Being Friday and all how about a thread on your pet peeves.
I’ll begin…
Can’t read a tape.
Can’t read plans.
Architects that think just because Autocad says it doable that doesn’t mean it will be under budget.
Employees that show up late but with fresh coffee in their hands.
ML
Replies
"We ain't building a piano."
"Just do something, even if it's wrong."
(I used to work for a guy that used these all the time. Hack.)
Clients that think that they can dictate pricing.
Guys with a ramrod mentality that won't take two seconds to discuss the best way to do something.
Home Depot
What do they say in a piano shop? look ... we're not schlepping together a f'n house ... this is a fine instrument?
Edited 9/11/2008 8:44 pm ET by Clewless1
Contractors that don't show up on the job site for days or weeks and don't think they need to let the client know what's going on.
Talking to somebody who shows up at your jobsite at 8:30 in the morning with alcohol on their breath.
I'm starting to understand your attic project problems now...;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
"Talking to somebody who shows up at your jobsite at 8:30 in the morning with alcohol on their breath."
I wish some of the guys that show up on my sites were only drunk. Nothing like trying to sheath a roof while a coke-head window salesman attempts to close a deal wandering around the subfloor below.
Clients who always try to bargain your bid down -- and then down a little more. They aren't satisfied until they've got a pound of flesh out of you.And then they go shopping for materials themselves and tell you they found that light or sink or whatever for 3 bucks cheaper somewhere else and want you to buy it there.
I love it when a customer sings the blues and beats me up on a price then tells me they're going to put a 5K jacuzzi in the middle of the deck I'm building for next to nothing.
Chuck
I like this question
Workers or subs who treat fore and aft work of others with disrespect.
Aren't we all working toward a common goal of producing a quality product?
Matt Garcia 1986-2008 22 yo Fairfield City Council Member, shot 09/01/08 RIP
PS. I can read a tape. And plans. I can set doors. Tooled-up, trucked-up. Are you hiring?
PPS. I'm a gal-carp.
Matt Garcia 1986-2008 22 yo Fairfield City Council Member, shot 09/01/08 RIP
You,re profile says you are a male school kid.
Fooled you didn't he?
New guys that want to borrow tools from you that they should already have on them.
Friends that you let borrow tools and don't return them.
I'm not.
"Everyday we learn something new. Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. It doesn't have to be an "A" the next day, but let's hope it improves." 08/27/08
Matt Garcia 1986-2008 22 yo Fairfield City Council Member, shot 09/01/08 RIP
Just getting things going good in the portapotty...
and discovering there is no TP left
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
lol.....it don't git much worse than that
Then there's the subcontractors who say, "Sure thing, I'll be ther first thing in the morning!"But they don't specify WHICH morning
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
That's why ya always bring the newspaper.
It can be a little harsh, but not compared to the alternative.
Although with your winters, I'm sure your idea of a harsh morning in the porta-potty and mine are a wee bit different.
Bing
Newspaper???
Piffin's money not good enough??
Reminds me of that joke of the guy who comes out of the can and says to the guy going in, " There's no TP".
"What did you use?"
The guy says,"I used a dollar bill."
The second guy comes out of the can covered in sheeet, and the first guy says, "Didn't you use a dollar?"
The second guy says, " Yeah, 3 quarters, 2 dimes and a nickel!"
"Perfect is the enemy of Good." Morrison
"Framers" who are scared of heights.
Tobacco users that leave butts and/or dip spit everywhere.
Jobsite dogs that piss on the lumber pile
One porta-potty for every 20 dudes, jobs gone on for a year!
Interior designers.
Making it to work early...........with no coffee.
having safety talks in the morning and then ignoring all of it the nanosecond we leave the trailer"do I need a harness ?? ""Nah, you won't be up there that long "and the occasional 2 or 3 earth shaking explosions that no one can explain.
.
.. . . . . . . .
>and discovering there is no TP left<
something I learned from my climbing & hiking days... always carry a small pack of baby wipes. Works better than TP.
Ha Ha Good chuckle there.
My biggest pet peeve is answering machine greetings:
- "Hi, we're not able answer the phone right now, but your message is important to us. Leave a message after the beep with your name, phone number and we will return it as soon as we can. Have a nice day. Don't forget to wait for the beep." Right up there is the canned voice-over from the phone company. "Hello... We're not available now...Please leave a message...Beep"
> DUH, this is 2008, I know how answering machines and voice mail works. How about telling me your name so I know I have the right number?
- Three year old comes on in a barely intelligible voice: "Hi. You hab reeched the [unintelligible name]. [more intelligible talk] Mommy, what do I say now?? Oh bye bye, bye bye, here's Busta 'Clickety, click, click (toenails on a wood floor) Arf, arf, arf.'"
> See above.
- Music or other noise playing. Finally a greeting and beep.
> There goes a minute of my time I'll never get back.
I won't even start of VRU. Don't the people who program these ever diagram them out???
