Bad Idea? Two Subs One Deck..

ruskent

My first deck on a project is in the design phase. Now I need to find the best way to execute it. Previously, I have worked with a carpenter who is very talented. He is extremely slow at what he does though and works very cheap since he does not understand the whole business thing. He would take way to long to build this deck since he works along.

I happen to know a good framing contractor. I could call in the framer and have the deck framed in proably 2 days for a resonable price. Then I could have the other carpenter come in and do what he does best: the finsh work.


This seems to be the most economical way to build the deck.


What could go wrong with this?

Home Serve

Good idea
We've done it before and..... it works!
Dave C

__________________
Missouri Remodeling Company with services for Replacement Windows Vinyl Siding and Entry Doors

Patrick

Im Looking to do the same this year, My framer just doesnt understand the word "pretty"

__________________
Originally Posted by Celtic
Like I said...I'm sure you are very good at what you do ~ whatever that is and where ever it happens.

buildenterprise

As long as your framer understands crowning the joists, placing them in groups of like widths, etc., you should be fine. We finished a bunch of decks for a GC and the framing was horrible. Took us quite a bit longer since we had to correct the framing deficiencies first.

curapa

Ive done them this way before also. The builder has the framing ready and I come along and put on the decking, stairs and railing. Works great for everyone (as long as the framing is correct).

genecarp

i would not put myself in that posistion, if something doesnt come out correct, people love to blame the other guy, keep the responsibility on one person

__________________

DecksEtc

Sounds like it could work from the feedback above.

If I were you, I'd try it out on this first one and see how it goes. Just don't commit to the two guys that it will be this way from now on.

neolitic

I was on the "finish" end of a deal like that
on some condos.
The framers had no clue, we had to redo
enough stuff that it doubled our time.
Eventually the developer got tired of paying
our extras, we got tire of fixing FUBARS.....
We still get work repairing framing in that
complex 20 years in.

I guess it could work,
but somebody (Ruskent?)
will have to maintain continuity.
Make sure everyone stays on
the same page.

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)

Jason Whipple

Sounds like a winner to me. Just make sure you check the framer before you hand it over. Maybe have your finish guy meet you on site to check it out on a Saturday (when the framers isn't there). That could help avoid any extra charges or having to ask your finish guy to re-mobilize at a later date.

__________________
Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
Facebook | Twitter

curapa

Thinking back I have done about 10 or so decks this way. The only time I can recall any problem is when the framers put the beam for a set of stairs in the wrong spot. Actually its was correct to the plans but wouldn't work in the real life situation. The stairs came down to a platform and turned going underneath the beach house to the breakaway carport area. The beam was placed to close and didnt allow enough headroom where they came under the house. A simple fix.

redwood

It can work if the framer is used to framing decks. We recently completed a 1800 Sq. ft deck that was framed by someone else. We spent a week fixing the framing deficiencies. Luckily, I didn't hire the framing contractor. The deck actually ended up costing more then if we had framed it ourselves.

__________________
Mark
Los Gatos, CA
www.creative-redwood-designs.com

Stone Mountain

With all due respect to any framers on this forum, I have never seen a house framer do the kind of nice, neat work that a deck needs. Most of the new- house framing I've seen over the years (especially recently because of the volume) looks like it's been done by butchers. Years ago we hired a framing crew to build us about 50 decks. Not one was properly done, but fortunately the builder didn't car.
There's also the problem of how to split the labour. How much do you pay the framers, and how much do you pay to skin the deck, build steps and rails, and skirt it?

__________________
Residential Deck Specialist: Vist our Website
www.fenceanddeck.ca