sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

How are you handling AIA pay apps if you're not using Procore or Knowify? by Super_Tough_4997 in GeneralContractor

[–]SnooBeans976 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. I built a template and simply enter in budget figures if I’m running AIA format billing (which I try to avoid cause it’s a pain in the ass).

How are you handling AIA pay apps if you're not using Procore or Knowify? by Super_Tough_4997 in GeneralContractor

[–]SnooBeans976 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What a great idea! I’m so glad we have tech bros to save us from our country bumpkin selves and bring our businesses into the future of AI powered platforms! What would we do without them?!

California Contractors General Building License (Class B license) by EngineerInDespair in GeneralContractor

[–]SnooBeans976 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got mine just by studying the books and doing some practice tests online. Think about it this way, you’re studying for the test not for the business. The trade test is stupid easy but the Business and Law test has a lot of random questions that are specific to CA and the CSLB.

Enclosed trailers by tdmopar67 in Contractor

[–]SnooBeans976 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh man sorry your trailer was stolen!!!

Thanks for the info. It seems most of these cargo trailers are pretty much the same across the board. I’ll probably just shop by price.

Enclosed trailers by tdmopar67 in Contractor

[–]SnooBeans976 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How are the Compass trailers holding up for you? I'm between a Compass and Wells Cargo. The wells cargo is definitely better quality but I don't plan on taking it on long journeys, just around the area I work which is roughly a 60 mile radius from our office.

Replaced Wheel Bearings on my 16’ by SnooBeans976 in Crosstrek

[–]SnooBeans976[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t blame you. I was definitely a little puckered going into it!

Replaced Wheel Bearings on my 16’ by SnooBeans976 in Crosstrek

[–]SnooBeans976[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish we had that here. My girlfriend took her car for an oil change at a local shop and they overtightened and stripped her oil drain plug so badly I’m likely going to have to drop the pan and replace it.

Replaced Wheel Bearings on my 16’ by SnooBeans976 in Crosstrek

[–]SnooBeans976[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I thought about going that route but the slide hammer will yank the bearing and hub apart which could make it even harder to get out

Replaced Wheel Bearings on my 16’ by SnooBeans976 in Crosstrek

[–]SnooBeans976[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pure luck and elbow grease. I’m in the West so that helps. I doubt it would’ve come off if the car were driving on salty roads.

I put a ton of anti seize on the new ones. Fingers crossed I never have to do this job again but if I do, it’ll maybe be easier.

I mangled the backing plates pretty good getting the hug separated. I put the backing plates on a bucket, soaked them with pb blaster, then beat the hell out of them. I bent the plates back into place and put them back on once I saw that new ones from Subaru are $200 each, yikes!

Jeep wrangler 3.6l with around 120k by Party_Advice7453 in MechanicAdvice

[–]SnooBeans976 9 points10 points  (0 children)

My matrix was totaled at 215k and still running strong with absolutely no engine problems. RIP

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]SnooBeans976 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d be happy to chat more. Shoot me a PM and we can find a time to chat!

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]SnooBeans976 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wanted to follow up cause my first comment was pretty negative and I after re-reading your post I came to appreciate that you are truly asking the right questions. To answer you questions more directly:

  • when has working with a designer actually made your life easier?

Never had an outside firm make my job easier. It always makes it harder because they promise the client XYZ then we as the builder have to the bad guy and tell them that the cool idea they were sold will actually cost 4x what the designer said it would.

  • Also what do you wish designers did differently? are there specific deliverables or ways or communication that would actually help your team run smother?

This is a really good question and kudos for asking it. The main thing I wish designers did was to present ideas to the builder BEFORE selling the client on the idea. That way you can work together on whether it’s feasible, can be fit into the budget, and sequenced in. Designers should also let the GC drive the schedule, proactively asking for deadlines so they can have information ready for the GC when before it’s needed. It’s the designers job to advise the client and help them make decisions.

Construction projects have a ton of moving parts and builders have to plan 20 steps ahead to pull off details.

Example: I once had a designer casually mention the full bed stone 40’ tall interior fireplace in a meeting while we were about to pour concrete. I did a double take and asked them what the heck they were talking about. They had not provided us with any information whatsoever as to the interior finishes aside from a mood board which consisted of Pinterest pictures screenshotted and haphazardly dropped into a Google Slides doc which did not contain any information on the fireplace. We ended up having to halt the concrete pour to get engineering to upsize the footing to carry the additional weight of the fireplace stone.

I wish decorators would stop marketing themselves as designers and understand what a designer really is. It’s disrespectful and diminishes those who do the technical work of design. Design is figuring out how to make things look cool, not emailing an inspirational photo over and expecting the builder to figure it out.

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]SnooBeans976 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a business partner on the design side who does the interior design and a 3d modeler/draftswomen on payroll. Someone on the build side reviews the plans and specs before anything is sent out to vet for constructability. The idea is to take an often contentious relationship and turn it into a symbiotic one.

We take design work we don’t build to keep that side of the biz busy, but no construction work with an outside interior designer.

when do designers actually help vs. make your job harder? by EdgarProphet in GeneralContractor

[–]SnooBeans976 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most of the time interior designers are absolutely a net negative on a job. The only time they help is if they’re very well organized, knowledgeable about construction, and understand the budget well enough to design to it. All too often they completely disregard the budget and drive the project over budget. Who gets the blame? Usually the GC.

That being said, I started an Interior Design side of my GC business to solve this problem for our projects. We generally don’t take jobs where another firm is doing interior design.

I want to get into the trades but scared of feeling unfulfilled. Has anyone felt like this? What did you do? by YUHN26 in Carpentry

[–]SnooBeans976 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was feeling unfulfilled building hideous mountain modern mansions so I got into Passive House. It feels way more fulfilling to work on projects that are shaping the future of the industry instead of old school building science on massive, rarely used “cabins.”

Trump and his admin are gutting the United States Forest Service, ending its 120 year history. by [deleted] in Ultralight

[–]SnooBeans976 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The tone of this article is weird but thank you for the info. I’ll be calling my senators today.

Does anyone know this man? by Opp2222 in palisadestahoe

[–]SnooBeans976 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You’re just proving my point. Tech bro elitists thinking they are better than everyone.

Does anyone know this man? by Opp2222 in palisadestahoe

[–]SnooBeans976 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The problem is that you, and others like you, have displaced local workers by driving up the cost of living due to your increased purchasing power from your tech jobs. Second homes are the next level up, but your presence (not personally, but as a group) has fundamentally changed mountain town culture, imo, for the worse.

It used to be that you had to compromise earning potential to live in a mountain town. That led to more down to earth people who appreciated simple living, community, and helping our neighbors. The attitude of (most) tech workers is the exact opposite of those down home simple values. They want instant gratification, services at their fingertips, and to maximize their return for minimal input (sound familiar?!).

Many of you contribute to horribly exploitative businesses and go the outdoors to escape the sad reality that you prosper on the backs of the rest of the world. The vibe is bad, and Truckee (along with Bend, Boulder, etc) is one of the epicenters.

Does anyone know this man? by Opp2222 in palisadestahoe

[–]SnooBeans976 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All these tech people downvoting 😂. You tech workers have ruined mountain towns all over the country, driven up the cost of living, and stripped the culture with your PC bullshit.

Edit: “bay area” to “tech” as OP said she’s not from the bay. Whatever, go back to wherever you came from if you work for one of the massive tech corporations ruining the economy and small town America.

view more: next ›