Cabinet pulls- you can put tape where you want them. I drew my guy a picture :).

Countertop installation, backsplash, flooring- be there.

You mentioned your lighting re the electrician, have you planned your backsplash tile layout and how the outlets will fit into that layout.

Will you have the dreaded ' where to end the backsplash issue"?

localeater - Yes, I've planned outlets & tile layout. That said, I also planned a light over the middle of the sink and an OTR venting directly out its back... And, nope! I don't have the end of the backsplash issue!

Did you plan your outlets to be horizontal?

Well, I am biased, but every time I was not present or not fully knowledgeable when anybody did anything, they did something wrong. Drywall guys punched crazy amounts of holes in the waterproof membrane around our shower and used the wrong screws. Insulation guys stapled to the front of the studs instead of inside the stud bays and totally forgot to insulate a section. Asbestos abatement people made so many mistakes that I am definitely getting mesothelioma and also we had to buy new cabinets because they threw half the the ones we were going to refinish away.

I don't know how I'm going to swing it, but our next remodel, I am going to be present every single day and already know how everything should be done before it is done.

For sure, I'd want to be there when the cabinets go in. Since your KD made a mistake on the color, I'd want to be sure that what they are unpacking/installing is everything I thought I was getting. The right color, the right sizes, the right door style, etc.

Also to make sure the installers are lining up the right things with the right things. I'd even have a chat just before the install just to remind them what the lines are where certain things are supposed to align. My cabinet installer centered my range hood on the upper cabinet (the hood is a modern pull-out was hidden inside/underneath a much-larger cabinet), not on the range, and it still blows my mind that he a) did that, and b) then tried to argue with me that it shouldn't be centered on the range.

Ooooh no. I really shouldn't have read this. After being around all summer for our rebuild, I am back at work this week and feeling sooooo worried about all those decisions being made without me. I think I have my contractor trained, but am still concerned.

I stopped in almost everyday to various issues I may not have known about and some I was able to fix before too late. We trusted this GC for 6 previous projects but this was a nightmare for us and aren't on speaking terms with him now. If we ever do another project of this magnitude I will be even more vigilant. Stop home often.

What I meant to say in my OP, but forgot, is that my work is picking up again, now. I jammed a bunch of work into this week when I knew contractor & crew wouldn't be here, but (for better AND worse) I won't be able to be here with the same regularity for the remainder of the remodel.

bpathome - yes I did!

Jillius - all those things you mentioned in the first paragraph... I'd have no idea they were doing them wrong even if I were watching closely... I'm going to try to be around as much as possible, and, often, my work can be done on the weekends...

A timely topic. I'm genuinely interested in learning about the how and why of things, especially if there are decisions that could be made better per GardenWeb. On the other hand I don't want to tip into the realm of being underfoot all the time or seemingly second-guessing everything, which I appear to be doing in my plumbing cross-post about a point-of-use tankless water heater under the kitchen sink. And like you said Carrie, I'd have no idea if incorrect screws were used, insulation stapled wrong, etc. I don't know where to draw the line on trying to learn everything in order to confirm it's done right.

For folks who stop in daily, do you do that in the evening or during the day when work is going on (bringing appropriate pastries, lunches, etc. to assure fine workmanship)?

I would stop in around noon but rarely with treats. Things I discovered - light not centered over sink, vent hole not lined up where stove was going. He lost the very detailed cabinet pull plan I created and they were ready to drill holes. Wrong flooring delivered and he was going to install becaue he didn't notice the color or item number discrepancy (he placed order). After GC told me I was distracting he had his guys finish the ceiling anyway, which they had to pull out twice later because nothing lined up. I am still finding dust in new cabinets from the amount of sanding that should've been done before installation. Twice our fire alarm was set off and I got called at work - dust (alarm connected to call center). Our biggest issue though was twice our house was left open (windows with no screens, doors unlocked and lights on). I could see from a block away how exposed our house was and for that alone he will not get anymore of our business. We had many issues with a long trusted contractor. This is a 180 year old money pit and we are not DIY'ers so I thought I knew how to handle this project based on past experiences.

What Jillius said about things lining up where they should: My crew started installing the cabinets at the end with the trimmable filler piece, instead of the end with the corner cabinet. Needless to say, the corner cab didn't fit. If they had started the opposite way, they could have trimmed the filler (as the cabinet maker intended).

