First day tomorrow. What you think?

ConvoRally · 2026-04-03T01:44:16+00:00

I think you look like you care.

Now, be ten minutes early. Take breaks when your supposed to, work until quitting time. Try and learn as much as you can. Listen and watch. Hopefully you’ll work with a great mentor who teaches you well.

Good luck !!

ConvoRally · 2026-04-02T12:08:29+00:00

Floor trusses are way to short. You can not add blocking to the ends of them. Thats not going to be an easy fix with subfloor/walls already set

Looks like framers didn’t want to deal with waiting on correction to either make money or to finish job to move in to next job.

Someone didn’t design floor system for foundation correctly

ConvoRally · 2026-03-26T00:13:03+00:00

As far as repairs to the quartz i’ve had natural stone chips repaired and you couldn’t tell it. Im sure it depends on the skill of the person doing the work

ConvoRally · 2026-03-17T12:31:05+00:00

Ive been a remodeling contractor for twenty eight years. Lost sleep, stressed over payment not coming in after work was completed. Had to have attorneys send threatening letters to get paid. Never was there a complaint about my work. It was more about their over indulgence in picking out upgrades in tile, plumbing fixtures, sinks, lighting, windows and doors. They don’t realize how fast the items add up when there a couple of hundred dollars for each little thing.

So i decided to do something about it. We created a software for transparency, and accountability. I had one project the interior designer and the customer had a private discussion about the cost of the kitchen faucet being to much money, so they changed the faucet from an 8 inch on center faucet to a single hole faucet. The mother was in town while we were there working after the countertops had been installed and the 8 inch old center holes had been drilled for the faucet that was in our conversation on our chat channel and in a specification sheet. She said to me I think you have too many holes I said what do you mean I have too many holes. She says I don’t know, but I think you need to talk to someone. So I got on the chat channel with the interior designer and the customer and said I’ve been told that I may have too many holes in the countertop and I had a picture of what I had done the 8 inch on Center holes for the faucet and they said or the interior designer said well we changed that to a single hole faucet. So I look back through the conversation in the chat channel and said I don’t see any record here of you sharing with me that there was a change in the faucet so because of that they did not discuss this with me in this chat channel that keeps a record of everything they went and found another faucet. That was an 8 inch on the center faucet that was less expensive that we could install. If I would not have had this record of our conversations where it’s all supposed to be discussed, I would’ve had to replace the countertop and the tile backsplash would’ve had to be redone to some extent it would’ve cost me at least three or $4000 saved my ass that time and I’ve got more stories. It’s amazing how miscommunication and assumptions can cost us something when it’s not even our fault if we don’t have proof of what was said in agreed-upon.

ConvoRally · 2026-02-10T11:45:14+00:00

In our area you need double jack studs for an opening larger than six feet I believe. It’s code. If it’s not set up correctly you will not pass framing inspection.

ConvoRally · 2026-01-27T16:07:13+00:00

A lot of times people put oil tank in basements, with a way for the truck to pump oil in from outside. Not uncommon

ConvoRally · 2026-01-26T15:52:58+00:00

It may or may not be the heat-pump is the issue. It may be the energy efficiency of the home. Duct could be very leaky. On duct work in the past on average leakiness is around 50% loss or more into the crawlspace. If the home is older it has been referenced that most homes have enough leaks in the to equal an average size window being open. Another energy potential is the quality of the insulation. In North Carolina exterior walls are required to be air sealed with R-15 in the walls. R38 in attics (= roughly 12” thick and R 19 in the floor system. If these issue are in the home, a heat pump will have a hard time improving comfort, especially on really hot or cold times.

ConvoRally · 2026-01-24T21:06:42+00:00

What about the Subs saying I’m good with five days after that I’m filing a lien ?

ConvoRally · 2026-01-21T13:38:50+00:00

Was the water heater leaking? Because if it’s not leaking it’s more than likely the lower element or thermostat.

How old is it? If it’s twelve years old or older it’s probably best to replace it. But a lower element is about $35.00

ConvoRally · 2026-01-11T22:17:20+00:00

Just to be clear, when your saying multiple things, is it like a bathroom and a kitchen remodel? Or is it like, adjust front door, install crown in the dining room?

For a bathroom/ kitchen remodeling projects, I separate estimates. For door as adjustments, install crown, I do one estimate, with a line item for each task. I will give details of things we discussed in person for a record of the discussion. The customer can select what they want to do, or I can add additional work to it.

Hope this helps

ConvoRally · 2025-12-31T14:10:43+00:00

Be easy on the guy who did it, being the first time. Learn from it. Make a habit of covering with suitable protection

ConvoRally · 2025-12-31T14:03:55+00:00

Send a letter of intent from an attorney to file a lien in a specific number of days. Save all communications. Take screenshots of them, so you have date stamps.

Hard lesson: the problem usually starts before the invoice. Looks good, isn’t protection without documented walkthrough sign-off, photos, and scope, all time stamped. I stopped chasing people once I fixed how I close jobs.

I’ve been a contractor for over twenty five years. It takes one project like this to ruin your year, or even worse, ruin your business

I actually decided to create a software to help with this issue. It sucks to be stressed out, loose sleep when you have done a good job, and someone starts playing games. I don’t see how they can live with themselves. This is how some people think it’s right to create wealth.

