Lack of capable "tradesmen"

[redlite]

Since there is only a hand full of us tradesmen on here that exchange stories I need to vent about the lack of capable "carpenters" these days

Here in westport there are pretty much 3 big well known contractors with multiple crews that primarily deal with remodeling and I have come to the conclusion that they all suck. they are sending out the most incompetent workers with absolutely zero attention to detail or quality control. I have spent the past few months coming behind redoing their work. It has been very frustrating and heartbreaking for the home owners wallets.

One job is an apartment remodel. I have come to the conclusion that the guy's levels were out of calibration. I have had to carefully remove and completely rehang 7 brand new interior doors that would not close. they were off a 1/4 inch at the bottom. Jambs were not plumb. A brand new exterior door leaked like a sieve. He was too lazy to break back the vinyl siding and flash/ tape it in at all.

The brand new blue kitchen cabinets have been a nightmare. Of course none of them are plumb or level (see level comment ). well not only that but before they threw the cabinet hardware on they did not plumb or align the doors. so when I did properly tune them up, all the hardware not plumb so required some tedious creativeness to correct. As far as the drawers go, he put the wrong width pulls on the wrong drawers. I had to putty and try to match sprayed paint as best as possible. To top it off I think my kids could have done a better job painting the place with water paint brushes. I know they certainly wouldn't have gotten so much wall paint on the ceilings. Been good for my wallet, not good for homeowner. Crazy how much they charged for such shoddy work. Disgracefuly shameful

Another job I have working on was an exterior remodel (roof, siding gutter, trim). well this particular contractor did not have gutters installed even remotely correctly. Pitched wrong, peeling off facia as brackets not installed at all correctly, most spinning out. Full of water and #^&#^&#^&#^& and leaking in corners. Well after getting water out of them and examining they sealed all seams up with about 12 tubes of silicone. a nightmare to clean up and correctly seal with gutter goop. The icing on the cake again makes my face turn white thinking about. After dealing with gutter leaking issue (still gotta go back with boss and properly rehang and pitch gutters, I am doing a final inspection and notice that the house service from the pole is bowed out around the gutter. Holy #^&#^&#^&#^&. I am lucky the wires hadn't rubbed thru and electrified the whole gutter while I was working on them. Unbelievable. Lots of other obvious bad mistakes around that job.

Now I get a call from another member here last nite that I need to go behind another contractor on his in-laws house. The rakes and gunstocks were rotten and some had gotten knocked off by a faling tree. Work was an insurance job. well apparently rather than replace the rotten trim, they just wrapped in aluminum and now that has all fallen off because it is hard to hold a nail in rotten wood. Apparently way, way over charged as well. Ridiculous.

We have also had to deal with 3 mega houses in a development that gutter guys put gutters pitched towards cheek walls instead of down spouts. Rotted out Hardie plank, and sheathing, etc Just looking at from the ground could tell was wrong from the get go.

I don't know if it is a systemic issue of not given an F, get in get out get paid and on to the next job, but there has to be someone with at least some small clue on these jobs that could say hey, that aint right. We pride our selves in the attention to details and live by our motto that we do every single job as if it was our own house. Wish more would do the same, but then again wouldn't have as much work if they didn't

[Hookedagain]

A lot has to do with the younger generation. Not all, but most don't give a rats a@%. Can't even get them to come in early for work...let alone be on time. I have been working with another company (Being subbed out by my boss) and one guy there is the most difficult guy I have ever worked with. He is around 28, been doing "Carpentry" for 2-3 years now. Consistently has a better way to do every task I give him. I task him with something along with very specific directions, I'll return to him an hour later and he did it his way. Very frustrating when the next step was dependent on what I told him to do. Now take it apart and please do it the way you were told....and I get an attitude. I do think you're right though, get in..get out..get paid. Seems to be the new normal. We are craftsman and these guys are just in it for the buck. They all want a raise because of the times we are living in but none want to take it to the next level. Lets not forget the fact that none of them have their own tools.