It seems there were several things that they asked me because I was there and I am glad they did. They would have placed the undercab lights at the rear instead of the front of the cabs. They would have positioned the plumbing so that I couldn't put my trash under the sink (I had to pull pictures off GW to show them it could be done!). Where to put the pulls, even which side of the crown I wanted at the top (I wouldn't have even thought about that if he hadn't asked me!)

Carrie, a lot of what they did wrong, I only learned about afterwards when the next sub showed up and couldn't do what they needed to because the previous thing had been installed wrong. (Like the insulation staples thing -- the drywallers showed up and had a harder time hanging with staples in the way.)

Or when my husband and I were gearing up to do the next step ourselves and read the manufacturer's installation instructions (which you usually have to follow or void warranty) and discovered that everything that had been done so far by someone else was wrong.

It was wishful thinking, I suppose, that hiring it out meant I didn't have to do the hours and hours of research so that I knew how to do it myself. I have definitely learned that lesson.

I would STRONGLY advise that you read the manufacturer's recommendations/installation instructions for literally everything that is going to be installed in your home (and call them for clarification when needed) and maybe also ask Trebruchet (Joseph Corlett) what to look for to make sure it was done right.

And don't allow anything to be installed that you haven't yet seen in person to confirm it is the right one.

That next sub can't do the work because the last did it wrong is the biggest issue. Even when I am home they frequently don't ask questions or even when they do, communication is imperfect....I would definitely be around to make sure that what comes out of the boxes is what you thought was ordered and to make sure that items are going in place per the plans...

This is interesting to me.

When we remodeled our master bathroom, my mother got very sick very suddenly. I flew on less than twelve hours notice because my brother and her doctors thought she might not make it. I stayed for two and a half weeks because she was in the ICU on a vent and my dad has serious health problems of his own. It never occurred to me to stop the remodel. If I had, I imagine my GC would have quit altogether. Dh was at work all day, and he wasn't the decision maker anyway. My sister in law was here watching the kids, but she knew nothing about what was supposed to happen and we certainly didn't expect her to supervise the remodeling work. (It was amazingly good of her to come and watch the kids for us.). My GC emailed me with pictures and questions. It turned out great (they did forget one outlet, oh well).

The original poster in this case has jury duty. My kitchen is being remodeled is not going to get you excused from jury duty. So is she supposed to call a halt to all work because she can't be there all day long every day?

Lots of people work jobs that don't allow them to be home all day on a regular basis. How do they handle remodels? What's the point of hiring a GC if they can't be relied on to supervise the work?

I think it boils down to the trust you have in your GC and subs. I acted as my own GC, but my cabinet maker recommended the electrician, so they had worked together before (and the electrician had the cabinet maker on speed dial when he had a question).

I was home for flooring install; I was home when the electricians arrived, we made sure we understood was what going to happen, then I went to work. DH was home the day cabinets arrived; most were installed the first day. There were a few things wrong that the cabinet installer took care of, and told me about later - like one drawer front that didn't meet HIS standards of quality, so he called the shop and had them make a new one. Knowing that he was looking out for me, and had that much pride in his work, made me feel pretty good about not being around for most of the actual work. Oh, I marked the locations of pulls with blue tape, and talked to the installers about them.

I was there for templating, but DH and I were on vacation for quartz install - not even available by phone. But the cabinet maker was on site for us - he came over before we left town, so he knew exactly how we wanted things laid out. A plumber friend hooked up the sink and DW before we got home.

I have heard horror stories - I'm sure we all have. A friend of mine special ordered backsplash tile, and carefully drew out exactly the pattern she wanted behind the stove. She taped the pattern to the wall, and went to work. When she got home, her pattern was crumpled in the trash, and the tile was installed in a completely different way. It took weeks to special order more tile to fix it (yep, she was livid).

Thanks, everyone.

A couple of things I want to clarify. I do have one day of jury duty - but this post was NOT asking what I should do about that one day. It was a more general question about which parts of a remodel are more likely to have on the spot decisions that I might want to be around for. Jury duty made me think of posting, largely because it's the first full day that I won't be around at all - and certainly the first day that I won't be reachable by phone - most people do have phone access at work. I wasn't even thinking about if I get selected to be on a jury...

As mentioned above, my work is picking up, so I will be around far less that I was in the preceding weeks. I do trust my contractor. He seems like he knows what he's doing, and he seems honest. That said, there was an issue with floating flooring, that he wanted to install under the cabinets - you all, confirmed by flooring manufacturer, which would not have been the right way to do it. During the times I've been here, contractor asked me several questions about how I wanted things. I had to tell the electrician several things. Plumber didn't know that sink drain was offset with trash pull out on the other side...

