jt20,
I have been told more than a few time that I have an 'attitude problem'. If doing or making something right or standing for what I think is right is a problem, then fine. And yes, I and problably everyone else here has run into the Alpha knowit all types. I have been around some very talented people who were the exact opposite. And if they said the Sun was going to rise in the West tomarrow, I'd believe them. They again there are the types that think the world revolves around them. They are the only ones who know whatever. I can tell a few more stories, that might make you laugh. Then again there is some stuff that I though would work and it work very well and better than expected.
Tom

MR. Fowler,

I get along quite well with my elders outside of the work environment, but in it, there is more internal conflict that I do not express. Currently, my closest friend is almost 20 years my senior.

I think you pinpointed the issue. There are many ways of seeing things / doing them and they are all half-truths. Yet, there is a difference b/w the workplace hierarchy and age relations.

__________________

Many "old/ experienced" people brag that they have " 20 years experience."
Actually that is not true. In most jobs you experience the bulk of likely situations in a much shorter time frame, say 5 years. What the old guys should realize is that thier 20, or 30 years of experience, is really " 5 years of experience, repeated 4 or 5 or 6 times".

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Yep, X2.

Its a hard freaken job, I'm having a hard time learning it. Although our guys are a bit nicer to me since I write the checks now...even though I still take a lot of crap.

__________________
2006 CL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2026 Genesis GV70
2007 Tiara 3200

Try to become a master of one or two trades. There is not enough time in life (nor a truck big enough to hold all the tools and parts) to become professional at all the trades. In my 30+ years in the trades I have yet to meet anyone who could truly "do it all". Jack of all trades-master of none is still true. However, if you are writing the checks, you are always the master!! The witty banter and harrassment on the jobsite is inevitable. You can only have a bunch of fellas in the same place for so long before things turn raunchy! When I get tired of the abuse I just start spewing right-wing hate and alienate everyone until they leave me alone!!

Speaking as someone on the OTHER side of the metaphorical fence, as a typical consumer of contractors that own their own businesses, and who I have hired for home remodeling projects, in the San Francisco area, (where wages and costs for this, are VERY high),


To me, this attitude of "running their own business" seems to be taken WAAAAAAY too far.

These guys never return calls, they ignore appointments, show up ONLY when and where they please, are cavalier with their subs (IMPORTANT cause if the subs don't get paid, the subs can record a LIEN on YOUR property).


You can't even be sure they are sober either when they show up.

About the ONLY thing you can count on, is that their truck will be expensive and new.

And yes, I always first did my "due diligence" too (checked with the state Contractor's license board, for complaints and licences, called all the references and talked to them) before I hired anyone,


For these reasons, for me, dealing with contractors rates somewhere between going to the dentist, and jury duty....

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I agree wholeheartedly. I have no patience for self-important time wasters. Your best bet to find good contractors is word of mouth. Watch out for full page ads in the yellow pages and fancy stationary.Guys who are good don't need to advertise.

On the other hand you need to be a good customer too. Be realistic about your timelines, don't be a "fatal attraction" customer who calls every 10 minutes, and most importantly- PAY ON TIME!! I love customers who offer payment when the job is done. The ones I have to chase down for payment don't get priority for future work.

If you get ripped off by a Contractor, by all means turn them in to the state licence board. All it takes is a call and they do most of the rest. I wish more people would follow through with turning in unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors. They give the good guys a bad name.

Another important thing is if someones bid is way lower than the rest, they probably screwed up and won''t be able to complete the job, or they will jack up the price with change orders and cut every corner they can.

I assumed the 'real' job referred to it being sporadic rather than a comment about the job itself. No one can lay tile all day and think it's not a real job.

I finishing a side job for some people and I cut them (too big) a break on the price because they had a horror story with their previous cabinet guy. It's coming back to bite me in the apse, but I was telling my friend that it pisses me off that many people aren't happy when a contractor does a good job - they are relieved. Same deal with mechanics. So many dipsticks do like Jim B. wrote that people are so apprehensive, they go through the weeks or months before the work is done stressed out. In my case, they are now trying to get even more work out of me than was agreed upon (not happening) and withholding the last payment.







As for the OP, I was once asked in an interview if I knew how to read a tape. You'd be surprised the level of moron that may end up in the construction trades.
And I've done granite, cabinets, tile, flooring, and general stuff over the course of 8 years or so and I learn alot, with plenty more to learn still. It's one of those things that seem like common sense - once you know how to do it. I agree though that some of the stuff goes too far. One tile guy I worked with told me he spent two years as an apprentice just carrying buckets of mud for other tilesetters before he was able to do the work. Tile setting ain't that complicated. I'dve quit after a couple weeks.

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1984 300TD

No, I wouldn't.

I still have to do most of the work myself on the rentals because the current level of moron is just more than I can bear. Why is it so difficult to find someone to do a decent job for $25.00 per hour...........I'm not asking for high level finish carpentry.........

My uncle has, he knows damn near everything about all the trades needed to build something.

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2006 CL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2026 Genesis GV70
2007 Tiara 3200

I don't think our trim guy would go to NY. He is a bit of a PITA to deal with but he does good work for about $250 a day.

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2006 CL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2026 Genesis GV70
2007 Tiara 3200

Anyone who will work for $25 an hour is not going to have the proper licenses, insurance, etc. I constantly see the $25 an hour guys take 4 times as long to do the job as a $50 an hour guy would. And the homeowner thinks they are getting over on those "overpaid unskilled contractors". I find it disturbing that you think contractors are not entitled to make a decent living. I'm sure you don't give your work away. Just remember- If you pay peanuts you get monkeys. (or illegal aliens)

I don't need anyone with a license to do some general painting, some vinyl tiles for flooring, install a bathroom vanity, change a thermostat, repair a faucet, etc.

Those skills are not advanced and they are not worth more than $25.00 per hour.

Feel free to pay a "contractor" the $50. that he will likely charge. He'll employ the same semi-skilled people and pay them less than $25.00.

You may find it "disturbing" but you've got no concept or understanding of this industry.

Brian Carltons face while deal with your average moron.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3mEIv51QnA

1:37-1:43

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

I'm not sure about your state, but in California if the total price of the job is $500 or more it requires a contractors license.

I have been a licensed contractor for over 22 years. How do you figure I have no concept or understanding of the industry? I'm sure I have forgotten more than you will ever know about the construction industry. Oh- sorry- I forgot that you know more than me about everything.