Is This NORMAL In This Business?

Brushslingers

No doubt, with that holier than thou attitude, he's right on the money.... he'd be working for someone else.

__________________
Benn

RobertWilber

I install it according to plan
you move it, break it, damage it
I redo it
I charge [and get paid] for it
that's not fair, or unfair
that's just life
sorry

Mike Finley

Lol, you're hitting it right on the head, there is a big difference between the Internet job site and the real world. I suspect half the stuff that people banter about on here never gets applied in the real world.

This also illuminates what I see as the biggest bass ackwards thinking process in construction - demolition seems to mean throw the biggest moron you can find at it and let them smash everything in front of them, kill everything and sort it out later. I teach guys to go about demolition with the fine touch of a surgeon. Newbie asked me why we roto zip the drywall we are cutting out in a big area instead of using the recip saw like they were taught? About 20 minutes later in the job I show him the not up to code wiring that wasn't tucked in where it should be that would have been cut through blindly using the recip saw. First sign of a light bulb goes on in the newbies brain - hey maybe yelling and screaming and acting a fool, being big and bad doing demo isn't such a bright idea after all.

Brendakeen

Double A, I hear you but we DO give a lot of large ($15K and up) work to plumbing and electrical contractors. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but these guys have gotten this work without having to negotiate with the customer or pay for leads, and we are the ones who take the customer's **** when the jobsite is left messy and subs don't clean up.

Regarding the posts on demo - I agree!!!! The biggest and meanest guys on the crew get to do it, and they don't know a wire from a snake. Then they spend a half hour blaming each other as to who did it - when all else fails, they blame the subs.

I have asked to be present from now on when demo is done. I am going to mark all the wire locations and trace them back BEFORE the job starts, whether I am working on the job site or an electrical sub is hired.

DaveTap

Yes its done all the time and I just try to allow for it in the quote. Of course you can't plan for everything and that's what extras are for. Back charging is in my generic contract agreement... but never used. Luckily everything is in conduit, although I've seen them cut or broken.

I get on my subs if they make too much of a mess but for site clean-up I hire nearby kids... they clean up everyday after school and provide great security. (Since most vandalism is done by neighborhood kids having them on the payroll is far cheaper) They also enjoy learning how to do things and take great pride in their work. (Just make sure to go get signed permission slips from parents first and make sure proper protection is always there and used)

For me multiple subs on the job usually saves time... but our subs all work together helping each other and sharing tools and information... or they don't get invited back. If the plumber is running behind I'll assign an aprentice to him or jump in myself. Often he and his guys help us pull wires or drill our conduit holes. If a big delivery shows up everyone on site helps unload. The biggest advantage... when there's a conflict for a wall or ceillng space we can get together to figure out the best solutions. Oh and on our sites... no one swears!

Brendakeen

There are lots of kids around us and probably most would LOVE an after school job.

There are the liability issues......

Noone swears? Wow. We just had a meeting to discuss making sure the guys don't swear within earshot of the homeowners.

I learned new words when I started working on job sites. At first everyone was really quiet with a "women" on the job. Then I hit my hand with a hammer and a few things came out of my mouth - and life has been back to normal for them ever since

cmwacasey

I think the people on the demo website need to get involved in this discussion.Do they get paid as much as the electrictions.

Brendakeen

They are usually our junior guys. This is why I want to supervise!

But one was a foreman who cut the wire in the last house!

Brendakeen

Sorry, in my reply to the diatribe against GCs I meant to quote PLAN, not Double A. Sorry Double A.

Plan, unless I miss my guess from your earlier posts - you are based in Hollywood, right?

You are in a unique situation where you can probably get $1k per outlet from Nicholas Cage types. Other specialty subs are not so lucky . Most of my subs are really happy to hear from me, especially around Nov/Dec when work is slowing down.

We don't all have the Hollywood clientele!!!

Granted, there are some pretty rich Silicon Valley types here....