So, maybe these are all issues that contractor should have known/taken care of. But now that's he's my contractor, and remodel is underway, I want to know when I should try to arrange my schedule to be around, and when it matters less.

Big picture, work flow will ebb and flow, you'll be living with the kitchen/bath fix for years. Be there! crl lucked out that her gc used email effectively.

I plan to be here almost daily...but I already work from home 95% of the time.

With our kitchen, living/dining room remodel I have been here everyday. Worked with the electrican lining up can lights, stressing over wall color( painters loved it), trying to answer questions that the subs had…calling GC for answers…& the list goes on. I am so glad that I was able to be here. My biggest complaint is even with this chart that the GC gave us as to when things would happen..there were days that no one showed up or they showed up when I didn't know they were coming & we have a good GC. Be there if you can or at least drop by…also leave your phone number posted somewhere so they can call if there are questions & leave the layout pinned up somewhere for workers.

I wasn't there everyday. I work a 12 hour shift, though, and mostly on weekends so that did give me a lot of time there while work was being done. My take-away would be, to be there for any major installation (like to check the items for correctness and go over in person with the installer and GC written instruction on how you want something done like tile, or outlet placement). Then if there is confidence that those details are understood and agreed on, I would be comfortable leaving.

I was home when they installed the cabinets but I didn't know enough to see what they were doing wrong until it was too late!

I was home but I didn't hang out in the work area - it was sealed off with a plastic zipper door. As said above - installation of countertops (for sure!), floors & backsplash. I was there for electrical outlet decisions but didn't have the good sense to ask for low, horizontal outlets. Nothing came up but I'm glad I was there for plumbing fixture & light fixture install. I wasn't there the 5 days I served on a jury.

PS: As mentioned, I've been around for most of the remodel thus far - running out to the grocery store/errands, but pretty much at home.

Last week, after my new fridge arrived (and after plumbing rough in,) contractor says to me "this fridge has an ice maker, right?"

I said "no, it doesn't."

Contractor: "Oh, I had plumber put in a hookup for an ice maker. At least you've got the hookup if you ever need it. I bet plumber charged me for it."

I shrugged my shoulders. I'm betting, one way or the other, I will be charged for an ice maker hookup I don't need. Not the end of the world, and, presumably, not a lot of money. But still. My fridge is compact, and the fridge opening is small enough that it's doubtful that a fridge with an ice maker will ever go in the opening.

So, there was a bad decision that got made despite me being here (well, maybe I wasn't there at that very moment,) so I don't know that this scenario proves a point one way or the other. I think that sometimes, all kinds of decisions get made - a contractor has to walk that fine line between using his (or her) best judgement or contacting the homeowner about every little thing.

I do sympathize with that last... I had a boss once that used to alternately chastise me with: "Carrie, just use your own best judgement if I'm not around!" and "if you're not sure about something, call me!"

I had that boss too!

(The icemaker incident is exactly the kind of thing I have had to deal with.)

Just so long as the additional plumbing doesn't make it impossible to push the fridge all the way back it will be fine.

Practigal - in defense of that particular boss, I finally said to her: "Jennifer, sometimes it's hard to know if something is one of those instances where I should use my best judgement or call." She acknowledged that that was fair.

Yeah, I'm sure the ice maker hookup will be fine in terms of space - it looks tucked in flush with the drywall - but I'm assuming I'll be paying for it, and I really shouldn't be. But it's a small thing, and I'm not going to get hung up on it. But why wasn't I asked? I guess most refrigerators these days have ice makers, so it was a logical assumption, but it was not on the original plumber list - it got added on later, by my contractor.

Is it on the list you signed off on?

bpathome - it wasn't on the estimate sheet. There wasn't a separate list.

I would never have a client that hovered; if one started to do so, I would stop work and refund her money.

Often times, I have to make things appear much worse before they start to look like the finished product. My wife said her sister's obstetrician put her sister's guts on her belly during her son's Caeserian and no one second-guessed and everyone was fine. Same here.

Joseph - I believe there's a difference between "hovering" and being present and available. That, and just being in one's own home.

