SevenQuestions: Tim Carter, Ask The Builder

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Seven Questions
2 August 1998

Tim Carter, a building contractor by trade, writes a column called “Ask The Builder” and has a site loaded with tips on fixing stuff around the house. The guy knows his nails, and how to avoid getting screwed.

1 What's one trick sneaky contractors like to pull on unsuspecting customers? Back to the 7Q index

Ahhh.....the easiest question is first! I call it "Run With the Money". There are two variations:

1. A contractor asks for a substantial down payment on a job for any number of reasons. The poor sap customer trusts him/her, hands over the cash and never sees the contractor again.

2. A contractor arrives at a job and works hard producing lots of activity. He asks for a payment and the customer gladly yields. More work happens and more money is handed over. The customer is feeling good because he/she still has money. However, believe it or not, there is still 50 percent or more work to do and only about 25 percent of the money is still in the hands of the homeowner. About this time the contractor pulls the famous disappearing act.

2 How many nails go into a 2,000 square foot, wood-frame home?

About 3,500 - 4,000 16 penny sinkers
5,000 - 7,000 8 penny common nails
8,500 +/- roofing nails
8,000 assorted finish nails

3 Since screws hold stronger than nails, why not build a house with screws instead of nails?

Installing screws is way too labor intensive. Nails work just fine for 95 percent of the tasks.

4 What's one totally luxurious item you'd add to your house if money were no object?

Hmmmmmmm....a toss-up.......radiant floor heating system or assorted granite countertops for the kitchen and all baths.

5 Say I want to be my own general contractor and hire subcontractors to build my house. What's the first mistake I'm going to make?

The first mistake will be assuming that the subs know exactly what to do when they show up. Almost all have difficult questions that require answers and you -- the GC -- are the Man with the Answers....or at least you better be. If you don't have the correct answer, they proceed full speed ahead using their own judgment, which often is wrong.

6 Name a home appliance you wish was never invented.

Refrigerators with ice makers: Jiggle the water line loose for any number of reasons and you have an expensive floor/ceiling repair bill.

7 What's the strangest thing a customer asked you to put into his/her house?

A single man once asked me to install two complete shower valve and shower head sets in the same shower but on opposite walls.

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		2 August 1998
Tim Carter, a building contractor by trade, writes a column called “Ask The Builder” and has a site loaded with tips on fixing stuff around the house. The guy knows his nails, and how to avoid getting screwed.
1	What's one trick sneaky contractors like to pull on unsuspecting customers?	Back to the 7Q index
	Ahhh.....the easiest question is first! I call it "Run With the Money". There are two variations: 1. A contractor asks for a substantial down payment on a job for any number of reasons. The poor sap customer trusts him/her, hands over the cash and never sees the contractor again. 2. A contractor arrives at a job and works hard producing lots of activity. He asks for a payment and the customer gladly yields. More work happens and more money is handed over. The customer is feeling good because he/she still has money. However, believe it or not, there is still 50 percent or more work to do and only about 25 percent of the money is still in the hands of the homeowner. About this time the contractor pulls the famous disappearing act.
2	How many nails go into a 2,000 square foot, wood-frame home?
	About 3,500 - 4,000 16 penny sinkers 5,000 - 7,000 8 penny common nails 8,500 +/- roofing nails 8,000 assorted finish nails
3	Since screws hold stronger than nails, why not build a house with screws instead of nails?
	Installing screws is way too labor intensive. Nails work just fine for 95 percent of the tasks.
4	What's one totally luxurious item you'd add to your house if money were no object?
	Hmmmmmmm....a toss-up.......radiant floor heating system or assorted granite countertops for the kitchen and all baths.
5	Say I want to be my own general contractor and hire subcontractors to build my house. What's the first mistake I'm going to make?
	The first mistake will be assuming that the subs know exactly what to do when they show up. Almost all have difficult questions that require answers and you -- the GC -- are the Man with the Answers....or at least you better be. If you don't have the correct answer, they proceed full speed ahead using their own judgment, which often is wrong.
6	Name a home appliance you wish was never invented.
	Refrigerators with ice makers: Jiggle the water line loose for any number of reasons and you have an expensive floor/ceiling repair bill.
7	What's the strangest thing a customer asked you to put into his/her house?
	A single man once asked me to install two complete shower valve and shower head sets in the same shower but on opposite walls.
Back to SQ index Copyright 1998, Thomas L. Mangan		>Back to new SevenQuestions main page