Project Mangers And Superintendents

esizemore

I am GC for two different government agencies, We build low income houses for the less fortunate. I am a framer by trade and the economy is so bad that I am branching off into sub-contracting for commercial. I am framing a Burger King in Kentucky and the project manager is griping about the construction schedule. They have made changes to the specs for the fourth time and I just got the revised set Wensday. I haven't been able to even order my trusses for the changes. When I get ready to order they will change something and the Project manger is being a prick, because we are two days behind schedule. How would you guys handle this.

Jason Whipple

Two days?! Big deal! I've done a few chain restaurants (as a PM & Super) and the schedule is a guide not the daily to do list. Will he be kissing your ass when you're two days ahead? You'll be ahead or behind on a fast track job like that quite often, tell him to relax and let you do your job. Maybe he needs to go to the owners and Architect to find out why the job isn't straightened out yet.

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Kaiser

Every time there is a change to the scope or the required material it will cost you money. You need to bring this to his attention right away and generate a change order. It should reflect the extra cost to deal with these changes and the extra time. You signed a contract based on the project documents at the time of signing not what ever he decides to change along the way.

Changing the specs four times on a project like a Burger King is no ones fault but the Project Manager. His tits in the ringer. If he can bring it in on schedule after changing specs four times he just might save his job.

Believe me many of subs have been screwed by this type of PM not having his ducks in a row in the begining. Be proactive, you need to be sure the GC is aware of what is going on now. Maybe this is all coming from the top maybe not.

This is a perfect example of making sure everything is documented. Be sure all your correspondence is dated. When it comes to the end and the PM has blamed all of the delays on the subcontractors you need to be able to show you had addressed these issues at the time they came up. Be it to his boss or a judge.

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TMG1

Just let him know that his / their changes may affect the schedule, and / or add to the overall price.

This ought to get their attention.

I've had changes made, as we were pouring concrete. Unbelievable but true!

That's what owners do, and our job as PM/ GC is to advise them of the overall impact of those changes to schedule and budget.

Snow Man

Pm owns that problem . Documentation is your friend.

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richard123

agreeing with that, you must document everything just to be safe!!!

RPortinga

Ditto on the documentation. Even if it's just notes in your own log book about phone calls and conversations. Be specific with dates and times.

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Rob Portinga - Bauer Bros. Construction, Inc.
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richard123

oh yeah deffinatly record the dates and times, it looks more proffesional when adressing a client aswell

Shoreline58

Rule of thumb; "He who generates the biggest pile of paper wins."

pritch

I will always generate an RFI if I get even a hint of a change. That puts it back to the archetect or owner. Of course, our supers and PM's are usually on the same page, one big happy family. Make the arch. and owners do their jobs.

Earthwork Roger

Always document everything throughout any job no matter the size including weather and every revision in the plans or specs never do anything on a verbal that is asking for It BIG TIME.. If they are changing the job this much GET A CHANGE ORDER SIGNED OR BRING THE WORK TO A HALT!!!!!!!

saidshikin

Rhis not only happened to you but many new PM was unable to controlled this situation. As others member said the document is very important & to be documented no matter verbal or written instruction than u can see the cost & method implication. Be nice with the client but u must know how to reflex back the problems because they are LAYMAN.....

Pizzenterprises

CHANGE ORDERS! Document your ass off and get everything they change in writing, signed, and notorized. Seems like alot, but if there are damages involved in the end you want no part of that! They should be issuing addenda's and check your contract bc usually you only have a short amount of time like 10 days to submit C.O.'s and after that time, you forefit right to issue changes later.

silvertree

All I want to know is What's a project manger?

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rbsremodeling

The guys whose job is to look after this once its built

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manger

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knucklehead

From my experience they are inexperienced guys that are given the job of pushing the paper and BS phone calls and e-mails in order to take the pressure off of the super or the GC. And you didn't spell manager

David R

Do you all actually go to a notary?? I don't notarize anything, not even the original contract. Let me know if I'm setting myself up to get screwed one day for not having notarized signatures.

Thanks

Tinstaafl

Me either, though I'd be tempted to if the client was a lawyer.

rustyjames

In NJ you can write a CO on a lunch bag, as long as the right person signs it.

CharlesD

I know this thread is getting old but here's my two cents anyway.
Companies sign contracts with these fast food places that state the exact date of completion. In fact, usually the company that gives them the earliest completion date will get the job.
In my experience they've required the contractor to sign a contract that guarantees delivery by that date or pay penalties.
Most of the time it's the super who gets screwed because he has to put up with changes generated by the architect or engineers and yet keep things on schedule.
If you're contracting hands on self performing you're the one getting screwed by them unless you're very careful.
I know a super who was fired for going over time even though they delivered the fixtures and exterior trim a week after the completion date.
You better talk to whomever hired you and keep those work change orders or you will get down to the end and be left holding the bag with no money in it because you didn't meet the deadline.
I've built for these outfits that build fast food places and know how they operate.