school of hard knocks - what classes have you taken?

15 years ago

I use the term "School of hard knocks" when referring to Owner/Builders/DIYer's who have done something (and learned the hard way) that cost him/her money. It could have been due to ignorance, inexperience, laziness, sloppiness, or just generally having too much faith in the goodness of people: the result is the same--we/he/she/I lost money.

Just recently I started construction on my house; therefore I donÂt have any LessonÂs of Hard KnocksÂÂ.Yet!

IÂm hopeful that any classes I do take will not be very expensive.

The only thing I can share at the moment is; I wish I wouldn't have dug all those footers with a shovel. I should have rented some equipment, and not have been so tight. Never, will I do that again.

Tuition Costs: Lost time, lots of sweat, back aches. I did loose a few pounds though!

Anyone care to share any of their educational experiences and how much their tuition costs were?

I would rather get my education at your expense, than at mine. Ha!

Comments (7)

arewethereyet
15 years ago
Well, we haven't had too many problems. The Money Pit has been a bit difficult though. After the county approved our foundation inspection, and they were out to do the shear wall inspection, they noticed that there was no egree from the basement. Apparently, you need 10 sq feet of egress (window) to escape the basement in case of emergency. Of course, they didn't tell us that when it would have been pertinent.... First we had to excavate a hole right next to the house. I think it is 5' wide, 7' long, 10ish ft deep. Then we had a concrete cutter out to create the hole for the window. We hired my brother to line the hole with landscape bricks. When we *thought* we were done, we had to weld up a railing, and a ladder, and then have them powder coated. Excavator, concrete cutter, window, landscape bricks, railing materials, powder coating, and labor: more money than I care to actually find out. Hence the name: Money Pit.

I hate to admit the other one, but here goes. The guy at the HD pulled 2x4 door instead of 2x6s that I asked for. Then we installed them. We didn't even notice until I finished the siding and exterior paint! The door installation is still a puzzlement to me. I wish I would have hired the exterior doors out. We did hire out the interior doors. Ultimately the trim guy got creative and it didn't need to be redone.

Thanks for posting this question. The responses will be interesting.

Oh, one more: don't try to assemble an ikea garbage pull out on top of your newly installed laminate countertops....
bdpeck-charlotte
15 years ago
Lesson 1: Always use the right tool for the job - whether it's a backhoe, a good masonry bit, or a laser level. And if you don't have the tool, rent it or hire the job out.

Tuition 1: So many sore muscles, joints, scrapes, scratches, heat stroke, etc. etc.

Lesson 2: Ask at least 3 different people at the permit office what you need done to pass an inspection.

Tuition 2: Luckily, this only cost me about 7 days of time over the course of the build. Chump change in the grand scheme.

Lesson 3: A thorough and accurate set of plans can bridge the language barrier. Unless you're at the site 24/7 or enjoy having framers tear out lumber and do things for the third time, make sure your plans are what you want.

Tuition 3: A couple grand in lumber and a week or two of time during framing.

Lesson 4: When you think a 10ft basement is enough, dig 2 more feet and frame a dropped ceiling.

Tuition 4: No money, but it's touch and go on some of the HVAC runs in our basement ceiling.

Lesson 5 (and the most important): It's your project, not the workers'. Don't let any sub push you around, you know the vision of what you want and how things are going to work. If they say that it won't pass code... call the code officials. Only one time out of 10 did the code official say I couldn't do what I'd planned (a GFCI in my bathroom tile floor next to my clawfoot tub to run the jets and heater for it, so I built a little box instead). I flat out had to tell the HVAC guy that he'd do it my way or I was hiring someone else.

Tuition 5: No cost, just some aggravation till my wife reminded me that I know more about this job than the subs do.
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jasonmi7
15 years ago
Are you contracting or actually hammer-swinging?
flgargoyle
15 years ago
I haven't so much as driven a nail yet, but am ready to write my Master's thesis on the effects of the economy on my best-laid plans.
Tuition: About 40% (so far) of the equity I once had in my existing house.
Another one is asking too many people for their opinions.
Tuition: I'm more confused and conflicted than ever.
pam2007
15 years ago
Major Lesson Alert!

If you are a Genreal Contractor like my husband, DO NOT remodel your brother and sister-in-laws house. Very bad idea. It will leave scars. I hope it's over soon.....
phoggie
15 years ago
pam2007~~
This is exactly why my DH (architect and contractor) will not do work for relatives or close friends.....sorry to say, something always seems to happen that they are unhappy with. Hope your scars are healed soon.
pam2007
15 years ago
phoggie,

you are so right. There is always something they are unhappy with. We have been in business over 22 years and they have been the toughest client to work for EVER. I think this is the last time we'll be working for relatives.

school of hard knocks - what classes have you taken?

Comments (7)

arewethereyet

bdpeck-charlotte

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