Edited 9/5/2008 10:54 pm ET by byhammerandhand
Working on the exterior of a house when the homeowner hasn't cleaned up after the dog for about 2 weeks. Any freebies? Out of the question when I have to work around THAT. I honestly think it's the reason I don't like dogs anymore. While I'm on the subject, homeowner's who leave their dog out all day to bark at me working.
Chuck
A customer who says " while your here there is something I want you to look at "
So the original 1 or 2 hour job gets another 3 or 4 hours added to it. This only happens when you have carefuly scheduled the original job and a gap between it and the next job, incase there is trouble. So you end up being late to the next service call and the one after that.
Giving a bill to a client that they know they will be receiving and not getting paid for a week on it.
-Lou
Only a week?? that's it??!!!! you don't even get cheese and crackers w/ that ... that's not even a wimper ... That's your BIGGEST pet peeve? Wish I had your problems, dude.
Edited 9/11/2008 8:10 am ET by Clewless1
We have arrangements made and they dont meet them.The red flags come up! Commercials different though, could be months
Believe me, I have problems
"Giving a bill to a client that they know they will be recieving and not getting paid for a week on it." Lou, you make a good point... funny how many people think that contractors can be paid when they get around to it, or when it is convenient for them. I wish I could have a mechanic or body shop do $1500 worth of repairs and then take the car home and drive it around for a week or two before I send them the payment. You pay or your car doesnt leave the shop. Same with your dentist, chiropractor, etc. You dont leave their office without a payment of some sort. I think a week is plenty of time to pay a bill, and I get a little peeved if it goes over two. You know the scenario, you are depositing several checks and you are waiting for one piddly check so you dont have to make the extra trip to the bank or deposit it next time.
'carpenters' that don't know how to use their tool belt (tools everywhere excpet in their belt)
the aforementioned smoker/chewer slobs that think that everyone else should have to deal with their butts/spit
people that never shut up and just work
communication issues in the day that everyone has a cell phone and many have e-mail. If you can't type, answer the phone
Let's see...Employees who do 90% of an assigned task, then come and tell you they are done.Subs who won't call you back.People who drain a cordless battery and get a new one without charging the dead one (that one should get a life sentence IMO)Subs who are low bidders who then complain that they bid the job too low and therefore can't afford to do the right thing.Employees who take a bathroom break RIGHT after coffee break.Gee I get irritated a lot.
>who drain a cordless battery and get a new one without charging the dead one <
and you find the dead one on the ground where they realized it was dead and no where near the charger.
Cellphone calls while I'm working!!! I've been in an area where there is a bad cell and I love it. I just give the wife the homeowners phone # for emergency.
Sitting a screw gun on the top of a ladder
theres more to come
-Lou
People who refer to engines as motors.People who refer to concrete as cement.People who throw the word "and" into a number. ie: "One hundred AND twenty". It's just "One hundred twenty". They taught that in 2nd freaking grade...
I am becoming increasingly worried that there isn't enough anxiety in my life
The number thing reminded me of one that came up recently--carpenters who give you measurements in feet and inches, or who try to work with feet and inches. Then they end up buying a 30" door when they wanted a 3'-0" door, or who are trying to divide 14' -1-5/8" by two instead of 169-5/8" (people who don't know how to type fractions of inches LOL!).
Yeah, I think the "and" went out of vogue right after Abe Lincoln got dead.
4 Score AND ...Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
The world of people goes up and
down and people go up and down with
their world; warriors have no business
following the ups and downs of their
fellow men.
People who end their sentences with "so" or "err".
"I'm going back to the shop, so........."
"Are you going back to the shop, err.....?"
Or multiple choice questions like "Are you going to the shop err no?
Or people that say, " I am SOOO going to do that!"
When did we forget how to speak?
"It is what it is."
They usually have a little wad of spit ( I HOPE its spit) in the corner of thier mouth too..ahhh GOD I hate that.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
The world of people goes up and
down and people go up and down with
their world; warriors have no business
following the ups and downs of their
fellow men.
So you'd flip if I said " I got a hundred and twenty hours on the motor of my cement mixer"?
Bing
Did you say one hundred AND twenty hours? or was it 100 AND 20 hours?Thanks for ruining my day. How about the loser neighbors that have their stereo blasting till 3 OR 4am and playing crappy music that goes BOOM BOOM..ta,,ta..ta..BOOM BOOM ta..ta..taBOOM BOOM ta..ta..ta.... and then the following morning let their bratts run around screaming and crying outside while they sleep all day.That reminds me... I think I might have to try out that new planer for a couple hours this morning.
what about people who want to modify trusses to install a skylight?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
It's just too easy to list your gripes about customers, designers, and others who don't have a clue. Here are a few I have about certain tradesmen, who ought to know better:- Folks who leave their lunch wrappers, bottles, cans, off-cuts, and other assorted trash in the crawl space, attic, wall cavities, etc. - Folks who seem to think the entire job revolves around them ... like the guy who sets up his 'work station' right in the middle of the main aisle and doorway;- "Contractors" who seem to never own the tools and materials necessary for doing the job (like the 'roofer' who had a nail gun, but no nails, no ladder, no knife, no hammer, etc.);- Folks who simply MUST have their music at full volume (if you can't communicate, I consider it a safety issue); and,- "Schedulers" who seem to think the plumber, electrician, rocker, painter, carpeting guy, and ceiling guy can all work on the same room at the same time.PS: Gal Carp ... I'd consider your presence a blessing. You're sure to look nicer and smell better than the rest of the crew! In other circumstances, the smaller, slimmer, lighter build of the 'average' female is an advantage. For example, in nearly every attic and crawl space! Agility? The ladies have the edge there too. Strength? Try pole dancing some time, fella!
