[TheForge] housekeeping

[Larry Brown]

I have been working around various aspects of the building industry since I 
was 14 when I started working for builders  as a site kid doing anything 
they could get me to do ($20/day in the early '70s) In my teens to early 
twenties I worked for many different contractors for extra work and when 
work was slow. I have seen some of the best and some of the worst. The best 
were concerned for the customers, the workers and themselves and their 
reputation. The worst were concerned with themselves and the money.

Builders don't want to pay spit and will try to talk you down in price 
while you are doing the work or stiff you at the end of the job (Well not 
all but many and they have lawyers to hide behind) Most of the better 
craftsmen I have seen will only work for the more top end custom builders 
who have been in business a long time.

Around me the builders set up a new business for every few houses to enable 
to stiff the contractors and the buyers, most of the guys still doing work 
for them aren't surprised when then don't get the last payment. This is why 
they pick up "Mexicans" (Fill in with nearby cheap labor) on the corner in 
the morning and drop them off at your house or construction site giving 
them some materials and vague instructions and hope for the best.  I have 
seen some of these cheap labor workers do beautiful conscientious work and 
some have no idea what they are to do.

I have had some interesting jobs over the years repairing what these 
contractors do and I have my own horror stories about trying to hire 
contractors to do work for me.  I have seen major fools in all trades, with 
and without licenses. My only ground rule is hire the guy in work clothes 
with a work truck, who is mid range on the estimate as he probably knows 
the job and will be there or at least around while it is being done and 
hope for the best.
I might change this to don't hire anyone I wouldn't want to hit with a 
hammer ;-)
L Brown



>I hope you don't take any of this ill.   The tradespeople I know over 
>forty are as annoyed as I am in general.  My old neighbor was a mason.
>You should walk down the street with him and hear him critique the brick 
>work in a new development.
>
>
>Charles.
>Who works in the IT and Power industry.  The former of which is worse than 
>the building trades, and the latter (linemen and central station guys) I 
>think still has the esprit de corps as a group to care about doing a job 
>right when they get the chance.
>
>_