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gillylily

They all throw each other under the bus..

15 years ago

The cabinet maker is mad at the electrician for marking up his cabinets in the kitchen, the electrician is cursing out the cabinet maker.. The electrician is mad a the cabinet maker b/c he is putting crown molding on the mirrors (in the bathrooms) and he has already installed the fixtures... The tiler is annoyed with the plumbers b/c they poked a huge hole in the slate bathtub surround that was just installed last week. The granite folks are annoyed at the cabinet maker (not really sure why there)..

The best one is the builder (GC) of the whole house is annoyed with us for telling the electrician to put the lighting in, even though this is our FIRST time building a house working with all of these people who have ALL worked together on hundreds of homes.. UMMM... HELLO?????

It is all quite amusing and makes for good weekend laughter.. Oh the joys..

Just curious how all of your contractor's work together.. Just for kicks...

Comments (8)

  • 15 years ago

    Sounds like your GC is a "beginner" .....

    Generals that actually HAVE real world EXPERIENCE - (NOT Theory
    that some kid learned getting their bachelor's degree in Construction Mis-Management)
    don't have half as many problems - even with prima-donna subs HA!!!

    Been doin this gig long enough to recognize the symptoms right away -
    If you had a GC worth his fee - HE would be handling all of this - and NOT you...

    sorry for the downer opinion - but real GC's have their SH.. "acts" together.

    yours obviously does not

    hope things improve for ya (and not implode)

    kevin

  • 15 years ago

    I've built several homes and really it is the GC's job to make sure all the subs work together and not complain in front of the homeowner AND that the owner isn't allowed to give instructions to subs without the GC's knowledge. I'm glad you are not stressed by it all though--that's a GOOD thing!

  • 15 years ago

    ((((hugs))))

    Going through this now and it's making me cry. I called the electrician today and told him he needs to come over here and help me rework the electric, then called the GC and told them flat out that they needed to work out the schedule to be here with the electrician so that we are all on the same page. They're all coming Monday morning.

    I'm sure everything will come together in your home and be beautiful when it's done. But for now, pull up a stool and join me for a drink!

  • 15 years ago

    You've made a good point. I've learned to answer with "How many times have I done (insert X term here) before? Are you sure you want to ask me that?" whenever someone asks me something that they should know themselves, or that they should be asking of someone who has done it a hundred times before. Then they smarten up and give me the advisory remarks I need to hear or they stop peppering me with their expectational questions. Of course, they win the lottery if they get you to say something that puts them into a position where they can go ahead and ruin everyone else's coordinated efforts. My opinion.

  • 15 years ago

    (((((BIG HUG))))))

    Sympathy and a laugh with you. I'm really lucky in my GC. His subs all know and respect him, and they work together well. His own crew are fantastic. And the best compliment, my tile setter, who truly dislikes contractors, is okay with my GC.

    I'm so sorry you have such strife. I don't know why they're telling you about it, instead of each other!

  • 15 years ago

    how many times have I done... good one.

    We're doing the kitchen ourselves so I'm the GC and it's great! LOL [very minor remodel].

    We do have a GC on our bonus remodel and he ROCKS. So good GCs are worth their weight in gold. He calls every day to let me know who will be here and when. And except for them using the bathroom constantly [what's up with that? LOL] they are quick and quiet and stay out of my hair which I need as I'm staining kitchen cabs and can't worry about the bonus area.

    We are adding a room above the garage, put stairs at end of our back hallway to access...and gutted the laundry and office room on the other side of the stairs to make a big mud / utility / craft room. It will be fab but right now all the stuff that was in laundry and office [besides W/D] are in the middle of my kitchen which I'm remodeling....

    thus the fact that I have a glass of wine at 4:30 pm on Friday. OY.

    Sympathy hugs....and keep repeating 'this will all be worth it...'
    Trish

  • 15 years ago

    Ha-- the wine has been a flowing since oh 1:30-- not really but in my head and once the kids are in bed...LOL..

    Honestly up until today, this is the first time I have heard any of this.. The builder has been great (he is actually an acquaintance of ours - and we hadn't experienced any of this.. Funny thing is since this is a new build they have all been working together for some time and the house will be done on Wed.. I think they are all just at the end of the rope.. Problem is... we are the 1st house of 8 to be completed! I think they all better learn to get a long..

    Seems to me that this all stuff that has been going on for some time (hundreds of homes) and maybe they all have had it... They all do really love to work for the builder, apparently just not with the builder..

    AND.. as I am writing this my DH just told me that the builder just doesn't like this kind of confrontation between his subs.. but.. he kind of blamed us for the electrician/carpenter issue... NICE.... Oh it is only 5 pm here in the Northeast.. Wish I could put the kiddos to bed so I could begin the chugging!!! LOL

  • 15 years ago

    During my reno, each of the sub-trades complained because he wasn't the first one in on the job, because each of the subsequent subs messed up something that the previous guy had done. They all want to be first so they don't have to be careful of anyone else's work (or clean their shoes before entering!) My GC was pretty good about keeping them in line, and making sure all the little dings and bloodstains were cleaned up. But I don't know how a GC can keep these guys from complaining to whoever is present, unless he has the time to babysit them.