Edited 9/6/2008 11:49 am ET by renosteinke
- Folks who leave their lunch wrappers, bottles, cans, off-cuts, and other assorted trash in the crawl space, attic, wall cavities, etc.
This is a big deal with me. First house I built (just finished my third one over 20 years) had a crawl space and all the trash wound up there. Didn't really find it 'till I moved in.
The most recent also with a crawl. No one got a final check until their stuff was out of the crawl space.
Runnerguy
To bring up yet another breach of job site manners ... I was once crawling in the rafters of a house that had been 'closed in,' and had some power, but the interior had not yet been rocked. In the garage I had my batteries charging.
Along comes another contractor. The two guys exit their truck, select their tools, and then one announces his batteries are flat. Without any hesitation, they make a bee-line for MY charger, then express dismay that I'm not using the same voltage!
Naturally, I chose this moment to make my appearance ... and to point out I had painted my batteries just so no clever bit of trash would exchange his damaged batteries for mine. And, by the way, good morning, and welcome to the job site! I think they were overly comfortable in assuming that I would be happy to let them use my stuff ... yet, it also appeared they had a great deal of practice helping themselves to the other guys' tools. They went about their work, from that point, in silence. They also had to wait for their batteries to charge on their charger. At that point, I wasn't about to offer them any help!
"- Folks who leave their lunch wrappers, bottles, cans, off-cuts, and other assorted trash in the crawl space, attic, wall cavities, etc."
Leaving a small time capsule is very cool though. Even if it is just a short note stuck in a water bottle...lol.Pet peeve: People who don't respect the cleanliness of the jobsite:Story: On one job I was on, I was responsible for keeping the building clean. When the electrician came on the job, it was clear that he had "issues" with having a gal on the site. He would look me in the eye and throw his soda can on the floor, two feet from my logically-placed trash can. Just to make me pick it up. I always left it there until after he had left the jobsite. Messiest electrician I have ever worked with. And I love a clean jobsite.
My GC addressed it, and found another electician."Gal Carp ... I'd consider your presence a blessing."
Thanks! I'm pretty easy to work with. Don't talk much, but I will call ya on it when I see it.
"Everyday we learn something new. Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. It doesn't have to be an "A" the next day, but let's hope it improves." 08/27/08
Matt Garcia 1986-2008 22 yo Fairfield City Council Member, shot 09/01/08 RIP
"What about people who want to modify trusses to install a skylight?" I had a customer who wanted me to install a 22"w skylight in 16"o.c. trusses. He started bragging about the great deal he got on it, and he changed that tune when I told him it wouldnt work. He absolutley refused to believe me, and never called me back. Oh well..... .....and then theres the customer who I meet with on Thursday at 5:00 pm to look at the job they want done. She calls me at 10:30 pm that Saturday to see if I have the estimate done. Now, is this a red flag or is my schedule all screwed up?
Edited 9/6/2008 12:19 pm ET by wood4rd
Had a appointment Fri eve, 5pm, which is usually Beer:00(Pronounced beer o'clock) for me, because it was convenient for him. He was a no-show at his house. Called him on the cell and walked around the outside with him remotely explaining the work. Bah!Steve
Had one kinda like that once.Guy didn't answer the door, so I walked around, then called him on his cell phone and left message, then called on the house phone to do the same. Turned out he was home and not answering the door for a scheduled appointment to meet me there.I think he had been getting some
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That's when I simply tell them that we'll have to reschedule and I'll usually do it at a time that is more convenient for ME at that point. I bend over backwards for other people and I expect the same respect from them.
How about all the "Bargain Hunters" on Craigslist under skilled trade/craft.There was a house "flipper" offering to help someone "pop up" 130 lft. of 2 piece crown in his investment house for $150. You provided the
tools.Last month a lady wanting 220 sq ft of decking screwed down for under $300....she "would not pay someone 25 per hour just to cut and screw down some wood"
My current peeve is being told by the client (last friday) that they just ran out of money and he will finish the siding/trim/windows/doors/drywall/paint/trim/cabs etc. This on a job where we were under the estimated cost.
I just got paid four hundred and twenty dollars went to My Disney fund. Is that ok Hog
-Lou
TV shows and magazines articles that show contractors without safety glasses, guards on saws. or other safety equipment AND then add a disclaimer that some safety equipment was removed so as not to obscure the view.