[Rmarsh]

Wow Mike.....I understand your angst. As you know I work for a large contractor in the area.....you might even be talking about one of our houses.
I do the finish work and have no say or control over the subs we hire. If I did we might not get a lot of houses done because most of them suck. I stick to my job..which I do to the best of my ability.
Unfortunately not a lot of young men are interested in working in the trades. It's hard work for sure and the candy ass kids today are too soft to tough it out and learn to do things the right way.
I have a lot more to say on the subject....later

[redlite]

Originally Posted by Rmarsh

Wow Mike.....I understand your angst. As you know I work for a large contractor in the area.....you might even be talking about one of our houses.
I do the finish work and have no say or control over the subs we hire. If I did we might not get a lot of houses done because most of them suck. I stick to my job..which I do to the best of my ability.
Unfortunately not a lot of young men are interested in working in the trades. It's hard work for sure and the candy ass kids today are too soft to tough it out and learn to do things the right way.
I have a lot more to say on the subject....later

I hear ya on plenty more Bob. I constantly think about that framing pic u posted a bit back of the rock in-between the top plates.

I mean Im sure that others might question why/ how we do some things compared to their own approach. But there would never be an issue in the long run and if there was we stand behind our work and admit when something wrong on our end to correct. These other guys just leave it and some of them I have suggested the home owner go after the other people and they get no response. All these jobs were done in the past 18 months or less and now the home owners are paying for the same thing twice. They seem to operate by the motto that "caulk and paint makes it what it ain't."

The gutters on the big houses were built by the company you work for about 15 yrs ago. I blame that on the subs that did the gutter installs, but again when we pulled up and stood in the driveway and looked up it was obvious clear as day the cause of the problem, so ultimately whoever was in charge should have noticed.
You must have done the stairs in all of em cause they were perfect and issue free and I could tell the level of dedication and attention to detail the went into em. Still No squeaks.

Now I gotta put my auto mechanic hat back on and get back out in the garage since I took the day off to continue repairs on our fleet of cars that are driving me absolutely insanely frustrarting as F.....Cars suck.

[Rmarsh]

[QUOTE=redlite;

Now I gotta put my auto mechanic hat back on and get back out in the garage since I took the day off to continue repairs on our fleet of cars that are driving me absolutely insanely frustrarting as F.....Cars suck.[/QUOTE]


Ill admit ...I used to be able to work on cars or trucks back when they were a lot simpler....wont touch my wifes lexus .helped a guy change an engine out of a donor car in a parking lot once though.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Rmarsh

Ill admit ...wont touch my wifes lexus

I tried to replace a headlight bulb on my RX350. Turns out you have to drop the front bumper and remove the entire assembly. Even at Firestone it cost over a grand for two headlight bulbs

Been disappointed with most carpenters I’ve ever hired. The guys who built a deck at my last house cut stair treads to different depths and I had to calculate the baluster spacing for them. One guy grouted a toilet in and the dudes who did the epoxy floor in the basement mixed it too stiff so the paint chips didn’t settle. They had to wet sand the entire floor then they mixed a top coat too thin and it didn’t set. Had to remove it with acetone. Third time finally got it right. At least they didn’t bail on me.

[Guppy]

I had a lot of guys that didn’t make it past lunch time…

The one I always liked… “ I’ve been doing it like this for 10 years “ me… you’ve been doing it wrong for ten years… good bye.. :-)

Oh! One more thing,,, sometimes good customers are hard to find… I’ve had some doozies…. LOL

[Rmarsh]

Originally Posted by spence

I tried to replace a headlight bulb on my RX350. Turns out you have to drop the front bumper and remove the entire assembly. Even at Firestone it cost over a grand for two headlight bulbs

Spence....its crazy...her directional light was stuck on....even after the car was parked and shut off. Couldnt fit my hand in there to check the bulb. Disconnected the battery so it wouldnt go dead. When i reconnected it light was off and working properly....its happened a few times. Wow...a grand for two headlighy bulbs....that's scary.

[Rmarsh]

Most of the framers, sidewallers
roofers, gutter and insulation installers, sheetroockers, tile guys don't speak any English....or just play dumb when you point out the hack job. So I don't waste my time with trying to show them their errors. That's where the trades are going......they're hard workers....just don't have skills....or care about getting it right. Most American boys want no part of anything that's hard work.
My boys are both big strong giys...when they work with me all day....they go home and go to bed....tell my wife they're beat.
I tell her they hardly did anything.

.

[Got Stripers]

Common theme lately, if I didn’t go over our cottage build with a fine tooth comb, I’d be dealing with issues I should never have to for years. Had to have the tile guy back twice, the kitchen cabinet company several times, the builder cost us a year on getting an occupancy permit because he built the patio and deck above 9” over the plan, I had to clean up after the insulation company because they didn’t bring any brooms, painter twice back and I’m still dealing with sh*t. Last fix was to move the entire condensing unit, because the day they installed it, the builder just didn’t think about the parking and outside shower enclosure.

