I remember my first big job. I remember it because it was the only job where I had to give the owner a free extra coat. It was a Thursday when we applied the last coat. I met with the owners the next day for a walk-through. I was so happy because it was Friday and I knew I had put on a great coat. So I was ready to pick up my final payment and start my weekend. The general contractor saw me outside shortly after I arrived; he looked at me, and I knew something was wrong. I said, "What's wrong?" He replied, "Did you see the floor?" I walked into the house to find two big puddles of dust right in the center of the great room. The room was more than a 1,000 square feet, by the way. I looked up and I saw two skylights. Evidently, the owner had scheduled the roofers to finish off the work up there the day we were applying the final coat. Neither the general nor I had any knowledge of that, because the owner never bothered to tell us. Or, as I see it today: I never asked!
This leads me to how other trades can mess up your floor without being inside the house. I took some photos of other trades on one of my jobs to show you where they "hide." I use the word "hide" because at times it feels like I am in charge of a big group of babies who have no understanding of how their work affects mine. As if it weren't hard enough for us contractors having to be responsible for the crawl space, moisture conditions, gutter and downspouts' existence, HVAC… Now we need to maintain full control of everyone else on the job.
The landscapers were up on the trees cutting off branches and down on the ground blowing leaves and dust. When I finish floors, I create cross ventilation with leaving the windows opened just about an inch.
The painters outside were setting nails on the siding, knocking dust off the walls, trim and whatever was there on the ceiling:
The job was done in phases. On the one side of the house the general put heavy equipment on the floor. At times there was nothing more than just paper underneath.
The general had subs working upstairs on the finished part of the floor. Windows were wide open and "expected living conditions" did not exist anymore:
So, now whenever we do a job I have a list of items I check with both the owner and the other contractors. It is a headache and it is a lot. But, at least I cover myself and I don't have to give anyone a free coat.