Coming in on Monday and finding some a=hole has cleaned out his garage and thrown it in your dumpster
Someone dumped some reno waste in my bin during the night. I rooted around and found a box for some bifold doors with a Home Depot address and order # on it. I called the store and convinced them to give me the delivery address of the order, walked over the the house (10 houses down our street) and told the owners to come get their #### out of my bin.
Oh the satisfaction of watching them climb into the bin and drag their garbage back up the street back to their house! Don't think I'll be invited to their Christmas party though.
Edited 9/12/2008 10:21 am ET by canoehead2
told the owners to come get their #### out of my bin.
Good for you! We had a rental in Aberdeen WA about 100 miles away, in the poor part of town, a 4 plex. In the beginning, each unit had its own garbage can. Fine. Then the city decided to go to the container system, and we wound up getting a small dumpster. Lots of time that would get full with non-residents' trash and since I was 100 miles away most of the time, there wasn't much I could do to track people down. Glad justice was done THIS time.
I think it's a crime to put your trash in someone else's garbage can.
Literally, it is often ILLEGAL to use someone elses garbage can.
Man, I loved hearing this one!! Good for you!
When I was renovating the house my gift shop was in we had a dumpster for construction debris. Came in one morning to find that some idiot had filled it with garbage and the leftovers from a garage sale. Cost me $150 to get it emptied, and I would love to have emptied it right on the front lawn of the a##holes who filled it.
My business partner and I followed a van around one day after we saw it slowly cruising up and down the alley a few days later, but they never did anything. We told the residential neighbors we'd pay them $100 if they could give us the tag number of the vehicle the next time it happened.
Of course it never did. Real shame because we both would have filed charges for theft of services if we'd caught anyone!
Here's mine:
1) People who pass inthe LH lane and then don't get over. Folks, its called a passing lane for a reason. Do your bidness and then GTF over!!!
2) People who are taking a LH turn and don't move over a bit so the folks behind you can get around you. C'mon, you're not the only car on the road now, are you??? Not to be sexist, but I find wimmin are the most guilty of this one.
3) Re: the answering machine one.....THe ones that say "I'm not here right now so please leave a message." Duh!!!!! If youse was here right now wouldn't you pick up the phone??? Mine says "Hi this is XXXXXX, please leave a message and I'll get back to you."
I guess Northerners are just in more of a hurry the every one else. :)
http://www.grosshillrentals.com
"1) People who pass inthe LH lane and then don't get over. Folks, its called a passing lane for a reason. Do your bidness and then GTF over!!!2) People who are taking a LH turn and don't move over a bit so the folks behind you can get around you. C'mon, you're not the only car on the road now, are you??? Not to be sexist, but I find wimmin are the most guilty of this one."What gets me is when say the right lane ends, and some idiots zoom ahead of the cars in the left lane, which have to slow down to let the idiot in, which means more idiots zoom ahead in the right lane, which means means the left lane slows down even more.
Someone who won't pull out of the LH lane...
How about someone who pulls out and is only moving 1/2mph faster than the car they are passing, effectively blocking anyone else from passing for the next 10 miles. I know they are on cruise control, they can step on the gas!
Workers who come in and drop all of their gear and supplies in doorways or halls.
Subs who show up at 10am and ask everone who got there at 8 to move their vehicles.
Prima Donna's who spend an hour telling you what they won't do and only 10 seconds about they can moderately accomplish. "Perfect is the enemy of Good." Morrison
four way stops and overly polite drivers. Instead of just going when it's their turn, they wave the other guy across, which means the whole process gets slowed down.
My Dad has stopped where there aren't any stop signs in his direction, then gets irritated when the other guy is hesitant to go across when he waves them on!
My sister was following him once and he stopped at a green light because it was going to go to amber--she almost rear ended him.
FYI the most recent detailed (as in 350 pg. book) study of all things traffic related concluded that the very thing that bugs you is the most efficient course of action.
The root cause of the difficulty in that particular situation is that there are WAY TOO MANY **** who don't know how to take turns at all, much less gracefully
OK, since you went out on that limb and mentioned women drivers, I'll go onto women parkers!they pull up into the drive or parking place and stop where they7 are taking up at least three spaces, leave the door hanging open so you cannot drive past or turn around near their car, and then disappear!These are the same ones who take off their shoes, sandals, flip-flops or whatever right inside the door as they walk thru so the footwear is right there for the next person to either trip over or move aside. House I worked on this summer was full of those obstacles and parking hazards. There was the lady of the house the cook, the nanny, the teen daughter, and a couple of friends who regularly stopped by.
EVERY single one of them had to the same problem! Luckily they lefty keys in the cars so I could play parking attendent, but I was geting ready to play games with the footwear, 'cept I would have been in trouble....My own daughter and a few other females I know have the same parking and shoe problem. It has to be a female thing. Never saw a man do that
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I agree about people using 'the passing lane' for cruising. Most states driving laws REQUIRE that you use the right lane unless you are [actively] passing someone.
