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Re: A Casual Survey: Homeowner GC'ing their job

and how often does it go badly with a professional gc?

mattmia2

2

Re: DHW Check valves

I too, have a gravity flow recir DHW system, 24/7 365, (My first transgression).

It has a swing check that allows the small trickle of return water to go into the bottom of the tank. An almost closed ball valve throttles the flow (another sin).

Instant hot water in the farthest bath. Insulated supply and return lines.

No pump, no controls, no electricity……I tell myself the cost of the previous items would offset the added NG cost…….❓️

JUGHNE

1

Re: A Casual Survey: Homeowner GC'ing their job

No, most of the time Homeowner GC never goes well.

Half way through the job they want to start adding things.

There may be some instances where a homeowner may be a excellent GC but most have no clue of the scope of the work installed or what needs to be done.

Who does clean up

who disposes of rubbish and rubble

They want to buy their own material but when the Amazon Junk or HD junk fails they want you to change it out for free.

If they supply the material they will buy the wrong stuff or it will not be available when you need it.

EBEBRATT-Ed

4

Re: A Casual Survey: Homeowner GC'ing their job

A home owner GC ??!

GC—— "But I saw them do it that way on you tube."

Contractor—— "I did too. Shall I invoke the "difficult GC / home owner clause in the contract.?" Since this is the fifty forth time you have argued this?

In other words. No F#%^@*G way would I take a job under those circumstances. The headaches and the risks are not worth the hassle.

Unless of course the relation between customer and contractor is rock solid. But that is a … well… then again. I smell a can of worms.

Intplm.

2

Re: A Casual Survey: Homeowner GC'ing their job

I always figured that if I built a house I'd hire contractors by the day, to give them the option of bailing without feeling too bad about it.

ratio

2

Re: A Casual Survey: Homeowner GC'ing their job

I've worked with many GCs over the years. The best ones are:

Knowledgable of the various trades, patient, well organized, have a sense of humor, accommodating, but also firm and assertive.

Bilingual is a plus, almost a must in my neck of the woods.

hot_rod

3

Re: Replacing an old/inefficient oil burner with...an oil burner (?) Or...?

Forget about peerless there just about done and will be ancient mayan history within a few years if that long . Spend the money get a ek and in the future either you or the next owner can switch from oil to gas being ek is approved for either fuel unlike most oil fired cast iron boilers. Also i believe that a ek may be set up as direct vent possibly so either chimney lining or direct vent . The other biggy is built in america off shelf parts and compared to most mod con boiler it does not have a 10 to 15 year life expectancy and should in all likelyhood out live most who post here and unless a idiot most can service there boilers that is if they are not clueless which is hit or miss these days . Do yourself and the next owner a favor forget about mod cons unless your system is designed for low temp the pay back will come just as its time to replace . One of the most important issue is tech service which i know from this site which the owner of ek watches is beyond the tops in comparison to larger boiler manufacturers ek gives you answers period and from my limited dealings with are on point . Forget about naviens disposable drive by boilers

peace and good luck clammy

clammy

4

Re: A Casual Survey: Homeowner GC'ing their job

Doesn't this really depend on the scope and complexity of the job? For instance, to actually build a house, let's say, on a vacant lot, there are many trades involved (including some Professional Engineering — or there should be) and the average homeowner would, in my view, be ill advised to be the general contractor. On the other hand, finding a good GC could also be remarkably difficult (to be honest, I can't think oof one in my area for a job of that scope, although there are a couple of firms for commercial work). On the other hand, for building a new deck, same (not all) homeowners would be well qualified. For some other jobs — let's take one I did a couple of years ago, installing a complete minisplit system for an apartment) is the company doing the insallation a GC? There are several trades involved — in this instance, a couple acting as subcontractors to the firm providing and installing the heat pump and commissioning it. Is that firm a GC?

Fizzy question. fuzzy answer…