[Nebe]

It’s the same in the glassmaking world. The idea of craftsmanship is fading. An eye for detail is a rare thing to find in a beginning glassmaker.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[spence]

Originally Posted by Nebe

It’s the same in the glassmaking world. The idea of craftsmanship is fading. An eye for detail is a rare thing to find in a beginning glassmaker.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I wish we lived close so Griffin could have a chance to apprentice in the studio. He’s totally an artist by instinct but doesn’t have the proper outlet.

[Rmarsh]

The state of the carpentry trade today....as compared to fifty years ago.
First....the trade these days is divided up into different categories.
Framer, roofer, sidewall, gutter installer, insulator, drywall, finish work, hardwood floor, ceramic tile, stair builder, cabinet installer etc...all being specialties and we hire different subcontractors for most of those....and all are jobs we use to handle ourselves.

When I entered the trade in the seventies we....carpenters... did all of that even the painting lots of times. Learning to build a house from the ground up far surpasses learning one specialty of the job....and not fully understanding the different phases intimately means they will never be fully fledged qualified carpenters.. I've even done footings and foundations working with my form subcontractors and building kitchens and vanities with plastic laminate counters on site was the norm. I know every aspect of every task that goes into it.
Today is totally different....over the years I've transitioned to finish work and fully understand what came before.

We have guys on our finish crew today that install pre-hung doors....which takes practically no skill...and our factory built window trim kits install in less than a minute...again very little skill or knowledge required....even the aprons are precut with returns attached. These finish carpenters would be hard pressed to trim a window from scratch. Looking at the tools they have.....they wouldnt be equiped to do said work.....not one of them have a block plane or sharpening stone.....christ...my boss use to sharpen his utility knife blades. So todays carpenters will never reach master carpenter status. IMO they dont meet my definition of carpenter. Carpenters helper is an old term....but it fits most of them. I dont mean this to be personal or condescending....just fact.

[redlite]

Bob, I know what you mean about "carpenter" that's why I titled this tradesman. There aren't many that can do it all to a high level of quality
I was fortunate that my dad's philosophy has always been " why buy it when we could build it or make it. He highly educated but has always had an interest in other things as his hobbies as he definitely not a sports guy. Captain in the army. Great job with the state. Absolutely hated video games and wouldn't allow them in house. Mom was an ER nurse. We weren't poor and could more than afford what we needed and things we wanted. Lbut enjoyed to make and fix everything and use stuff till it was beyond McGyvering. My mom loves to sew and knit as her hobby so liked to make a lot of our clothes. dad a tinkerer. He would take night classes at vocational schools esp how to weld. He worked in a garage in college so fixed the cars. I tell him all the time after the past few weeks dealing with our cars I don't know how he fixed the cars by just reading amd looking at black and white pictures ina giant repair manual. Thank god we have YouTube videos cause even with that it is frustrating We made most our toys ( guns, trucks, and such). As the crap available in the toy isles weren't what we wanted. We loved to play war in the woods We'd go to gun shops and trace the guns we wanted and make them out of wood in the extensive work shop in the basement. Most of our toys survived our abuses and are still being used by all of our kids today
My younger brother is the only one of the us 4 that didn't go to college as he was an auto mechanic. He is the most successful one of us as he a fire fighter and now water dept superintendant. We completely gutted and rebuilt his house so I learned a lot that I wouldnt deal with in corporate America. Glad i did cause that's how I became a carpenter more out of convenience about 12 yrs ago when we started havin kids and I became mr mom ( not the dream job I thought it would be) as wife the bread winner. Guy I played hockey with that had been doin carpentry his whole life had just gone out on his own and needed a 2nd set hands. I could use a tape measure and knew that a hammer was to hit, a saw to cut, how to read a tape measure, and use power tools with out cutting my fingers off. He was an absolute hack. Fortunately after a year another hockey buddy was in the same predictment, was gonna pay me more, and have now been with him for 12 yrs. He was pretty green, and yet again younger than me, but took
Pride in his work. We work extremely well together and have better expertise in different aspects that complement each other like a fine oiled machine. There is NOTHInG from frame to finish that we dont do to a higher level quality than specific subs that we have tried that why we do it all ourselves but cause it's our names on the work and the homeowners trust and want that.
But now kids are all off to school and like others have said, my body just can't take the abuse anymore
Hopefully time to put college education back to use so I don't have to suffer in the elements
But I am more than grateful for the ability to problem solve and fix stuff
Around here cause even though my time is at a premium, it is a better feeling to spend the time to fix stuff myself than waste it away watching tv just to pay some else my hard earned money to fix stuff esp since things are made like crap these days and my kids excel at breaking stuff.
Why buy it when I can build or fix it myself
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[Rmarsh]

I've worked with a quite a few amateur hockey players and found they make decent carpenters.....takes grit and balls to be good. I played for years....every friday night....still can....67 years old and can skate like the wind.

