Todays Finishing Drama, a little long :)

Drywall1

Had my first sub quit on me today. I pay around 25-30% more than anyone in town and this old school guy and his helper 45 and 65 respectivly wanted some work. They don't do the big stuff just small stuff, perfect, I can never find anyone to do the small remod. stuff.

So fast forward to end of first job. I did a walk thru after texture and 3rd skim and before final sanding. All looked good. I didnt get out a light, but all looked like a final sand is all it needed.

Next thing is I get a call from the builder with a "dude this quality is unacceptable" so I haul ass over there and it is pretty bad. I did the "wont let it happen again" and then proceeded to call the finisher up. They show up with the blame game...whatever just make it right. So this am I go there with my light to do a once over.

OMFG I shoud have taken a light over it long before this AM. So I call him again and point everything out again and Pencil whip the entire place (I would break someones arm if they did that to me but I had no choice) asking as I went "is this acceptable to you?"

I could tell he was starting to take it very personal so I backed off and went over to another job and let them fix the stuff again.

They then come over to me and say "I don't think I could ever make you happy...this is our first and last job for you." Blew me away. I tried to tell him I don't beat around the bush about what I expect, and that once he knew he would be fine. He said my expectations were too high. F- that. Thats when I said have a nice day.

They said they would sand that job again and be done. I said ok. I went to check it out this eve. and only bout 1/2 the stuff was done. WTF do I do. Deduct from his check? I have given ample oppturnity to make it right. I have less drama with the 20k sq ft houses than this 1400 dollar basement deal.

So what ya all think? Sorry it's so long. I'm really not an a-hole. I think I'm just gonna pay him what we agreed on and get to work on fixing the job myself tomorrow AM. Wouldnt be a big deal if I didn't have 8 projects rollin right now.

Nate

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Rockin the Midwest from the time I could walk.

ghost

Its a good thing i'm not good at typing. I would make that paragraph look short. I am a finisher and not perfect because in reality who is. It drives me crazy when I pay for a job and its not even close to what i expect. All in all its your reputation if they can't respect that them. my two cents

taper71

I am a really fussy taper. I have really high expectations aswell. Really if the job is unaceptable from a builder then for a drywaller it must be absolutely atrocios. I would probably do as you though and just pay what was agreed and fix myself. Makes you look like the good guy all the way around too.

butcherman

I have gone thru this with some of the subs i use. For the most part their pretty good but some don't understand the roll light plays. When they touch up during the day they only see whats there during the day. 3 hours later the light shifts and the room looks different. It's a simple solution. When we touch up we use clip lights and cast shadows to catch what ever we can. Unfortunately with guys who have been doing this a while they are to arrogant to learn new methods and for some reason take constructive critisim personaly. So you can't tell them that and you should'nt have to. While it's true nobody's perfect that does'nt mean you should'nt try to be. My guys sometimes forget that. My advice, i hate to say is fix it yourself and pay the guy and move on. This way you can find someone else and the other guy does'nt black list you as a person who does'nt pay or as someone you can't please. Also the next crew, make sure they use light when they sand and touch up. Some guys don't use them because it takes to much time. It takes more time to come back. Good luck

Drywall1

Yep I paid him the full ammt. and fixed the job myself. Everyone says runnin subs is easier. I say BS. I love my hourly guys. They know what I want and do it how I want.

__________________
Rockin the Midwest from the time I could walk.

butcherman

Don't let a bad experience sour you on subs. If your guys can do it and you make money great. But try to find a good sub and let him know up front what you want and how you want it. I suggest this because some times you need a specilist for certian jobs (to make time, too big or you just have to much going on). You don't have to give them all your work always keep your guys busy first. I have a contractor in NY who does this. I'm cool with it and even trained some of his guys. He looks out for me and i him. I can't tell you how many times i bailed him out with a client on rough jobs. His guys take care of follow up work for me (such as changes , moved light patches , moved outlets , etc).

Drywall1

Yeah I will always have subs. There is no other way. The market is too volitile. Just this one instince threw me for a loop. Im gettin over it though :0)

__________________
Rockin the Midwest from the time I could walk.

butcherman

Good luck, and give em hell. If they want to piss you of at least have fun with it. I do.

