I wrote earlier about failure to comminicate on the project I’m working on. The other day we struggled to put in a microwave above the stove. The guy I work with told the owners that the microwave would be flush with the face of the wall cabinets and only maybe slightly lower than their bottoms (and I had questioned that)–turns out to be three inches deeper than the upper cabinets and about two inches lower.
Anyway, owner turns on the microwave fan–it’s too loud. I said we could vent it up and out (but not just out because studs and electrical are in the way now). Had to explain why I thought that would be quieter. Told him he’d lose cupboard space though. He didn’t understand why–I had to show him that the duct would go up through the upper cabinet. So now he thinks he’ll have us install a quiter microwave! Also, about four inches of the microwacve are taken up by ventilation–so there is still less than 12″ of actual room top to bottom in which to cook!
Put in a pendant light and now will have to hinge the door on the other side, or follow my suggestion and split the 18″ into two 9’s, because the door bumps the light when opened all the way. Like I said before, I am mainly the muscle on this job, so I have no responsibility for the design flaws. “Boss” planned it all with the people before I got involved. I probably shouldn’t even comment when I see mistakes, but sometimes I think I can help. Oh, and installing the oven–every time we do one, I think–“Why didn’t he look at how it has to be hooked up, take some measurements and plan accordingly?”–gas supply is in wrong place, electrical is in wrong place, etc.
Then we installed the window–couldn’t put it where the boss planned because electric meter is in the way. Then the wife wanted a six inch cabinet between stove and peninsula. So now we have to have the installers cut a little cove in the top so it doesn’t interfere (fortunately granite has not been templated yet!)
Anyway, keeps me busy. The less time I spend here at the Tav arguing politics, the better off I am! 😉
Replies
Ah, there's nothing like planning things in advance ... especially on your project, nothing even vaguely resembling it.
What's ironic is that I used to be a planner, so I am used to doing things in an orderly, step-by-step way. Like you say, nothing like that on this job. I spent so much time today laying out tools and supplies to say, patch in the cedar shakes around a window, only to have the boss decide we would go back inside and finish the interior trim. I hate things underfoot, boss is running a pin nailer and stepping on and over assorted tools and materials and I'm waiting for him to trip and smash the brand new window. I can't pull stuff out of his way while he's steping on it.... When he got the router out to round the edges of the trim, even he complained about all the stuff underfoot.
I had already cleaned out the garage and swept it and put everything back--he wanted the HO to be able to get to the inside walls of the garage where he had had me stack everything, because now he remembered that the HO wanted to start putting up the old cabinets on that wall. Moved the wood out to the driveay along with the flattened empty boxes so we could load them into the truck. Never got to do that and the recycling place closed, so I loaded all the boxes and the wood back into the garage--right in the way of where the HO would be installing the cabinets.
Near the end of the day, I put tools away; then boss decides to go back out and work on the cedar shakes. I get all tools, ladder, etc. ready for that. HO comes before he puts up even one shake and they talk until five and I get to put everything back away.
Danno - I feel for ya - I most always have problems playing second fiddle - I do my best to grit my teeth and bite my tongue -
iffen I wuz you at this point, I think I'd refer everything to the boss and if ya see something looming give the boss the heads up and don't offer a thing till he asks for a solution -
there's a whole different dynamic at play when someone asks for help vs being broadsided with a plan -
just my 2c - worth what you paid -
I've pretty much learned to be quiet while customers are around, or I will chime in to support what he's telling them. He likes to tell them what he decided to do, instead of asking what they think, what they would like, etc. He doesn't like to explain things--even to me. Many times he just gives me a significant look and I'm supposed to know that means grab the other end of the board, or hand him the tape measure that he threw on the floor earlier.
I guess I'll sum it up by saying, "I'm glad it's Friday!"
Edited 8/18/2006 9:49 pm ET by Danno
I'd reiterate David D's comment - especially bringing it to the attention of the Boss...he may not like to be shown up in front of the customer. Read 'egg on his face'. He has to take responsibilities for all of it, errors and subsequent re-configuration is what he's there for.
All the best...
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
Just wait till they try using that microwave when they're cooking on the stove...or when someone slips, and drops a hot dish out of the microwave and burns themselves....
Did I ever tell you how much I hate those high-mounted microwaves? A co worker's mother, in her 60s, dropped a hot casserole on her glass topped stove as she took it out of the microwave...she's short, the microwave is up too high, and she trashed an expensive cooktop. What a great idea those things are - I love taking hot dishes out of a microwave at shoulder height....I'm willing to bet that people who actually cook don't put those stupid things in. Why would you want to reach up high over a hot stove for anything???????
Yeah, I think microwaves over stove tops are bad for several reasons, not the least is what you say about them being at the wrong height to remove hot and potentially spillable stuff from the oven.