Hi everyone, been finishing my basement for the last 3 years now… in the final finish. Hired the guys that did the bathroom do also hang some drywall since they did a somewhat good job on the bathroom. Came home to find the butt joints lined up on the ceiling and one wall that required butt joing (warning to other dyis consider drwall standard sizes when building wall). They also miss measured a outlet and cut the drywall about 3″ short of the top of the outlet, missed the edge of the header at the stair well by 2″ and didnt shim out the framing that I had them do (its out of plumb by a 1/2″ in only about 8″). Will have alot of exra work fixiing their mistakes, how should I figure the amt to deduct from thier bill… I am thinking my time and materials and I can do good work but I am slow.
dAN
Replies
Lining up the butt joints on the ceiling is tacky. It reduces the strength of the installation. But, does, obviously, reduce the labor of taping the joints.
Expecting sheetrockers to shim a bad framing job is like expecting plumbers to blast a 4.5" OD drain line through a 2x8 and leave enough wood to hold anything up. Or expecting the plastic surgeon to set the underlying broken bone. Finish the framing before the rockers show up!
Covered outlets happen nowadays. At least if you hire guys who use Roto-zips. If someone w/o one of those damnable, overgrown Dremels gives you a bid within $400 of the young'uns, take it! With a tape measure and a jabsaw, you don't cover outlets nor leave such big holes that you need oversized coverplates. Live and learn.
I'd figure maybe $15 per outlet covered, takes me about 20-30 minutes to fix that. Less in quantity <G>. Need to stretch drywall by 2"? i.e. fill in a narrow strip and tape and mud? Sounds like a $50 dollar offense.
The other stuff? You trash-talk them to your nieghbors and hire someone who comes more highly recommended next time. You know, the guy who had that higher bid. But financially, you suck it up, IMO.
I'd figure maybe $15 per outlet covered, takes me about 20-30 minutes to fix that
How?I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Run a straight board over the wall. The lump from the 2x4 box should stand out. Look at the other boxes - receptacles or switches and it should be exactly the same height if the electrician was any good. And the studs on are 16's, so you locate them exactly. Elec boxes are always on one side or the other of a stud.Jab saw to the middle, saw out enough to get your bearings, then saw or razorkife along the outside of the box. Now that you have freed the drywall, screw it to the studs. You'll probably have 5 or so nail pops, maybe a few more on adjacent studs. Drive/screw them home and spackle over them.Most of your time is gathering up the board, jabsaw, screws, and spackle. The second (third, fourth. . .) one goes quick.David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
Not staggering the butts is unacceptable.
Either take it down and re-hang, or add another layer (could use 3/8" for 2nd layer).
"Logic, like whiskey, loses it's beneficial effect when taken in too large quantities." Lord Dunsany