I agree with CarrieB. I have been in my study for most of the remodel & the workers have asked me tons of questions… some I could answer but others I had to call the GC. The subs have been wonderful explaining things to me even if I didn't ask. As far as "hovering", as long as I'm not in the way or taking up their time then it's my money that is paying for the work.

Carrie,

This was discussed in the previous kitchen thread but here is a real-life example in a historic house (although this looks like mostly new work and it's the realtor's stretchy camera):

Palimpsest - thanks. Interesting idea. I'll consider it for my next round of renovations!

Speaking of presence... One thing I've always heard on here is that we should be there for the counter templating. My KD emailed yesterday to firm up Monday's cabinet delivery time & payment.

I asked if templating had bee scheduled (I'm doing it through her) & mentioned that I've got jury duty on Wednesday. Her response was "Darn, I have the template set up for Wednesday. Should I change it to Thursday? You don't have to be there but you can be if that makes you more comfortable."

I responded that, yes, I do want to be here, & Thursday is good.

Edited to add: this morning, handsome plumber sub is coming to work on my shower pan. :)

Is it odd that my KD said I don't need to be here for templating? I expected a big flurry of concerned responses to that.

I wasn't there for templating. But I have carrara marble so there's not a ton of variation. (I have no seams and they laid mine out beautifully). I think most GW posters will say you really need to be there for templating. But I bet a lot of non-GW people aren't.

Thanks, crl_. I'm doing quartz, so am not worried about variation/movement, etc. What I was thinking, more, is placement of sink holes, sink location (as close to edge as safe/possible) and corner radii.

We are having a master bath remodel at second home in Fl. We were here in summer and tried to make all selections for tile and countertops and plumbing fixtures after we ordered the cabinets. But they just do things differently here. Fabricators don't want to store slabs for 3 -6 weeks before cabinets arrive and they template.

there was lack of communication about the permit needed before work started. It came a week or so before Labor Day and the guy who is doing the demo, tile/drywall, and painting wanted to start demo before we could get back to the house. We though "demo" meant just tear out--no problem...

But the plumbers also jacked the slab to close two old drains and set new drain for shower floor. It is going where the old soaker tub was angled into the back wall...one corner 4 ft, another corner 5 ft I to the room.

I thought we were going 4 ft deep...they set drain based on 5ft deep... That makes what I think is an overly big shower...but my husband wasn't that concerned.

now I am concerned that there is not enough pre-slope for such a large area. And that the drain might be set too low once mud bed is in and floor is tiled. Posted photos on Plumbing and Bathroom forums...see what you think... It passed inspection Friday but the inspector didn't do more than look at it because the flood test water was there.

i trust our electrical contractor all the way but there were still questions about placing recepticals and height for the new light fixture for vanity. Sometimes you can't have perfect...the new vent fan/heater's location means we can't all one of the cans we planned ...but it will be ok.

Carrie, my GC covered those things with me standing in my kitchen. I suppose being there for the actual templating would help minimize the possibility of miscommunication. I think it certainly doesn't hurt anything to be there!

I'm not seeing a huge benefit to having a homeowner on site for top templating. It should be straightforward.

crl_ - good to know. I guess the ice maker issue, for one, and then the fact that GC forgot to communicate offset sink drain & trash PO makes me think that sometimes my GC forgets to communicate some things, or mis-communicates them.

Joseph - when you say you don't see a "huge" benefit, do you mean that you see no benefit at all? Or that you see a small benefit, or a big benefit but not a huge one?

Incidentally, GC's sub/plumber arrived to do the shower pan. I had the shower pan GC told me to buy here waiting. Plumber saw it & said "Oh, I didn't realize, guess we won't use the one I brought in my truck." I do like & trust my GC, but there have been a number of communication gaps.

Carrie, that's frustrating. And I definitely have had some of those with my GC as well. I think he doesn't like to write things down, but with a bigger project (we did bathroom and kitchen as well as some other things), it's too much to remember. I can't see any real downside to going to templating and it sounds like you are set to have it moved to a day you can make.

Thanks, crl_. Yeah, so long as my KD can get it moved to the next day, it should work out fine. I also find the process really interesting to watch, I'm learning a lot. I don't want to be in the way, and in no way do I wish to micromanage, but being here to learn, answer questions, and also to have input when warranted is important to me.

Carrie, is that a pic of your cabinets waiting for delivery tomorrow? Pretty!

Atmoscat - yes! Delivery Monday.

Right, Monday (spaced out a bit there.) They look really nice!! Very exciting!