How about the guy driving down the highway or street w/ his parking lights on ... there is a reason they are called parking lights ... Never seen an owners manual that calls them driving in between full day and night lights or it's day, so I'll turn on something that isn't headlights.
That peeves you?
You must hate the millions of vehicles with DRL's then.
I prefer DRLs and think it oughtto be a hard wire that if the wipers ever are activated headlights / tail lights automatically come on.
I hate the Jerks in the fog/mist bad vis cond that are ina grey puddle jumper and in the invisabilty cloak,doing 85 on the 3 lane interstate switching lanes and weaving. I don't get to stay mad long tho' they mostly hydroplane and spin out. Then I can get mad cuz I am stuck in a line waiting for the wreck to be cleared, but it's one less moron on the road.
Yes, I'm one who often runs my lights even in the daytime..I like to be seen when Granny is thinking of pulling out of her driveway. It don't lower the fuel economy to burn the lights I don't think. And has proabably saved many a life.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
The world of people goes up and
down and people go up and down with
their world; warriors have no business
following the ups and downs of their
fellow men.
Edited 9/11/2008 7:52 am ET by Sphere
Agreed. In NY, it is law to have the headlights on when wipers are in use. Signs all over the highway.
"It is what it is."
How about an archy asking if I knew anyone who would come in and shim and straighten the jambs of the windows and doors that the framers installed using only the nail fin b/c she thought that "this kind of work" was not worth carpenters wages.
"It is what it is."
She actually said that to you?
At that point my price would have doubled.
Yes she did. I couldn't believe it myself. IMHO this is the part of the job you WANT to pay an experienced carpenter to do.
Ohh well, she hired a "handyman" for $10 an hour, she brags, and there isn't a shim or a straight jamb in site. Good luck to the trim carp!
"It is what it is."
Store advertises itself as a "Master Dealer" or whatever and doesn't stock all or most of the tools in the line. "Sure we can order it for you with a deposit to cover the restocking fee if you don't want it."They stand around and wonder why anyone would buy tools from Amazon etal
The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.- Fyodor Dostoyevski
As my dad would have said, "Where'd ya get your degree - Sears and Roebuck?"
It's amazing to me how many archy's don't know squat about what trades or cabinet people actually do!
The funny thing is that, after SOME of the automotive industry voluntarily added daytime running lights, the insurance industry does not report any noticible accident rate difference between vehicles with them and vehicles without them.
What this tells me is that the other person DOES see you and they STILL pull out in front of you.
Working with the gc's two son's, they have different views on doing things. We waited 45 minutes yesterday while they decided if we should wrap the garage doors or not.
Guys who tell you this is the way they always done it, when you know they have only been a carp for 6 months.
Guys who have to unload their entire tool collection to do a 5 minute job.
GC's who you sub for tell's you no side work while you sub for me, then has no work for 2 or 3 days some times.
Nailer
Great lists by all of you. Here's some of mine:
-Subcontractors who can't seem to get their butt to a prearranged meeting at the job on time. Along about the drywall stage in my recent house building, I figured I had spent maybe 2 days waiting 20 minutes here, 30 minutes there, for people to show up. After that, when setting up a meeting, I said "Pretend you're catching a plane. It leaves the gate at 10:01". The ontime arrival rate went to nearly 100% and my day became so much more efficient.
-Subcontractors who leave LOOOONG messages on the machine (even though I say keep it short) and at the very end rattle off, in high speed rapid staccato like fashion, several phone numbers or detailed pricing. I'm manually writing this down pal with a phone stuck in my ear. When saying numbers slow down or repeat or both.
-The phrase "Well, we'll do our best". With some subs I knew their best could not be exceeded by anyone but with others the phrase was a subtle cop out to excuse a possible lack of trying to achieve the desired result. I usually countered with Winston Churchills observation of "Sometimes it's not enough to do our best. Sometimes we have to do what's required". It usually worked.
Runnerguy
-
"do our best" reminds me of this:"Do, or do not. There is no 'try.'"
-- Jedi Master Yoda
I use that one all the time. I also like this one that my first boss hit me with
Me as a rookie struggling very hard to drive a nail in an awkward position.
Boss: Oh, this is gonna be one of those long jobs I guess.
Me: I'm trying.
Boss: Yeah, your'e trying alright; trying my f'n patience.
My pet peeve???
Complainers! ;o)
Jeff
Mine died a slow horrible death, I think I over fed it and under watered it.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
The world of people goes up and
down and people go up and down with
their world; warriors have no business
following the ups and downs of their
fellow men.
People you call a Cummins a Cummings.
ML
My pet peeves:
On a professional level:
1) People who don't return calls promptly, or say they will and then don't. Particularly office workers and salesmen. I've found that a lot of this filters down from the top too: ie: If the owner(s) of the company don't return calls promptly, his office personnel won't either.... As far as salesmen, sorry, but they gotta KMA - or they don't get my business.
