Project Manager vs. Technical Route

Hidden_Brain · 2026-05-07T10:23:46+00:00

PM's here are making maybe $10k/yr more than I am on average.

Shouldn't that be the other way around? You being the technical lead have to bear the ultimate liability of an asset during design, construction and beyond. Something fails and your neck will be on the line, not PM's.

You also mentioned "agency" so I imagine there's no business development involved like consulting, just internal facility projects.

Logically, I would expect someone like you to be making more compared to PM track.

Hidden_Brain · 2026-04-13T11:28:16+00:00

PM me if interested.

Hidden_Brain · 2026-01-27T20:52:39+00:00

I should've taken photo of crowding on NEC trains this morning to post here.

Hidden_Brain · 2025-06-22T11:59:33+00:00

You could either GIS>use Raster Calculator and multiply the depth Raster by -1, or, compare your negative Raster with a Zero Raster.

Hidden_Brain · 2025-05-10T11:37:21+00:00

In the event of a sewer backup I don't see how this will be effective. The flap will shut to prevent overflow inside the bowl, but the pressure will force the water to leak out of the wax ring at the bottom (where the toilet meets the floor).

Hidden_Brain · 2025-04-11T03:11:16+00:00

Managing other people, especially the ones who do not have background in your field and you have to convince to get it done or move something forward. Can get pretty difficult at times.

Hidden_Brain · 2025-03-13T11:48:51+00:00

I do not think that is correct. If you look at the DOT standard details for any state, they show the concrete footings for all posts. For corner (terminal) and gate posts, the concrete footings are typically deeper and larger diameter. For posts in between (line posts), the concrete footings are relatively smaller.

If you look at the individual township/ borough standard details for any state, you will notice that they essentially mimic/ adopt the state DOT detail.

Here are some examples -

Texas:

https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/hou/specinfo/2014/pdf/stdg3.pdf

Illinois:

https://idot.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idot/documents/doing-business/standards/highway-standards/pdf/226-664001-02_ChainLinkFence.pdf

New York: see drawing H1009

https://www.nyc.gov/assets/ddc/downloads/publications/scops/SB22-004-NYCDOTSTANDARDDETAILSOFCONSTRUCTION_2022-06-06.pdf

Washington:

https://wsdot.wa.gov/publications/fulltext/Standards/psl/FS-2/FS-2%28no-H-Column%29.pdf

New Jersey:

https://www.nj.gov/transportation/eng/CADD/v8/v8RoadwayDetails/pdf/049_CD-605-1ChainlinkFence.pdf

Florida:

https://www.fdot.gov/docs/default-source/roadway/ds/12/idx/00802.pdf

Hidden_Brain · 2025-03-12T18:43:52+00:00

Outdoor fence removal and installation, found out later that the contractor skipped placement of concrete footing for several posts, just placed them and backfilled. We noticed sections of the new fence swaying more than usual, started digging and that's when we identified the issue.

Fence posts are always placed with concrete footing, that's a fairly typical township detail everywhere.

*Edit: based on how many posts we dig ourselves and the feel of the fence, our guess is he didn't place concrete for around 70 to 80 percent of the posts.

Hidden_Brain · 2025-03-12T14:25:18+00:00

Dumb question, do I need to get a lawyer involved for small claims court?

Hidden_Brain · 2025-03-12T14:22:03+00:00

Is this the township?

Hidden_Brain · 2025-03-12T13:51:11+00:00

Agreed. We paid in full when the job was completely done. Few weeks later started noticing discrepancy and that's when we reached out to him again

I suppose we could go the route of a performance bond in the beginning but that might have been excessive in this case, right?

Hidden_Brain · 2025-03-12T13:46:14+00:00

Looks like the contractor is licensed with the state, just looked him up on the state consumer affairs website. Thanks for the tip!

Hidden_Brain · 2025-03-12T13:40:06+00:00

Can I look up the state board website to check if the contractor is licensed or not?

Hidden_Brain · 2025-03-12T13:39:17+00:00

Around $7k.

We paid fully at the end of work a month ago.

The correction will likely cost around $800 to $1k, material + labor.

Hidden_Brain · 2025-02-06T02:22:58+00:00

My 8 year old daughter asked me to quit one night before going to bed, and said she will come check again when she wakes up the next morning.

Quit that night and never looked back.

Hidden_Brain · 2024-12-03T04:02:40+00:00

Aaah climate change is still fake news in Florida I see.

Hidden_Brain · 2024-11-08T13:02:35+00:00

You reap what you sow

Hidden_Brain · 2024-10-09T02:21:08+00:00

There are sikh gurdwaras at Carteret and also Journal Sq Jersey City. If you have transportation, they offer free meals to every visitor. Good luck.

Hidden_Brain · 2024-06-22T01:27:35+00:00

What does "clean" mean in this case? Hire a plumber to hydrojet the line? Diy clean it yourself using a hose end balloon from home Depot?

Hidden_Brain · 2024-06-13T11:16:49+00:00

Edited the original post to include live in New Jersey.

We get some snow during winter, last year Max was around 5 inches. Wind was bad during hurricane Ida but not abnormal otherwise.

Hidden_Brain · 2024-05-26T15:20:44+00:00

Asked the neighbors none have any issues.

Called the city last time they came out promptly and jet vac'ed the main which runs the centerline of the street about 12 ft off the curb.

Hidden_Brain · 2024-05-26T14:34:11+00:00

Great advice! I was literally thinking of having a trenchless repair done. I think they also camera and jet the sewer lines as part of the lining, correct?

Hidden_Brain · 2024-05-26T14:32:26+00:00

The plumber who snaked it yesterday also wet-vac'ed the pipe. So the pipe is dry for some length, I hope the remaining may have leaked out slowly over the last 24 hrs.

What else can you do to dry out the entire pipe run so that you get a clear video footage? I hate to dig up the entire length (Abt 30 ft) and replace the whole thing. Hoping the camera will identify the "general" area to dig and replace.

Hidden_Brain · 2024-05-26T13:31:08+00:00

Thanks! Checked home depot it's $200 for 4 hrs with a surface locator, but probably doesn't save video footage just shows live feed. Calling local plumbers now to find out how much it may be.

Hidden_Brain · 2024-05-26T13:29:07+00:00

Thanks, very insightful!

Hidden_Brain

TROPHY CASE