or deal with anyone.

The General Contractor isn't here every day. I haven't seen him since Tuesday.

We got flooded during tropical storm fay. I live here and I work from home so I don't really have anywhere else to go long term.

I don't like them in my house with all our stuff etc without me. They are all licensed and insured and that but that doesn't mean I'm going to give them open access to my home.