Papercreters: [papercreters] Re: Ed's Do's and Don'ts

Additional Do #12

Build a small shed or shop before building your bigger house. This
will give you experience. Use the same techniques to build the small
structure as you plan on using for your bigger one. You'll learn a
lot about what works and what does not work. You also will have
something to show local building departments and inspectors during
the planning process for your bigger structure.

Additional Do #13

Consult with your local building department and inspectors DURING
YOUR PLANNING PROCESS before you ever break ground. Don't hide what
your are planning. Seek their guidance. The cheapest time to make
changes to your plans are before you start building. Making the same
changes after you start building will be twice as expensive.

Contacting your local building department early, and getting their
approval for all your plans will make the inspection process EASIER.
Inspectors are tasked with verifying that actual construction is
following the plans on file. If you do something that's not in the
plans, expect for problems delays, and added expenses.

Get your plans bulletproof and approved in advance and the
construction process will go much more smoothly and inexpensively.

Additional Do #14

Keep your worksite clean and orderly. This is usually the job of the
least skilled workers. Why pay your expensive plumber to clean junk
out of an area he needs to work? That's for unskilled laborers.

When workers and laborer see that you care about keeping your site
clean and orderly they will take more pride in their work and do a
better job. They will also be able to work faster because they won't
be constantly moving the same junk back and forth.

Inspectors and neighbors will view your project much more favorably.

EVERY NIGHT CLEAN THE SITE!

Additional Do #15

It's usually a good idea to assign an unskilled laborer to assist
each expensive skilled contractor. They are the extra set of hands,
the guy the runs out to the truck to fetch a tool, the guy that
cleans up, the guy that hauls the heavy tools and materials. This
keeps the expensive guy's time clear to get his job done.

Nothing wrong with YOU being that unskilled assistant!

Additional Do #16

Be certain to schedule subcontrators in the proper order. Each
project has its quirk, but generally speaking the contractors will
move through a typical project in the following order:

Old hands please check my work on this, I typed it from memory, I
didn't go look it up.

Dig Safe (marking existing underground utilities)
Excavation
Foundation
Possibly 1st floor framing (not the walls). Important if joists are
used over a basement/crawlspace.
Foundation waterproofing/drain tile
Backfill
Structural Framing
Roofing
Papercrete
Exterior Windows/Doors
Exterior Finishing
Interior Doors
Take delivery of any woodwork or flooring that needs time to
acclimatize before installation. Keep it protected from damage and
secure from theft.
HVAC Rough-in
Plumbing Rough-in
Electrical Rough-in
Plastering/Drywall
(some finish floor types go in here, but not all. Only install a
final finished floor at this point if it's absolutely necessary.
Then be certain it is protected during the remaing work.)
Cabinetry
Finish Carpentry
Interior Painting
HVAC Trim-out
Plumbing fixtures and trim-out
Electrical fixtures and trim-out
Install Final Floors
Finish Flooring (as necessary)
Install finish hardware, (doorknobs and pulls)
Install Appliances
Cut the ribbon and PARTY PARTY PARTY!!!

Additional Do #17

Take lots of pictures/videos during the entire process and post them
to Papercreters. Let others learn from what you are doing and also
learn from their comments.

Additional Don't #16

Don't assume that any particular task will be done by a contractor if
it is not written down in an agreement.

About Do #5.

I recommend utilizing a Project Planning software program. There is
a free Open Source program available for anyone to download at
http://ganttproject.biz/

Microsoft has Microsoft Project, Project Workbench, and some other
software that you can purchase. I've used several of them and I like
the free Gantt Project the best.

I also recommend keeping a large project timeline in the form of a
poster or a whiteboard posted for public view of every worker. It
keeps everyone informed about where everyone stands. It also serves
as a motivational tool. No good worker wants to be pointed at as the
slowpoke that is holding up the show. When you see a worker or
subcontractor that ignores that public timeline, start looking for a
replacement worker or contractor.

About Do #7.

I recommend keeping a large poster in your office area. Think of
something like those thermometers that Charities use to track
donations. Keep a graphic total of the money that has been spent,
and the money you have left at all times. KEEP IT CURRENT.

About Do #10.

One contractor I have worked with extensively on Habitat projects
paints all of his tools with a very gross looking flourescent PINK
PAINT!!!

He says that the color works like a thief repellent. It's a guy
thing I think. Guys don't want to be caught dead with "girly" tools.

Call this comment sexist, but I've never once heard of an incident on
a construction site of a female stealing tools. Misplacing them?
Yes... but guys misplace tools too.

Hot Pink tools show up a lot easier amongst all the debris and dust
that gets generated during construction too.