MWHITLEY

Can I ask what does the light do for you ? I dont do full drywall jobs but do alot of patches for plumbers and electricans and have for a few years. Not a smart ass just wondering if i am missing something that might make my jobs better or faster ? but I have had no complaints to date.

butcherman

Sure thing. During the day the sun usally goes from one end of the house to the other and at night not at all. With all these light changes the shadows it creates tends to show things at different times. That's why i use a clip light to recreate these shadows. If you look at the walls in your home at different times you may notice this. Also don't make the mistake of looking thru the light on touch up. Hold the light about 1' to your left (if right handed or vise versa) and look slightly to the right also move the light accordingly. A good test is to do what you normaly do. Then take the light around and see how you did.

1wallboardsman

I got a few problems with the "old school" reference, are you saying that young guys are generally more knowledgeable then old guys?

Then, how did the job look OK to you, and then it was terrible? You didn't mention what was wrong with it? I am a little demanding myself. In the 80's I fired every hanger in S. Fl., some of them twice. I fired many framers, and several finishers. They all had it coming, and I did a lot of work myself because of it. I was called relentless. I also turned out the best finished product in town regardless of what garbage was handed to me to work with. I fired a few builders too.

So what was wrong with the job?

jdl

savant

uh, oh. DrywallTalk's WW1.




I'm ready.

Drywall1

Read into it a little more dawg! I was there when it was 3rd skimmed and textured. It was not sanded yet. And we all know the best 3rd skim in the world unsanded looks like crap.

BTW I may only be 30 yrs old. But I started going to the drywall job with my dad when I was able to walk. So I consider myself old school also. I dont claim to know everything. But I def. know what looks good and acceptable.

No need to have WW1 here. Its just drywall Its funny the second half of your post sounds just like the way I am. So Savant I'll tell you when it's go time. Just not the case here.


Nate

__________________
Rockin the Midwest from the time I could walk.

butcherman

SUITNG UP AND READY TO GO.

Brockster

How did I miss this gem? Oh well, there's always the next time...

rettt

The managment attitude and the underlings who dont know anything because the management wants big profits no matter how hard the underlings work. AGE OLD PROBLEMS MY FRIENDS! WWW.WALTIP.COM

butcherman

Sorry to say this is a one sided and ignorant statement. Most workers only look at things through their own eyes. They don't think anyone but them should make money. They don't consider expense,biding jobs,ordering material,excepting deliveries,scheduling jobs,cost of insurance,workmans comp or liabilty. They think the management does nothing but make phone calls. To workers who think they get screwed i say go out on your own. Be your own boss. Then tell me about management attitude. Sometimes management needs to push harder. That's what they do. Workers don't always perform to potenial. I can't figure out why people have a problem with people who want to make money. That's why we work. Again if you don't like your company open your own shop. Then you'll at least earn respect.

1wallboardsman

One most excellent idea, every drywall man should give serious consideration.
jdl

rettt

To make it a short reply -- The sweat running down the back of my shirt is worth more money then the cell phone contractors setting in the truck and running to the nearest waffle house setting on his rear end inflated attitudes time . And yes i run my business myself its not easy . Have a nice day . And try to get off the truck seat and set your cell phone down more often ! by the way about your reply to my post being ignorant -- your very welcome to bring your cell phone and your nice new truck and make sure you wear your best dress slacks might as well put your golf shoes on splash some good smelling after shave on then drive to see me . Then step out of your truck snap your cell phone on your nice leather holster walk up to me and look me right in the eye and tell me i made a ignorant post , then after you come too from being knocked out and you look for a few of your teeth and wipe the dirt from your pretty shirt , your attitude will have a new out look on life . Keep the posts coming and try to reframe from condescending statements which reflect a antisocial aspect !

butcherman

Once again your ignorance shows. If you read any of my posts you would see i'm not a suit. By the way you quoted the wrong person. The post wasn't meant to insult you. If you took it that way tough crap. I would love for you to knock me out so not only is your post ignorant you are ignorant. You have a lot to learn. So take your crap attitude back to school and grow up. Show some class and respect for the profession. Then maybe you'll be worth something. Have a nice day.