Replies

1. 
   SamT | Dec 12, 2004 05:35pm | #1

   HC,

   >>I did not want to be delayed by having to return them.

   Aaaahhh, Murphy.

   See, if you had just planned an extra three weeks just for trusses, they would have arrived overnite in perfect, ready-to-use condition.

   SamT

2. 
   FastEddie1 | Dec 12, 2004 06:56pm | #2

   on this project 30+ trusses are wrong  Bet they were made by a guy who drives a John Deere tractor.

   Question, What should my reaction be.  You should be as professional as possible.  Make all necessary repairs, without cutting any corners, and charge a fair price.  Overcharging would be unethical.  What happens if you ovbercharge, and they ask for justification of the charges?  You gonna lie about that, or back down the invoice.  Either way, you have compromised you future relationship with them.

    

   All I know, I learned from Luka.

3. 
   blue_eyed_devil | Dec 12, 2004 07:14pm | #3

   HC...welcome to the world of floor trusses...which are "faster" to install according to all the manufacturers. The only problem is that they've never installed them, or a conventional deck system... so they don't have any idea which is faster ( conventional is much faster in most situations).

   Anyways, to answer your question....

   We routinely repair trusses. On some jobs, we've spent a considerable amount of time. We had a repair bill near $1000 dollar recently and the truss company wanted to challenge our "high" hourly rate....whick is a modest $58.50 and is included in the original framing contract. The truss company wanted us to work for the cheaper rates that our competitors are using to put themselves out of business. Of course we refused to lower our invoice.

   We got paid.

   The lesson that I learned from that experience is that if there is going to be a huge repair bill, instead of just doing it, then billing I'd forewarn the truss company of my "estimate". I'd be willing to give them a firm bid to do the repairs, just so they could make up their mind whether they want to send out their repair crew, or use us. Of course, the timing of the repairs is critical. As professionals, we owe it to the suppliers to report discrepencies in a timely manner to allow them to send out replacements, or the repair crew. Sometimes however, the repairs aren't evident until it's crunch time.

   I'll be slicing off the top of a mono girder on Monday......that will entail an hour or two of repair....the truss company will gladly pay me the 60 or 100 or 125 that we invoice...but we're always truthful and can always justify our time. We use the fastest methods and don't "stick it" to anyone.

   My suggestion: get a third party estimate, and offer them your personal fix it bid, the third party bid, and let them decide what's best. Do all this before you install them.

   blue

   Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!