Thread: Help. WHAT DO I DO.

Curious. How much is he asking for the whole lot ?

Originally Posted by apricotripper

Curious. How much is he asking for the whole lot ?

$1160 it says on the quote in an earlier thread
Jedo

Originally Posted by ozwinner

Not wishing to pick a fight.
But, that sounds like a cop out.

With the plans, if you didnt understand them, you should have got someone who does to explain them to you.

Al

Originally Posted by makka619

I should have known that a line there meant that he was installing a wall. I should probably study building before hiring someone.

At least I know now that if I am told it can be done one way, and they decide it is easier to change it, they will not bother telling me to see how I feel about it or work out a solution.

Originally Posted by apricotripper

Curious. How much is he asking for the whole lot ?

$1215

He was not going to give me those plans. I asked for a written quote and description.

He would not have told me of the change.

Originally Posted by silentC

OK, well with the cup hinges used on the doors, there's no way really it could have been done any other way. You would have had a strip down there at least 100mm or so deep to take the hinges anyway, or some contrivance up the top to take the top one at least. In either case, fiddly and flimsy and far from perfect.

To be honest, I think it would seem strange to have that void behind the middle door. It needs to close against something or there would be a gap that you could see between the door on the left and the middle door.

Two doors instead of three might have been better. But can you explain why you have an issue with the partition in the first place? Personally I can't see the disadvantage in it being there.

Well you know how I feel about it, it's what I wanted, and what I asked for. He said yes.

The builder said yes I could have done it the way I wanted if we changed a couple of dimensions.

So there you go, if only i knew.

Damn me and my chatter in tech studies.

Originally Posted by silentC

Well, your original question was "what do I do".

Your options are:

1. Live with it
2. Refuse to pay the balance and get him to come up with a solution that you both agree to
3. Rip it out and get someone else to do it

Apart from venting steam over it, I can't really see what other option you have. If it was me and I was that upset about it, I would fix it myself. Been there and done that, you know "if you want it done properly you have to do it yourself".

Thanks silentC.

Macca,
It's a lesson that's hard in the learning but the reality is, unfortunately, if you want something done the way you want it then you have to do it yourself. That way, when it turns to s**t, you have nobody to blame but yourself.

You'll see dire warnings on this forum about messing with stuff that needs a licensed tradesman - especially electricity. <O
In those situations you really have little choice, but the problem is that if it was just hooking up the wires or the pipes or taps, where they have the expertise, correct tools, and relevant certifications, then you have to accept that what they do is as good as it gets.
BUT what happens when these "specialists" have to turn their hands to another skill, to complete the job?
<O
That's when the plumber resorts to hammer to bash a hole in the bottom of your cupboard to get to the pipe he's just cracked while trying fit a compression fitting.<O</O
That's when the “sparky” uses any old bit of bent up metal he can find rattling around in his truck to complete a difficult ceiling fan installation, and so on.
<O</O
It's been my experience that most of these specialists make up their mind what they are going to do within a very short time after seeing the job. You can stand there for as long as you like explaining exactly what you want, and why you want it, but it makes not the slightest bit of bloody difference because they are not listening.
<O
That's why I have a driveway that slopes the wrong way<O
That's why I have house extension slab that is 10 mm lower than the original and which, by the way had to boxed up three times because the bloke didn't know what a right angle was.
That's why the cupboard doors open the wrong way and the drawers are on the wrong side of my computer desk.<O
That's why our air conditioner didn't work correctly for nearly two years because of over gassing.

Oh, and you got an additional problem - you're a woman!! So what would you know? (SWMBO just threw that in)
<O
I've probably offended all the tradesmen on this forum, but fair dinkum, you blokes are your own worst enemy, and if the caps fits........<O
<O
Ian<O

Originally Posted by Ian Smith

<o></o>
I've probably offended all the tradesmen on this forum, but fair dinkum, you blokes are your own worst enemy, and if the caps fits........<o></o><o></o>
Ian<o></o>

Hey...... you havent insulted Bricklayers.....I feel left out..
And I didnt need my wife to tell me that either..

Al

Originally Posted by Ian Smith

.................I've probably offended all the tradesmen on this forum, but fair dinkum, you blokes are your own worst enemy, and if the caps fits........<O....................

Cap doesn't fit me
It is possible to get exactly what you want. You just need:
1)The ability to comunicate exactly what it is you want. In building this is best accomplished with detailed plans and a written scope of works.
2)A good tradesman.

Now a lot of you are going to say that number 2 is very hard to find, and I'll agree with you there, but very few people have got the clear, precise and concise communication happening either.

Makka,
I'm sorry you had to find out some things the hard way. Hopefully using this forum will help you avoid a lot of pitfalls. Unfortunately you've also found that a lot of trademen are dismissive of women. That's totally inexcusable (and very poor business). What the builder is saying about it being possible is correct, but if it was my job it would cost you more to do it in one piece ratehr than two. Less materials but a whole lot more drama and onsite work. I'm a carpenter by trade but have been building cabinets, on and off, for about fifteen years.

Mick

Originally Posted by Ian Smith

Macca,
<O
I've probably offended all the tradesmen on this forum, but fair dinkum, you blokes are your own worst enemy, and if the caps fits........<O
<O
Ian<O

Shocking tradesman make me look good and ensure that i get lots of work, the times Ive gone to a quote and had the owner say " that's highway robbery" or something to that effect, then had to go back three weeks later and fix a poor job and charge more.

After that happens I have a customer for life. I love it when tradies do poor work, rip off clients, don't do whats asked. Because of them I can work as much as I want, for as much $ as I want. I have customers who will wait 2-4 months for a bathroom reno because they won't even ask another plumber.

Originally Posted by Ian Smith

. but it makes not the slightest bit of bloody difference because they are not listening.
<O
That's why I have a driveway that slopes the wrong way<O
That's why I have house extension slab that is 10 mm lower than the original and which, by the way had to boxed up three times because the bloke didn't know what a right angle was.
That's why the cupboard doors open the wrong way and the drawers are on the wrong side of my computer desk.<O
That's why our air conditioner didn't work correctly for nearly two years because of over gassing.

<O

I've probably offended all the tradesmen on this forum, but fair dinkum, you blokes are your own worst enemy, and if the caps fits........<O
<O
Ian<O

Don't know............. but maybe they pick up on the attitude.

Maybe I've just offended all the grumpy old men on the forum..if the cardigan fits...

Listen mate,
When you're on my property, spending my money, you'll bloody well do what I want, and if you can't you can take the time to tell me why. What's so hard about that ??

I didn't start out grumpy... so called tradesmen made me that way

Ian

Hmmmmm. Do lots of work for little old ladies and hot divorcees....

or drill sargent up here.....

Serious bloke, you look after tradies- they look after you,

Any tradies who think it's good to pull one over the ladies well. IMO if your in with the lady of the house your set for life. As most of us know Its not a joke that women make alot of decisions in the house with most of us boys flogging our souls all day and night to keep up with the bills, that includes repairs. If a lady likes your work you can be assured of one thing, she will tell everyone she knows about it, and vice versa