[Rmarsh]

Mike ....skating....another skill we learned.....before iPhone and computer games. Pickup games on cranberry bogs all weekend

[Got Stripers]

Originally Posted by Rmarsh

Mike ....skating....another skill we learned.....before iPhone and computer games. Pickup games on cranberry bogs all weekend

Hockey games on the ponds were always a fun way to spend the weekends, the climate has changed to the point it’s rare our ponds freeze over long enough to even skate on. Sledding and skating are not in play much nowadays, or even ice fishing for that matter.

[Rmarsh]

Originally Posted by Got Stripers

Hockey games on the ponds were always a fun way to spend the weekends, the climate has changed to the point it’s rare our ponds freeze over long enough to even skate on. Sledding and skating are not in play much nowadays, or even ice fishing for that matter.

I agree.....doesnt freeze up like it used to. I have a small bog 500' over from me. i built nets for......set up and guys from all over would just show up.

[Rmarsh]

Originally Posted by Got Stripers

Hockey games on the ponds were always a fun way to spend the weekends, the climate has changed to the point it’s rare our ponds freeze over long enough to even skate on. Sledding and skating are not in play much nowadays, or even ice fishing for that matter.

I agree.....doesnt freeze up like it used to. I have a small bog 500' over from me. i built nets for......set up and guys would just show up.
I bought roller bades

[Rmarsh]

Some people think....you go to school or college and get a "degree" in something and that means you're qualified. Nothing could be further from the truth.
No substitute for the real world ...on the job learning. I've worked side by side with voke grads too......hard when they think they know it all and want to pull rank. It can be embarasing for them when they #^&#^&#^&#^& something up. Funny how qualified some of these guys think they are.......oversell themselves in the interview then fall on their face when challenged.

Given a choice between a guy with four years of school versus a guy with four years on the job doing real work.......its a very easy call as to who is more qualified or valuable employee to a contractor.
And they dont teach "Grit and Balls" which is also a requirement to succeed in construction.

[Rmarsh]

My niece just passed her pipefitters license exam and I'm thrilled for her.
Shes been working for a sprinkler system company for a couple of years now and shows some great potential. Company gave her a truck and has rewarded her with raises for her work ethic and dependability. She keeps that truck and all her tools so neat and organized im embarrassed for her to see my truck!
Shes had a very tough time as a child....father died when she was four...i did my best to fill in, he was also my best friend, but ....mother remarried and then as a teen she got caught up doing drugs with bad friend and she was also confused or in turmoil over her sexual preference for women. A real mess!
Addicted...living on the streets....selling herself and robbing family members....including my wifes jewelry for drug money. Spent time in jail and then after years of struggle and rehab she's turned her life around. Now a productive and happy person who has a big smile on her beautiful face everytime I see her. Work has given her pride in herself and shes a very hard worker. She says she puts up with a lot of crap from some of the guys......she says theyre mostly jealous and lazy.....unmotivated ones who can barely show up for work on time. Having learned a trade plays a big role in her comeback.
I forgave her for stealing from me a long time ago....her getting better means a lot more to me than the jewelry i bought for my wife. She's alive and happy!

[piemma]

Originally Posted by Rmarsh

My niece just passed her pipefitters license exam and I'm thrilled for her.
Shes been working for a sprinkler system company for a couple of years now and shows some great potential. Company gave her a truck and has rewarded her with raises for her work ethic and dependability. She keeps that truck and all her tools so neat and organized im embarrassed for her to see my truck!
Shes had a very tough time as a child....father died when she was four...i did my best to fill in, he was also my best friend, but ....mother remarried and then as a teen she got caught up doing drugs with bad friend and she was also confused or in turmoil over her sexual preference for women. A real mess!
Addicted...living on the streets....selling herself and robbing family members....including my wifes jewelry for drug money. Spent time in jail and then after years of struggle and rehab she's turned her life around. Now a productive and happy person who has a big smile on her beautiful face everytime I see her. Work has given her pride in herself and shes a very hard worker. She says she puts up with a lot of crap from some of the guys......she says theyre mostly jealous and lazy.....unmotivated ones who can barely show up for work on time. Having learned a trade plays a big role in her comeback.
I forgave her for stealing from me a long time ago....her getting better means a lot more to me than the jewelry i bought for my wife. She's alive and happy!