2) Subcontractors who act totally irresponsible with regard to scheduling, etc, and seem to think it's just fine. It seems their word means nothing. Re scheduling, On Friday they say "We will be there Tuesday AM". No show, no phone call, no nothing. Then show up 2 or 3 days later and never say a thing - like nothing happened. Then they expect to be paid on Friday for work they finished on Thursday... Hahahaha!!!
3) subcontractors who damage other's work and then don't fix it themselves. You know: plumber who cuts a hole in the side of the house for access and then just leaves it. Likewise, workers who don't consider other's work when doing their own - like trim carpenter who runs trim much closer to an outlet than necessary so that the cover plate won't fit on it.
As a general kind of thing:
1) people who complain about little stuff like the temperature, bugs, the way other people drive, etc, etc, etc. Sometimes I wonder if these people might need a little trauma in their life so they can focus on things that are more important. You know - put them in swim or drown mode - then ask 'em "hows my driving?"
Not a pet peeve, more an amusement, but regarding subcontractor payment, I get a kick out of it when they take 2 months to send the bill and then expect it to be your highest priority. Had a plumber like that once. Did it all the time. His bills always say: "Net: 7 days". One time he sent me a bill for something that he had done 8 months prior!!! Budget had already been closed out on that house. I threw the bill in the trash.
I don't get this one,"Likewise, workers who don't consider other's work when doing their own - like trim carpenter who runs trim much closer to an outlet than necessary so that the cover plate won't fit on it. "That is a problem of the designer or the electrician, or the project manager, not the trim guy! If he is using 4" casings the sparkey needs to know that when placing his rough-in boxes and it is somebody elses job to let him know that.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
That was one that happened to me last week, even after I told the guy not to do it. In one house trim carps were to install "shadow box" "wainscoting". It is a kind of faux wainscoting where you install base, and chair rail like normal, and then you add rectangles made of base cap on the lower part of the wall to give a panel molding effect for a fairly cheap price. The wall is painted the trim color from the chair rail down. Very common in houses under $600k. I told the guy "I had the electrician place the outlet boxes for ~3' "shadow boxes". Trim carp says "I normally do 2' boxes". I say, "OK, fine, if you can make it work out right with the outlets". I come back the next day. He has 2 outlets on one wall within an inch or 2 of the base cap shadow box. I tell him - take it out. Redo it with 3' boxes. Same crew - different guy does something similar, only this time with the stair trim in the house next door. That caused me to make a trip to the store to get a small sized outlet plate rather than the "mid sized" my electrician supplies. That one I'd have to take a pic of.
That was just an example though. Others: Plumber puts his lavatory vent pipe where the electrician has to put his pop-in box for the vanity light. Electrician puts an outlet box where the vanity mirror has to go. Plumber puts stack right next to a door where the light switch needs to go. Etc, etc, etc
Edited 9/7/2008 3:53 pm ET by Matt
People who essentially order a custom burger at the McDrive thru when I'm running
a little late. If you want your onions, ketchup & mustard in a smiley face.... do it at
home.
-d
Wait a minnit !!I can get my onions ketchup and mustard in a smiley face at mickey dees ???
Signed: Bubba Hussein Obama.
What a fool believes he sees
No wise man has the power, to reason away
Click here for access to the Woodshed Tavern
Not really a peeve, but why, at a red light, do people suddenly change lanes in order to be first in line at the stoplight? For instance, they swerve into my lane. I am figuring I have 200 feet to come to a nice gradual stop and then suddenly there they are. So I have to reinvigorate my poor brain cells and recalculate and additional amout of right foot pressure on the brake pedal to stop in 270 feet instead.
Another example is in traffic jams. Now I have a tall vehicle and can often see far ahead. The jam extends at least the next mile or so. But all these 20 mph speed demons are constanly swithing lanes to get anothe 67 yards ahead.
~Peter
People who think it's okay to smoke in your house without asking.
People who dump their ashtrays in parking lots.
People who throw their butts on the ground.
People who throw gum down are the worst!
"Everyday we learn something new. Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. It doesn't have to be an "A" the next day, but let's hope it improves." 08/27/08
Matt Garcia 1986-2008 22 yo Fairfield City Council Member, shot 09/01/08 RIP
People who throw gum down are the worst!
No kidding. Weren't they taught to put it on the bottom of the table? Some people.View Image
Ewww!
I was taught (and taught mine) to save the wrapper and put my used gum back in it.
I also hate it when people just set their empty soda cups just anywhere among the food shelves...akk!
"Everyday we learn something new. Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. It doesn't have to be an "A" the next day, but let's hope it improves." 08/27/08
Matt Garcia 1986-2008 22 yo Fairfield City Council Member, shot 09/01/08 RIP
How 'bout People who think that flicking their cig butts out the window is NOT litering.
Yeah, flicking them out the window is probably just as bad if not worst. At least when they dump their ashtray they are all in one pile, rather than spread out over a 50 mile radius, and the possibility of grass fires.
You forget the wind. I saw a flower pot that was being used as a cigerette butt recepticle turn into a full fledged flaming fire when fanned by a gentle breeze.
