A GC is "supposed to" help you make good decisions,find and suppervise the trade people. In many cases a GC has a full time carpenter,painter and/or cabinet maker on staff but onley a few have plumbers,hvac,electrician or other licensed tradesmen. Unfortunatly many so called GCs are nothing more than cold callers drumming up business to sub out. You must first decide what you want then alow bids on it. Most places that sell floor covering,cabinets and counter tops either have installers or some they reccomend. Paint stores like Sherwin Williams are very helpful in assisting customers in choosing a painter. One should check a GCs refferances very close before hiring them. We would find it most helpful if you help us understand this statment. "I have started to look at counter tops and I am already frustrating in trying to make a decision."

jeanette10:

Please don't fall for any of the vicious stereotypes of general contractors as blood sucking leeches who victimize the unsuspecting.

A person in your situation needs to forget about specifics and concentrate on one thing only. Reputation.

Do not try to be your own general contractor. You apparently have no experience with coordinating trades and no leverage with subs. Contrary to popular myth, you save little or nothing hiring your own subs.

When you find your reputable GC, everything else, selection, price, etc., will all fall painlessly into place.

Sophie, I heard that yesterday, so if it's not a huge difference in price, I may get new cabinets. I am getting estimates this week. I wish I were more knowlegeable about all this. I like Neolith counter tops but I am wondering if I need someone experienced with this material.

jeannette10:

You only need someone experienced in satisfying customers unsure of what they want. No one has extensive experience with Neolith; it's too new.

That is what worries me. Do I ask the GC if he has someone who can install Neolith ? I don't want to be the first test case. The shop where I found Neolith says they have experienced installers of this product. How do I work this out with a GC ? Do I ask him to go through the shop ?

jeannette10:

I've never installed Neolith, but I've been to the Silestone distributor's introduction of Dekton, Neolith's sintered cousin. Were you to hire an "inexperienced" GC like me, with over twenty years in the top business, I would do all the research necessary to make sure the installation met all the manufacturer's fabrication and installation instructions. You would love it or you would not be charged.

Forget everything else; concentrate on GC reputation only.

Thank you, Joseph. The 2 GCs I am considering have been highly recommended by my neighbors but they installed quartz counter tops.
So, if someone asked you to install neolith, you'd accept the job ?

Make sure your General Contractor is licensed and insured in your municipality and state. Also make sure you know what you're paying for before you let them through the door. Do NOT pay your final payment until you are satisfied with the job. (That's not me being witchy.... but you sound inexperienced and you need to be protected)

Jeanette: What you should do with the two GCs is ask them if they've ever installed Neolith. Listen carefully to their answers. If they say "no, but it wouldn't be a problem," then ask them how they'd ensure they installed er the manufacturer's instructions. Listen for someone who says something like Joseph does.: acknowledges their lack of knowledge, but explains how they'd bridge that gap. If they blow it off and say "no big deal, I'll figure it out," then that's a red flag. Or just use the fabricator's people.

That said, I think you're too early to be talking to GCs. You need to decide what you want first. GCs in general aren't good to help you design something. Use the boards here to come up with a layout and finishes (kitchens board is best for this), and then once you've got your plan together, bring in the GCs.

Thanks, Weedy. I need to talk to someone about either buying new cabinets or refacing and painting the existing ones. It's not a major remodel. I am keeping my appliances. What I am looking at is cabinets, counter tops, backsplash. That's about it.

hi jeannette10, the person/company you are looking for is some one who has hands on experience as well as the other trades at there disposal. people who he/she works with all the time. you say you don't have a major remodel. although you may not be doing major construction you have a major remodel job. in as the experience needed makes it so. its important the person over see all activities on the job. joseph is right no one has extensive experience with neolith tops. remember anyone who says they know all doesn't know squat. I just looked up the tops. porcelain counter tops (new to me ) and ive been doing residential remodeling for 21 yrs. and in the trade for 35 yrs which doesn't make me an expert on new products. I hate when people give yrs. but im trying to prove a point. I can go on and on. one more thing. weedyacres said to use this forum I completely agree what I don't agree with is that gcs aren't good to help with design. the type of person you are looking for is the one who says I will meet you at the cabinet co, counter top shop, tile store not just give you a name and tell you to go there and see so and so.

"So, if someone asked you to install neolith, you'd accept the job ?"

Yes, without hesitation.

I've got something similar potentially coming up. I was contacted by a homeowner's association regarding their stone entryway sign which is suffering efflorescence (rising damp making ugly streaks). They have deluded themselves into thinking a good pressure wash will solve their problem. It will. Temporarily.

They need extensive testing and several proposals, one of which would be a replacement with one of the sintered surfaces (Neolith, Dekton, etc.) I've never installed it, but I'm certain it's the right application here. Unfortunately, they're in denial and I can't do anything about that but wait. It won't be long.

joseph are you asking me if I would take the job with out hesitation ?? iam going to answer as if it was and if not im sorry. and to jeannette10 I hope these posts are helpfull. yes i would take that job without hesitation. joseph like you I would research the product myself as much as possible and everyone that is going to take on a project using material they haven't used before should also.

Ok, thank you all for the advice.

I met with the first contractor today and you were right, he thinks it would be more cost effective to get new cabinets. He had never heard of Neolith for the counter tops but I gave him the names of the 2 certified fabricators in my area and he said he would use the fabricator's installers. Does that make sense ?

We also decided to change the floor...don't laugh :-) and get a new dishwasher and lighting. I liked this contractor. He remodeled one of my neighbor's kitchen and she was very happy with him. Of course, we won't get his bid until the end of the week.

I am meeting with a second contractor tomorrow.
How many contractors should I contact ? I am already thinking I like this first one.
Now I have to decide on the floor. My neighbors down the street put in marmoleum and I like the looks of it. These neighbors recently sold their home and moved away, so I am not worried about "stealing" their ideas.

Hi - these articles on working with contractors might be helpful - everything from hiring to what to look for in a contract, good luck! Contractor Tips

jeanett10:

If you like the first guy and you have good references for him, pull the trigger.

I don''t know about allowed but I think in sucks and is nothing but SPAM. I bet if you clicked the link you would end up with a nasty virus

I clicked on the link given by Liza and it was very helpful. Thank you, Liza.

yup small flag still learning lol thanks

I am confused. I thought Millworkman was talking about Liza's link being spam. Did I miss a post that was deleted ?

How many contractors do you need to interview? If you're inexperienced in picking one, I'd at least talk to a couple more. What that will give you is context to judge the first. They may give similar answers as the first guy, which would help confirm that he knows what he's talking about. Or they may give different ones, which might bring up more questions to go back and ask the first guy. If they all come off as equally competent, then pick the one that is the best match for you with communication style.

I met a second contractor yesterday.

Not a good fit. He did not listen to me, talked about things that had nothing to do with my project, was argumentative, tried to point out the advantages of laminate counter tops and brought a catalog of very traditional wood cabinets even though I had told him I wanted contemporary euro-style cabinets.

Don't contractors bring photos of work they have completed ? This one said he had recently done a remodel in the style I like but he would have to go back to the customer to take a photo of her kitchen. He called her while he was with us to see if he could drop by to take a photo. He was to email it to me but I have not received anything.

I find this odd that he would not take a photo of his work when finished.

I am meeting a 3rd and last contractor tomorrow. I have the feeling that I will choose # 1.