Great post my friend.

[nightfighter]

Good report! She has walked the walk more than 99% of us here, for sure.

[Rmarsh]

Seems to me that going into the trades is... and has been disparaged by a majority of people in the academic world....and a job where you are getting your hands dirty and are physically challenged was considered to be for the 'not bright enough to go to college crowd".
Less and less of our youth consider going into carpentry.
It really doesnt pay that well...unless you go prevailing wage or union and....since it has no qualifying standards or licensure....as opposed to other trades... anyone can call themselves a carpenter
Now we are getting a huge influx of construction workers coming here from third world countries....willing to work very hard....harder than most Americans.....even the women are there. They work harder, longer and cheaper than our native sons. They didnt come here to play.......they are taking our jobs that we dont want to do anymore.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Rmarsh

Seems to me that going into the trades is... and has been disparaged by a majority of people in the academic world....and a job where you are getting your hands dirty and are physically challenged was considered to be for the 'not bright enough to go to college crowd".
Less and less of our youth consider going into carpentry.
It really doesnt pay that well...unless you go prevailing wage or union and....since it has no qualifying standards or licensure....as opposed to other trades... anyone can call themselves a carpenter
Now we are getting a huge influx of construction workers coming here from third world countries....willing to work very hard....harder than most Americans.....even the women are there. They work harder, longer and cheaper than our native sons. They didnt come here to play.......they are taking our jobs that we dont want to do anymore.

While I don’t disagree, don’t forget who built this country.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[redlite]

Originally Posted by Rmarsh

Seems to me that going into the trades is... and has been disparaged by a majority of people in the academic world....and a job where you are getting your hands dirty and are physically challenged was considered to be for the 'not bright enough to go to college crowd".
Less and less of our youth consider going into carpentry.
It really doesnt pay that well...unless you go prevailing wage or union and....since it has no qualifying standards or licensure....as opposed to other trades... anyone can call themselves a carpenter
Now we are getting a huge influx of construction workers coming here from third world countries....willing to work very hard....harder than most Americans.....even the women are there. They work harder, longer and cheaper than our native sons. They didnt come here to play.......they are taking our jobs that we dont want to do anymore.

I don't claim to be perfect but think I got a good eye for obvious errors.
Just ran into this yesterday
Sister in law's babby daddy ( one of them) and his Brazilian buddies are running a "carpentry business".
They doin a kitchen and deck job right around corner from me. He calls me last weekend in desperation to see if I can hook up sink/ stove as they don't know how and plumber wanted criminal money to do and was gonna be a month before could get to. so reluctantly got involved. Pecked at it over course of week and they finished up all their elevated deck work and watched
They were cranking and seemed competent.
Well they loaded out and I just checked around yesterday to compare work
They did a proper job framing but I feel
Bad for the home owner.
All treks boards. Done with hidden fasteners At least but some not straight, uneven spacing against picture frame board. Most with zero space. Can't wait to watch what happens when warms up.
On front steps had zero clue how to properly measure, calculate and cut risers. Treads vary 6 inches wide to 10 and same with the risers. To boot they screwed treads down with one screw in center of each board. I thought we're gonna roll right off on me walking up already, never mind when screws in new pt risers loosen up with time.
Then on the landing they just used I don't know maybe Sheetrock screws all sticking up and only one in middle of each. Good grief.
Professionally kindly pointed out issues to her.
She was appreciative and wants me to
Make right. Would rather get those guys back, help give them the guidance and advice on proper attention to details so maybe they can learn
Hard workers. Lack of skill knowledge, attention to details.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[redlite]

Well just came home from an early rise appt with a long time absolute PIA customer that is dear friends outlaw. Old widow. Do a lot of small repairs throughout house ( plumbing, elec, Capetnyry stuff. As a help to my buddy as he had reached breaking point with her few years ago. No time and every other repair main bailed on her in past. Certainly not for the money nor worth the aggravations. Her 40 yr old walk-in shower doors were leaking last week. Several trips to deal with silicone and sealing up temp until could get new doors ordered/ installed in my spare time. Spent several trips running around this week to find ones that would fit.
My boss reached his breaking point in regards to her this week as she was calling 4 times a day and texting non stop blowing up my phone while we hanging sheet rock together to see if ordered shower doors.
Well She wanted me to come over to help her order on line from Lowe's. Drag my ass out of bed to get there early this morning to do it before heading to job. She then decides she doesn't feel comfortable ordering on line and wants me to go to store to help her order some day this week. Then in same breath decides that she no longer wants to repair the sheet rock ceiling and walls that are falling down inside shower enclosure and then decides the shower doors seem to be sealed up and now doesn't do but wants me to come over asap and paint water stain on ceiling below
As if I'm sitting at home waiting to rush over every time she has a problem.
In fact this summer I was on another job and she kept calling and calling when I answered she crying her smoke detectors going off and she needs me. Well WTF do I look like the fire dept. 2 towns away? had to tell her to get out of house and try calling FD. Went and FD found faulty /expired smoke detector.