So I have to reinvigorate my poor brain cells and recalculate and additional amout of right foot pressure on the brake pedal to stop in 270 feet instead.
Which is made even more fun by the fact that you have 4 ladders tied to the roof rack, a cup of hot coffee in between your legs, and your 15 yr old daughter is calling you on the cell phone.
"...figuring I have 200 feet to come to a nice gradual stop and then suddenly there they are. So I have to reinvigorate my poor brain cells and recalculate and additional amount of right foot pressure on the brake pedal to stop in 270 feet instead."I can see why that would take some calculation. You'd have to figure how much momentum you must maintain in order to push him 70 feet beyond the intersection after the collision. :)BruceT
What about the guys that set their soda or coffee on top of whatever you are using at that moment. Whether thats material or the cut table.
Depending on the location I do enjoy knocking it over "accidently" of course.
Reminds me of a helper that would wear a tool belt and STILL leave all his tools all over..cut table, material stack, the deck..everywhere.
I told him repeatedly, I will start winging anything I fins as far as I can..never sunk in.
Did you know a speedsquare can really get some distance? But then he spent the rest of the day asking for MINE or wandering out in the woods looking looking for his hammer. And chalkbox. And tape. And sqaure.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
The world of people goes up and
down and people go up and down with
their world; warriors have no business
following the ups and downs of their
fellow men.
late but with fresh coffee in their hands
and with none for the boss!
My personal pet peeve: builders of $500+K houses perched 12' in the air who won't put up a friggin' set of temporary steps to get in. The last one like this had flopped a pallet against the foundation for everyone to use for access - except the pallet was about 2' short.
People that make totally irrational decisions ... oh that's all of us ... some are just more irrational than others.
Hate it more when you talk to them and 'splain it carefully (with logic and science even!), and then they still make an irrational decision just 'because' or 'that's the way I want it'.
Bad manners!
I mean how difficult is it to say " Please", "Thank you", or excuse me??
Hold a door for and elderly person, a woman, or god forbid the stranger right behind you?
Ever notice how a cell phone call is a perfectly acceptable reason to interrupt a conversation?
And don't get me started about bad manners on the road!!!
Ever notice how a cell phone call is a perfectly acceptable reason to interrupt a conversation?Don't get me started on this one.Can't stand it!ML
I'm sick of people cutting pages out of plan books and using them to build $150,000+ houses.It also ticks me off that they refer to these pictures as "plans". If they can afford that much money for a house, they can afford a decent set of plans.
Taxes are not levied for the benefit of the taxed [Lazarus Long]
$150K is rock bottom spec house it seems these days. If you can afford that kind of money ... you are pretty much at the very bottom of what the average person pays for a house. Bought my first house ... a repo ... $21,000 1,800 sqft '4 bedroom' ... spent 20 years renovating it (it was very livable when I moved in (when I moved out, too). My second house ... $230,000 .... dang!!
Around here, $150,000 is a fairly basic, but decent house. We don't have too many extravagant ones - The economy just doesn't support it.
Do you know that if all the lawyers were laid end to end around the world, three quarters of them would drown?
My sisters are in Peoria ... no idea what houses go for there.
Down here in po dunk back woods desert calif ... nothing out here and they want like 200K and up.
When I moved here 10 years ago I thought that $150K was a pretty hefty price for a house. Now you can barely get anything small on a slab and new for less than $225K, and almost all of the houses I've put kitchens in recently are listed in the 300's.
About 2 weeks ago I heard that the average price for a home is now $239K (don't know the reporting agency).
Yikes!
I agree. Seems like a real live conversation is always second to a phone call.
In our recent homebuilding experience we were in a hardwood flooring supplier shop ready to order 3000 SF of hardwood flooring. Everytime we got going in the conversation, the phone rang and this guy always picked it up. As we were walking toward the door after the fourth call the guy puts his hand over the phone and asks:
"Can't you wait?"
"No, we're tired of waiting through phone calls".
"Hey, this is my business!!" (No joke, EXACT words).
Then, about 10K in business just walked out of the building.
Runnerguy
Yep Hire a part time school girl to answer the phones, so your not losing work due to people walking out on you. Wonder if the people on the phone bought anything as you were walking out.ML
This is the sales guy??
Yes!! Totally unbelievable.Runnerguy
I'll second the:
Trades who don't show up for days with no notice, which throws off the next trades schedule.
Sunflower seed spits all over the floor, under studs, candy wrappers, pop cans, garbage left behind for the HO to clean up (Am I your maid or mother?)
Carpenters who build to the wrong specs & say oh well, I guess I should learn to read plans.
GC that send out #### laborers with no supervision, and then think that the HO will pay 3 times for the work - doing it wrong, taking it out, doing it right (maybe).
someone who borrows your tools and complains about your choice in namebrands.
Co-workers who complain about productivity (bosses too) but you always catch them standing around.
My biggest gripe has been with clients who don't appreciate and understand why they should become active and enthusiastic supporters of good tradespeople/contractors.
