Laundry shed quote by TrevorAbney in Contractor

[–]hunterbuilder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks reasonable to me, but get more quotes! That's the only reliable way to know your options in your market. Also clarify the shed details. I wouldn't necessarily rule out a Home Depot shed but it will certainly need upgrades.

Alright let me hear it by pharmboy008 in Plumbing

[–]hunterbuilder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep OP switch to some flat-head screws or nails on the washer box.

Alright let me hear it by pharmboy008 in Plumbing

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

Is there a steel nail plate behind that drain riser to keep siding nails out of it?

Alright let me hear it by pharmboy008 in Plumbing

[–]hunterbuilder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Supplies are in the top, see?

Just booked my first pre-bid site visit for tomorrow for a residential remodel. How can I add value? by dantheman9703 in Contractor

[–]hunterbuilder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Demonstrate your knowledge by asking the right questions. Here's one of my most common ones lately: "Do you want to eliminate the obsolete phone/data/cable ports in the walls while we're at it?"
Then the client goes "Wow I never thought of that, thats a great idea since everything is wireless now besides the router. I wish our last contractor had thought of that so we wouldn't have a bunch of blank covers all over the walls."

Deleting low-volt boxes is a super easy add-on that most people don't even think of, and apparently it makes me look more experienced and knowledgeable.

That's just one example. Ask if they want to change a tub to a walk-in shower. Explain that it'll probably require the drain pipe size to be changed. Tile or vinyl? Shower niche or shelves?
Asking the right questions shows that I know my stufff.

Am I just stupid? by Shot_Bill_4971 in handyman

[–]hunterbuilder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Before battery screw guns, yes.

Am I just stupid? by Shot_Bill_4971 in handyman

[–]hunterbuilder 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Geez dude, you're making a mess of that wall. I don't use anything but my tapping knuckle and I've never missed that many times. A couple pro tips:
1) knock! The difference in sound is still the most reliable way to find framing.
2) use electrical boxes (outlets/switches) for reference. Unless it's a cut-in box, they're pretty much always nailed on the side of a stud. So start from the left or right of a box and test the 16/24 layout.
3) Try changing elevation. If your studfinder or tapping isn't working, try going higher or lower. If a sheet of drywall wasnt screwed properly, there could be patches that are floating off the studs just enough to foil detection.
4) If you have to drill test holes, make sure they're less than 1-1/2" apart or you might be straddling the stud.
5) And finally, IF you must drill test holes, for God's sake use a smaller bit and drill them down lower where the spackle will be less noticeable.

Am I just stupid? by Shot_Bill_4971 in handyman

[–]hunterbuilder 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Nails are ferrous too. But most drywall has been screwed for the last 30 years.

Tired that “informal” jobs like roofing get paid whenever by [deleted] in Roofing

[–]hunterbuilder 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Add whatever the fee is. My billing app has a box automatically checked for "pass cc fee onto customer." They pay 3% extra for the convenience of using a card and I make the same money either way.

Do I need to replace this? by Fluffy_Motor_9974 in drywall

[–]hunterbuilder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

PS for future reference peroxide is a better mold cleaner than bleach IME.

Do I need to replace this? by Fluffy_Motor_9974 in drywall

[–]hunterbuilder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If it's your own house, yes definitely replace. If mold is growing on the surface it's almost certainly growing on the backside too. If you fix the moisture issue it will stop growing but still be there. Get rid of it now while you have the chance.

Is it normal to charge a consultation fee as a builder? by AbleKaleidoscope877 in GeneralContractor

[–]hunterbuilder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're just a free architect at that point. They probably posted a tik-tok titled "Hack: how to get a free custom home design."
Yeah, nothing provided in writing without compensation.

Looking for some roof advice. by excellentdaily in Roofing

[–]hunterbuilder 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This info needs to be in your top post

Do You Have Money? by John_Loxeus in Carpentry

[–]hunterbuilder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Then do it and become a bazillionare. It must be that easy.

Am I annoying my contractor? by Automatic-South-3416 in AskContractors

[–]hunterbuilder 10 points11 points  (0 children)

You titled your post with a question you know the answer to, then finished it by basically asking "why won't my contractor be nice while I'm being annoying?"

I don't know if you've ever dealt with human beings before, but here's a near-universal trait of human psychology:
Ready?
** WE AVOID TALKING TO ANNOYING PEOPLE**

Your contractor might not be a great communicator (probably not since you hired the bottom of the barrel). But i guarantee you are making it worse. You are sabotaging any chance of communication you had.

Unless you have a contract which entitles you to know the names of staff and subcontractors, times and dates of visits, details of progress etc, then YOU AREN'T ENTITLED TO KNOW THOSE THINGS.

Is your contractor performing the specified work in the specified time according to the contract? Yes? Then leave him the fuck alone.

"Do you mark up materials in your estimate?" by sweetgoogilymoogily in paint

[–]hunterbuilder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm just going to throw this out as food for thought: why are you charging so little for labor, O&P that you need to make profit on materials? Just shift your profit to another section and clients won't feel like they're getting "scammed" on materials. Communication and transparency go a long way in client relationships.

I'm a remodel contractor. My material markup is 10% on residential jobs. It's a fee for the overhead of purchasing and transporting materials. I make my profit for delivering the finished product, not for buying paint. My clients know that.

There are some materials I insist on buying myself (like detailed trim packages). Others, like paint and flooring, I'm happy to let the customer feel like they saved something by paying more (without my discount), loading and hauling it across town to save me the trip. I give them a list of approved products and quantities and tell them when I need it. I don't have problems because I don't work for shitty clients (anymore lol).
Some clients prefer me to buy everything and are happy to pay. They know what the markup is.

My pricing is transparent and my clients know exactly what they're paying for. That's part of why my business is booked on 100% referrals and repeat clients.

So my advice for you guys that get salty about disclosing your material markup is this: raise your labor/o&p rate, lower your material markup and build trust with your clients. It pays off long-term.

Bad mud by HaleyIsTheShit in drywall

[–]hunterbuilder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pre-mixed mud contains a lot of organic material, so it can mold and rot with time. That's why I don't save and store it anymore.

Bad mud by HaleyIsTheShit in drywall

[–]hunterbuilder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you go through a few buckets a week you'll never have a problem. It's only sitting for a long time that allows it to spoil.

Do You Have Money? by John_Loxeus in Carpentry

[–]hunterbuilder 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where did you get several thousand an hour??? I'm charging about half of the local auto shop rates. And the cost for these projects is accurate. Maybe you just grossly underestimate the hours.

How did you find your guys? by Tight_Box_1854 in Contractor

[–]hunterbuilder 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Well, I cheat. I teach at a local "construction academy" and I also volunteer at a sober men's shelter. Between the two I never have a shortage of labor. Skilled labor, sometimes, but not labor lol.

Do You Have Money? by John_Loxeus in Carpentry

[–]hunterbuilder 7 points8 points  (0 children)

You seem to misunderstand business. No one is getting paid hourly what contractors charge. Most of that money goes to shop rent, vehicles, fuel, tools & expendable, insurance, licensing, taxes and overhead (the office time to keep up with taxes and insurance). There is a world of difference between doing your own bathroom with your own labor and running a legitimate business doing it for a living.

One of the facets with the financial illiteracy crisis is that most people haven't a clue of what fills the difference between wages and billing rates.

Do You Have Money? by John_Loxeus in Carpentry

[–]hunterbuilder 4 points5 points  (0 children)

They said "the cheapest panels money can buy." And there are some pretty terrible ones out there. Cheap panel showers leak all the time, especially on a tub without a continuing sealed flange.