Try to politely tell her I could
No longer half ass waste my time or perform work for. Amd she tells me I am rude and ungrateful for all the work SHE provided me with. I charge her less than I make regular work which opposite way should be
And I'm rude
Just had to block her number after 14 calls since 7am.
Good ridence
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[nightfighter]

Originally Posted by redlite

Well just came home from an early rise appt with a long time absolute PIA customer that is dear friends outlaw. Old widow. Do a lot of small repairs throughout house ( plumbing, elec, Capetnyry stuff. As a help to my buddy as he had reached breaking point with her few years ago. No time and every other repair main bailed on her in past. Certainly not for the money nor worth the aggravations. Her 40 yr old walk-in shower doors were leaking last week. Several trips to deal with silicone and sealing up temp until could get new doors ordered/ installed in my spare time. Spent several trips running around this week to find ones that would fit.
My boss reached his breaking point in regards to her this week as she was calling 4 times a day and texting non stop blowing up my phone while we hanging sheet rock together to see if ordered shower doors.
Well She wanted me to come over to help her order on line from Lowe's. Drag my ass out of bed to get there early this morning to do it before heading to job. She then decides she doesn't feel comfortable ordering on line and wants me to go to store to help her order some day this week. Then in same breath decides that she no longer wants to repair the sheet rock ceiling and walls that are falling down inside shower enclosure and then decides the shower doors seem to be sealed up and now doesn't do but wants me to come over asap and paint water stain on ceiling below
As if I'm sitting at home waiting to rush over every time she has a problem.
In fact this summer I was on another job and she kept calling and calling when I answered she crying her smoke detectors going off and she needs me. Well WTF do I look like the fire dept. 2 towns away? had to tell her to get out of house and try calling FD. Went and FD found faulty /expired smoke detector.

Try to politely tell her I could
No longer half ass waste my time or perform work for. Amd she tells me I am rude and ungrateful for all the work SHE provided me with. I charge her less than I make regular work which opposite way should be
And I'm rude
Just had to block her number after 14 calls since 7am.
Good ridence
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Yes, she's fired. Doesn't even qualify for the "difficulty tax" I would have tacked on to her bill....
I just dealt with a waterline shut off issue into a building with two condos. Water comes into basement and splits to different meters. Had to get the town to call dig safe and then jack hammer recently installed concrete sidewalk with yellow handicap plate in order to find the shut off. My client was fine, appreciative, and hopefully writing a check today. The other condo owner was an absolute nightmare, the worst I have had to deal with, ever... She even got into calling the DPW super and the Selectmans office... And this is all from my notifying her that her tenant would be without water while we effected the repair!!! I can't even bill her as she is not my client. Incessant texts and calls have stopped, but next contact from her I have decided to tell her she will need to send me a non-refundable $1500.00 retainer to even discuss any issues. And I have no intentions of working for her directly. At all. I am just trying to hold onto a residing job for two sides of the condo complex which involves her being one of four owners...

[Guppy]

You guys need to chill out,,, maybe this will help…

Lady of the house corners me on the job and tells me she really needs a change, she had that look in her eyes,,, yikes ! And she was hot!
I got that look a couple more times , I turned the heat up and finished that one earlier than scheduled….. phew….. made it out alive LOL …..

[redlite]

Originally Posted by Guppy

You guys need to chill out,,, maybe this will help…

Lady of the house corners me on the job and tells me she really needs a change, she had that look in her eyes,,, yikes ! And she was hot!
I got that look a couple more times , I turned the heat up and finished that one earlier than scheduled….. phew….. made it out alive LOL …..

Boss and I joke about stuff like that all the time as he a buff stud and yet in the 12 yrs we been together crazy enough I don't think we have ever had a single customer either of us would touch with a 2x4..::::
Some of my buddies elsewhere have relayed film worthy adventures tho.. we have great customers, just not good looking.
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