In retrospect, after forty years, it's really our responsibility to explain to them that we need referrals to be successful in business. And that, if they want to be able to find the best tradespeople, they have to make it their practice to talk about us with their friends when the job is still fresh in their minds.
I'd go so far as to suggest to happy clients that they compose a brief letter about the recently completed work, copy and send it out to friends and neighbors with the request that they reply with the names of other tradespeople that they would recommend.
Keep the cream of the crop working and let the rest fail by their incompetence and poor business practices.
I hate when people throw my bills in the trash because I didn't send it promptly enough.
My biggest pet peeve might be websites that are so convoluted you can't see straight. Everything you see is the same thing ... just presented differently ... not like a book and table of contents ... it's there ... it's listed ... click and go do what you need to do. Why do they have to make it so cryptic!
Also codes ... why do they have to be so complex. That drives me crazy. I know there is a time and place for everything and building science is complex. But I swear ... they can make them so convoluted and overly complex ...
I'm a BIG BIG fan of KISS!!!!!!!!!!! don't need more complexity in this world!!!
Clients who don't know why they want something. What do you want ... I want 'X' ... why do you want that? Because I want it. I'm trying to help them get their best bang for the buck and do it well and they can't tell me why they want something.
If you don't know why you want something, you shouldn't be wanting it.
People in the trades that stick their nose into other trades business or think they know the other trade better than they ... or passive agressive project their inadequacies on the inabilities of the other trades.
Drives me nuts! No respect! The builders complain about the designers. HVAC complains about the engineers. Builders complain about the building official. Manufacturers complain about the trades people. Architects look down their noses at the contractors. The carpenters know more about structures than the engineers. The engineers don't consult the carpenters about how best to do things. The carpenters mumble about how plumbers don't know s***. on and on and on.
Respect each other and work together. Everyone ... and I mean EVERYONE has something to contribute that is worthwhile ... we need to respect that while understanding that nothing is perfect ... and don't tear into someone because of some little flaws ... just get on with it and do good work!!
Another one that gets me is the prospective customer who tries to minimize the job your looking at. They say something like, " easy job, shouldnt take long at all, in fact I was going to do it myself, but Ive just been too busy lately."
Well if it is so easy... why are you taking the time to have me look at it?
in the floor business cust. will state they have 3-4 kids adog or two but waNT A SOFT CHERRY WOOD FLOOR WE TYELL THEM THERE ARE BETTER FLOORS FOR HEAVY USE ,SAY THEY TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF STUFF 6 MO.LATER IT LOOKS BAD WANT TO SUE US FOR LETTING THEM BUY IT CUST LOST CASE THIS WEEK BUT WE LOST TIME WWM.
Put a claus in your contract addressing this.
"Everyday we learn something new. Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. It doesn't have to be an "A" the next day, but let's hope it improves." 08/27/08
Matt Garcia 1986-2008 22 yo Fairfield City Council Member, shot 09/01/08 RIP
WWM,All bold, and/or all caps, is considered shouting, when posting here.=0)
Signed: Bubba Hussein Obama.
What a fool believes he sees
No wise man has the power, to reason away
Click here for access to the Woodshed Tavern
A small one but I hate building yards that give you a handful of carpenter's pencils that are brown. The whole bundle just disappears in an afternoon.
your yard GIVES you pencils??? wow! We have to pay for ours ... and they have the yard's logo on them, too!!
yes - most of them around here stopped giving out pencils too. Sometimes I get the salesmen who I buy most of my stuff from to give me some. Several months ago I was buying 3 framing packages from him and asked him for some pencils. He pulls out a new box - musta been at least a humdred pencils in there. He pulls out a generous handful and says "Here, is this enough?" I said "No, I want the whole box." He gave it to me...
I badger them constantly. Pencils from the yard, hats from the bobcat dealer and tee shirts from the concrete batch plant. They now try and hide when they see me. I never get anything of consequence, it's more of a moral victory.
I don’t have time to read all 113 responses so if this is a repeat I apologize. #1 On a T&M job - “That’s more than I make per hour” as if we take all that home as pay. #2 Customers that have no idea what they really want or what they really want to spend and you end up bidding a job 12 different ways.
Old guys with pressure washers. I just drove by a house I built some years ago and an old guy was going at it with what looked like about 3200 psi. There is nothing that can withstand an old guy with a pressure washer, and nothing they won't go at with one.
owners who watch Holmes on Homes and are all of a sudden experts on everything. If you aren't going over and above anything that's ever been done before you aren't "doin' it right". They also want everything done in 2 days because the 300 guys on t.v. can do it. That would be fine I guess if they wanted to PAY for it.
Over-stuffed napkin dispensers... shear strength of napkins is exceeded by the force required to remove said napkin from dispenser... resulting in catastrophic failure of napkin.
Really quite annoying.
Along the same lines as the TP holder that will only let you get one sheet at a time.
"It is what it is."
and coarse, single-ply TP, to boot. :oP
or the recycled stuff where you can still see some slivers of the recycled wood. LOL!!
"It is what it is."