A Dirt Expert? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

**denick** · 03-18-2006, 12:46 PM

In the hiring process for operators, drivers, laborers and in many other conversations involving our work the word expert has been used to convey a persons ability and status. I always wondered what they ment. After the last few experts something my girls are constantly telling me came to mind “ dad I don’t think that means what you think it means” a saying they got from a movie. So I looked it up to better understand how to look at peoples qualifications. I’m sort of sorry I did. The Websters New Collegiate Dictionary version.

Expert: experienced : having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience. see AUTHORITY

Authority: an individual cited or appealed to as an expert : power to influence or command thought, opinion or behavoir: convincing force.

Skilled: having aquired mastery of or skill in something.
see PROFICIENT

Proficient: well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge
see ADEPT

Adept: a highly skilled or well-trained individual: thoroughly proficient : EXPERT

I guess I’ll just be me.

Nick

jmic · 03-18-2006, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denick

In the hiring process for operators, drivers, laborers and in many other conversations involving our work the word expert has been used to convey a persons ability and status. I always wondered what they ment. After the last few experts something my girls are constantly telling me came to mind “ dad I don’t think that means what you think it means” a saying they got from a movie. So I looked it up to better understand how to look at peoples qualifications. I’m sort of sorry I did. The Websters New Collegiate Dictionary version.

Expert: experienced : having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience. see AUTHORITY

Authority: an individual cited or appealed to as an expert : power to influence or command thought, opinion or behavoir: convincing force.

Skilled: having aquired mastery of or skill in something.
see PROFICIENT

Proficient: well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge
see ADEPT

Adept: a highly skilled or well-trained individual: thoroughly proficient : EXPERT

I guess I’ll just be me.

Nick

Nick Buddy,
Looks like you have way to much time on your hands.

Where do you come up with all these good posts?

I like to think of myself as experienced, but as far as being an expert..... lets put it this way I think I'm good at what I do but am always interested to try new techniques and feel you're never to old to learn something new. Now to me an expert would be the Grand Poo-Bah, the Grand Wizard that knows EVERYTHING. So I'll settle for being experienced,,, but not an EXPERT!

**denick** · 03-18-2006, 05:10 PM

JMIC,
Doing estimating drives me a little crazy. My wife says I think to much, she's right. Just an over active imagination, runaway curiosity and adult ADD.

Thats me.

Nick

Tscarborough · 03-18-2006, 06:26 PM

My definition of expert is someone who knows what to do and how to do it for a given situation.

Here is an example that happened on a job in Houson years ago:

We built 2 poured in place concrete vaults for massive pumps for a sewerage lift station. We built them to spec for the pumps with data provided by the manufacturer. They were 4' wide by 8' long by 6' deep, with only a 2" allowance on the sides. When the pumps were delivered, the stated sizes were correct, but the lifting eyes were mounted on the sides of the pumps, making them 4'8" wide. The "experts" came up with several expensive solutions, none of which would work, while the real expert, a concrete foreman, knew the simple solution.

Ay guesses as to the solution?

Glasshousebltr · 03-19-2006, 01:39 AM

No clue Ts, don't know much about pumps of that nature. Did he move the lifting eyes and/or choke and strap lift.

As far as expert goes......years ago I knew this chic.....her picture should have been right there in your dictionary Denick..........without a doubt.

And she put the meaning in dirty!

Bob

jmic · 03-19-2006, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tscarborough

My definition of expert is someone who knows what to do and how to do it for a given situation.

Here is an example that happened on a job in Houson years ago:

We built 2 poured in place concrete vaults for massive pumps for a sewerage lift station. We built them to spec for the pumps with data provided by the manufacturer. They were 4' wide by 8' long by 6' deep, with only a 2" allowance on the sides. When the pumps were delivered, the stated sizes were correct, but the lifting eyes were mounted on the sides of the pumps, making them 4'8" wide. The "experts" came up with several expensive solutions, none of which would work, while the real expert, a concrete foreman, knew the simple solution.

Ay guesses as to the solution?

Well if the vaults had open bottoms ( such as what we use here for electrical vaults ) you could have set the pumps up on the slabs and then lowered the concrete vault down over them into place. Just a thought.

Tscarborough · 03-19-2006, 02:39 PM

Nah, they were poured in place, 6" concrete walls and floors. Couldn't strap it, and of course, had to remove the lifting eyes.

The concrete forman's suggestion was to put a small sump pump in the hole, fill it with crushed ice and set the pump on the ice. Houston in summer is a tad warm, and the ice melted and was pumped out, leaving the equipment sitting on its pad. Worked like a charm.

kapena · 03-19-2006, 02:39 PM

There's a saying: "An expert is someone from out of town."

TMatt142 · 04-28-2006, 10:41 AM

there is obviously more than one way to lift a pump.....Cut the lift eyes off to make it fit, then lift with different chain and strap configs, at different lifting points???

TMatt142 · 04-28-2006, 04:39 PM

Now that is creative thinking!!!!!!Goes to show that the simplest thing usually gets the job done!!!! Ice....sheesh!