About Don't #1.

Always ask yourself if the person giving you advice has something to
gain by giving you that advice. I'm not saying every salesman is
dishonest, but are they motivated to offer you alternatives?

Even I don't expect people to trust what I say by itself. I
encourage everyone to verify any statement I make and look for
supporting documentation or contradictory documentation. Anyone that
is leery of close scrutiny should set of alarms in your head.

About Don't #3.

One job of a general contractor is to resolve disputes between
subcontractors. There is always some give and take. Who is
responsible for cleaning up the site? Do you really want your
expensive plumber charging you his high rates to clean up craps of
wood and toss them in a dumpster?

The best way to avoid finger pointing is to get an agreement IN
WRITING from a contractor detailing exactly how they expect the site
to be prepared so that they can get in and get out quickly and
efficently. Don't be afraid to have a contractor stop by for an hour
at the end of a workday a week in advance of their scheduled work on
your timeline. Ask them what they will need. What preparations for
the site will be necessary for them to begin work? Take notes. Make
sure you are ready for them to kick butt when they show up.

About Don't #5.

Remember that a friend will be honest with you, even if the truth is
painful. Bending the rules to make things easier for a "friend" will
send a bad message to everyone else. A real friend will work twice
as hard to make sure your project is completed BETTER than your
standards. Anyone that violates that trust may not be a real friend.

--- In papercreters@yahoogroups.com, "Edward Conley" <c_edward@...>
wrote:
>
> Hey guys,
> here is my first contribution to the soon to come manual for
papercreters.
> Let me know if it needs any honing.
> Ed
>
>
> Some Papercrete do's and don'ts
>
> Do:
> 1. Thoroughly research the methods, materials, techniques ,
successes and failures of the
> products you plan to use.
> 2. Make sure you are adequately funded before embarking on your
project.
> 3.Have an architect review your plans if possible
> 4. Check references of all subcontractors you are considering. Look
at their completed
> projects and talk to their customers. See if their buildings have
lasted over a period of
> years. Ask the homeowners about problems they encountered.
> 5. Have written agreements including costs and timelines for
completion,payment
> schedules and penalties for non completion.
> 6. Hire a competent project manager if at all possible so your life
isn't totally consumed
> with being on site at all times. If you can't afford one, be
prepared to spend all your time
> supervising.
> 7.Keep accurate records of expenditures and resources including
inventory of materials
> and tools. Document all work with pictures and or video as well as
a diary of daily work
> completed.
> 8. Make sure materials are quality materials based on standardized
requirements , are
> consistent and have been tested and proven.(Even adobe blocks are
required to be tested)
> don't rely on claims made by suppliers based on their personal
opinions.
> 9. Purchase builders insurance.(It is inexpensive and provides a
sense of security)
> 10. Have all your tools marked with your name and color coded with
paint and lock them
> up when not being used.
> 11. Have fun and enjoy being a pioneer.
>
> Don't
> 1. Fall for false hype based on things posted on the internet. Just
because someone wrote
> a book or produced a video doesn't mean diddly #@%t.
> Some "experts" are self proclaimed prophets and have refused the
guidance and
> suggestions of others and base their methods on theory and
speculation.
> 2. Use unproven materials or techniques based on hearsay or
theoretic blabber unless you
> want to be part of their test bed. Uniform blocks DO matter.
> 3. Cave in to excuses or bargaining on your requirements. Talk to
others and be informed.
> 4. Hire transients. some can be trusted and are good workers, but
overall they usually are
> the ones that steal, get drunk or do drugs on the job and can
disappear at the drop of the
> hat. Use your own discretion, but be very wary.
> 5. Be too kind. Remember YOU are the boss, not the buddy of the
labor force. Not to say
> you have to be a jerk, but remain as neutral as possible.
> 6. Buy off on finger pointing. Make workers admit their mistakes
and hold them
> accountable when ever possible.
> 7. Allow "flexible" working times and days unless it is the only
way to manage things.
> 8. Pay anyone up front for anything other than materials and no
more than a 50% deposit.
> 9.Pay daily or on Fridays. If you want workers to show up, pay them
on Monday.
> 10. Assume that anyone will do what they say they are going to.
Double check everything
> they do and hold them to their agreements.
> 11. Allow anyone to "borrow" any of your tools.
> 12.Hire anyone who doesn't have at least most of their own tools
> 13. Think that cheap labor is a bargain. Even well paid workers can
let you down.
> 14. Let bankers push you around. You are paying big bucks for
interest. Insist they be
> flexible and supportive in the entire process.
> 15. Let your project become a monster. Give yourself some downtime,
and try to get away
> from it all sometimes and just see the big picture.
>