Extreme Makeover House - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Bergstrom · 10-09-2009, 09:09 AM

8 trimmers+ 9 hours = 1 house

My brother owns a finish carpentry business that trims for the builder that built a house this week in St. Paul for Extreme Makeover Home Edition. This is the second house we have done, the first was in 2007. They wouldn't let any pictures be taken inside the house while we were working but I took this one as we were loading up.

The designers did a really good job making the new house look like it belonged in the neighborhood. The interior has stool & apron window trim with crowned headers, 8" base and two piece ceiling crown- all solid oak.

cabinet runner · 10-09-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bergstrom

8 trimmers+ 9 hours = 1 house

My brother owns a finish carpentry business that trims for the builder that built a house this week in St. Paul for Extreme Makeover Home Edition. This is the second house we have done, the first was in 2007.

You are the only person I have heard of that was willing to get involved with this 2 times . A few years back a builder I installed kitchens for did an Extreme Makeover House . When I got the details of the install I politely refused . Zero Money , No time to do it properly , house jammed full of people, late night start times ect . No money was the big thing for me . I'm all for helping people but totally free just isn't for me as an installer .

Another cabinet installer jumped all over this deal and the builder basically forced many subs to do this project . To a man ever other sub I talked to said it was the most miserable job they were ever a part of . The builders employees were also forced to participate as well .

Worst thing is that builder is now outta business some subs were replaced after the show anyway and the home is in foreclosure . Don't have the details of the foreclosure but i am very glad I didn't waste my time with this deal .

I'd like to here the details of how it went for you . I didn't hear one sub say it was a good experience for them .

woodtradesman · 10-09-2009, 11:59 AM

I always wondered about projects like that. I like to do good work and I don't I would be able to render quality work at that pace.

cabinet runner · 10-09-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodtradesman

I always wondered about projects like that. I like to do good work and I don't I would be able to render quality work at that pace.

Part of the deal is you have to be able to overstaff the job . Thats why the OP said they had 8 guys trimming . The builder I am talking about had a sheet with staffing requirements . I woulda had to take 4 guys minimum for the kitchen install and you were given very strict timelines .
The only person I saw that benefitted other than the homeowner was the builder . He got plenty of advertising and some TV face time . The rest who actually did the construction work had their names listed at the end of the show . I was working on the regular jobs with all of these subs and I have never heard guys bitch so much than when they worked on that makeover crap .

I want to hear form the OP why they are doing this and are they getting anything out of it ?
Anyone ever do a Christmas in April house ?

Bergstrom · 10-09-2009, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabinet runner

You are the only person I have heard of that was willing to get involved with this 2 times . A few years back a builder I installed kitchens for did an Extreme Makeover House . When I got the details of the install I politely refused . Zero Money , No time to do it properly , house jammed full of people, late night start times ect . No money was the big thing for me . I'm all for helping people but totally free just isn't for me as an installer .

Another cabinet installer jumped all over this deal and the builder basically forced many subs to do this project . To a man ever other sub I talked to said it was the most miserable job they were ever a part of . The builders employees were also forced to participate as well .

Worst thing is that builder is now outta business some subs were replaced after the show anyway and the home is in foreclosure . Don't have the details of the foreclosure but i am very glad I didn't waste my time with this deal .

I'd like to here the details of how it went for you . I didn't hear one sub say it was a good experience for them .

I guess it is what you make of it. We have fun doing the houses and it turns into more of a contest to see who can get the most done. There are a lot of tradespeople in the house but there isn't the typical turf war you see on a for-profit jobsite, everyone just deals with the situation and makes the best of it.

As far as the forclosures of these houses go, I have heard of a few of them getting repo'd but by and large I think most of them are successful.

In regards to the quality issue you are probably not going to see museum quality craftsmanship in these homes but it is decent considering the timeframe to get it done.

Here's the first house we did in '07

cabinet runner · 10-09-2009, 06:21 PM

[quote=Bergstrom;784221]I guess it is what you make of it. We have fun doing the houses and it turns into more of a contest to see who can get the most done. There are a lot of tradespeople in the house but there isn't the typical turf war you see on a for-profit jobsite, everyone just deals with the situation and makes the best of it.
As far as the forclosures of these houses go, I have heard of a few of them getting repo'd but by and large I think most of them are successful.
In regards to the quality issue you are probably not going to see museum quality craftsmanship in these homes but it is decent considering the timeframe to get it done.>>>

Thats great that you guys have a good time doing this . It may be a regional thing where it isn't fun . Another problem for the house I was describing was some bullying tactics by the builder . They were doing an average of 70 houses a year and held that over certain subcontractors in a volunteer for this or else .....scenario .

I had helped out on a Christmas in April project in the past and it was not a good expeirence for a professional tradesman IMO. On the Extreme project I turned down I did not like the fact they wouldn't budge one bit on even paying for the hired help but had no problem putting in granite countertops , plasma tvs ect .

world llc · 10-10-2009, 10:49 AM

just did one about a month, maybe 2 ago... got pics, not aloud to post em under fear of some crap i signed... new show, basically 70 people working on top of one another for 7 days which is really 5 days if you factor day 1 being move out/demo and day 7 is move in/clean.

spirits were high day one even though move out took 5 hours too long so that they could get their shots... the demo didn't start til sun down which pushed back framing to day three.... day 3 is when everyone started getting pissy and resentful and the other side/reality of "being on TV" settled in.

it took alot of hours from alot of people, but it got done and hopefully runs in January so i can get my 15 seconds

the stress and resentment fight with the feeling of accomplishment and doing something good for someone who needs it... enough to not jump at the "opportunity" of another TV show.

all in all, the memorable moments are, the camaraderie between everyone, the new tradesman i have met, and the food they fed us