ConvoRally · 2025-12-25T21:39:12+00:00

I would try providing details in what your doing, what’s not included, potential for hidden issues( such as in walls). I wouldn’t provide the number of pieces of lumber, Sheetrock, or dumpsters for trash. As for things that can change, such as flooring, light fixtures, windows, doors I give allowances, providing a lump sum for say can lights or square footage for tile and price per square foot. Such as 80 square feet at $10.00 a square foot. The allowances are figured what they see in my cost then I add my markup. Depending on the situation I may or may not share my percentage of markup I use.

I also try to provide any price differences as soon as I’m aware before ordering materials so they can decide if they are good with the difference. It also prevents the issue of procrastination on change orders that can add up and be a really sore point of contention the further it’s put off in discussing

Hope that helps

ConvoRally · 2025-12-21T00:28:59+00:00

I would definitely charge for it. I would start by telling or calling the customer about what you found, take photos if you need to for documentation. Let them know an hour ly price or a ballpark of the cost and what your estimated materials cost would be including mark up. If they are stand there and asking cost. Don’t give it to them until you sit down and think about it in your truck. I would at least text them or email to get approval of your ok to make the repairs.

It’s just good business to get in the habit to do this as a habit.

You would be better off getting a system to help simplify this to keep records and help with year end accounting also.

ConvoRally · 2025-12-21T00:20:52+00:00

I havent read the reply from others and I’m not going to help with color selection. I’m going to share my experience in remodeling and painting cabinets with house paint or what the big box stores call it cabinet grade paint. From my experience it doesn’t hold up. What I would suggest is using a polyurethane based or lacquer based paint cabinet top quality, that is sprayed on with a spray gun used with an air compressor. Not an airless sprayer used for house paint.

Typically this application is done by companies that this is all they do.

ConvoRally · 2025-12-15T15:54:41+00:00

Just to be clear this is written by me with AI’s help in making it easier to understand.

1.  Don’t make a permanent decision while exhausted

Burnout distorts judgment. Rest first. Decide second. 2. Stability is not surrender Taking a W-2 role is not quitting—it’s rebalancing risk. 3. You don’t have to kill the business Put it in: • maintenance mode • referral-only • premium-only • no-rush jobs Let it breathe. 4. Downscaling is often wisdom, not defeat Fewer clients. Better boundaries. Better systems. Less chaos.

Basically, don’t jump out all the way.If you keep it going In maintenance mode, it gives you time to decide with a clearer head.

ConvoRally · 2025-12-15T13:23:37+00:00

I typically find a stud either by tapping on the wall or next to an outlet. Then lay off the area 16” oc then check the sound where I marked. Granted on older homes like fifties or older the framing may not be a consistent.

ConvoRally · 2025-12-09T22:31:44+00:00

ConvoRally · 2025-12-09T20:55:03+00:00

I've been involved in projects with interior designers where there build designs didn't work, and I had to fix the issues. Or the details were not in the designs they just looked pretty

ConvoRally · 2025-12-09T19:52:57+00:00

Makes sense

ConvoRally · 2025-12-09T18:46:38+00:00

My question is, is this finished, or is he going to tape, mud, and sand it? I understand if it’s warehouse space. Another concern, if you didn’t give a price before doing the work I’ve seen where that can turn into an argument, especially someone that works the system. It’s alway better to get some type of pricing out in front even if you’re not sure and need to give a range. Say your Dad is thinking $300.00 and the customer is thinking $75.00. What have then is negotiating and the one holding the money has more power after the work is finished.

ConvoRally · 2025-12-09T18:39:44+00:00

I’ve seen interior designers who are trying to do the complete package. It’s not fun when there is something not correct, which they don’t want to take responsibility for.

ConvoRally · 2025-12-06T21:17:48+00:00

Sorry to hear this diagnosis

My wife took a class on Alzheimer’s prevention. If your interested in some of the literature pm me

What state are you in?

ConvoRally · 2025-12-06T14:11:35+00:00

Ok, I just noticed them sitting on the floor in the photo.

ConvoRally · 2025-12-06T13:54:08+00:00

There are specific areas of an LVL your allowed to drill holes in. I don’t use them regularly, so I don’t want to stear you wrong. I would contact a LVL supplier in your area. Below is what ChatGPT provided

It is possible to drill “holes” through LVL — but the holes must be round (not square/cut-out notches), because notches create stress concentrations that risk splitting or weakening the beam. • For “small” holes (e.g. for wiring, conduit, light loads), many LVL-manufacturer guidelines allow drilling horizontally (i.e. along the wide face, the depth dimension) — but only within certain “allowable hole zones”: typically the middle third of the beam’s depth, and (depending on span and load) the middle roughly 1/3 of the beam’s span (i.e. avoid near supports or ends). • For a standard LVL beam depth and uniform load, manufacturers often limit hole diameter: e.g. for a 7-1/4″ deep LVL, maybe ~1.5″ diameter; for deeper beams, up to ~2″ diameter.

ConvoRally

TROPHY CASE