What I Have Learned From My Remodeling Contractors

First and most Important

I love my contractors we have spent so much time together that I consider them family (perhaps a bit idealistic) they do amazing work but, from their perspective and what they do, they are not perfect (but who is?) They are, as best I can figure, 10 brothers working together.

When I say I have learned from them

I should clarify that perhaps not all of the lessons are positive. By that, I mean that some of the lessons are things that I would not or should not do; a counter-example. Still it is a lesson and I have been taught by my contractors that I should not do this (even though they ARE doing it ha)

What Have I Learned?

do not kick the can down the road

Deal with the problems when they arise. Put in that small amount of work now to avoid a larger task later on. I learned this one as a ’negative’ lesson from my teachers. As an example… the things that they will do working upstairs is to apply a skim coat of compound to the walls, paint them, sand the floors, stain the floors, and finally apply a second coat of paint.

Watching them, they are messy. Splatters of compound everywhere. Primer and paint, all over. My wood floors WERE in pretty decent shape before they started working on the walls. Now? not so much. Their attitude is that they are going to sand the floors anyway, why be neat? But the compound, the paint, the drywall dust, it gets all over everything. It gets tracked from one room to another. “Don’t worry, It will all be perfect!”

Lesson Learned

Work quickly but do not be messy. You don’t have to be clean or meticulous. If you do suffer a spill or a splatter, spend a little time to clean it up. Stop a little bit sooner at the end of your day and clean up a little. Don’t simply assume that everything can be fixed later on - maybe it can but the effort increases.

spending some extra time is not always a bad thing changing windows. refinished entire bathroom, but windows were not replaced
stop and reassess where you are; where you need to go do not just continue because you started your plans may need to change based upon what you see and what you find
keep the end in mind… and in sight beware the unexpected this can add cost and days to your existing project
You are only as good as the information you have
Perfect, the enemy of the good? (is it) sometimes… you can’t always go back and make it better
beware scope creep… it costs money!
the story of Marcos and Jorge Maintain a positive outlook have the imagination to see the end result

Have questions or want to share your own sysadmin story? Leave a comment below!

(I will set up comments eventually ;)