Radiant Web Site II

radiant

Man your right what a post! you are right there is no regulation in our industry in all of construction as a matter of fact, it's not right to compare it to things that are regulated like doctors,lawyers,accountants etc. So what a novel idea let's put the tools in the hands of the homowners and let them straighten us out.

Labor IS the biggest cost so if these people want to save money sure they should do it themselves oh! oh! oh! what an idea get this you know what is even easier than running tubing- pulling wires, residential electric is so simple you could easily train these people to rough there own wiring before they get to the heating nothing but home runs and jumps and those new fangled plastic boxes with the nails already in them. Wow, you know what I just thought of now, I framed out my entire basement myself without a carpenter do you know how easy it is to cut and nail in
2x4's one trip to home depot a hammer and a skill saw and you could easily help these people right from the get go and talk them through framing the house... talk about labor savings!!!
(gee,I hope that doesn't set of a big debate on framinghelp.com about homeowners doing there own work)

Let me tell you there is nothing easier than insulating you could talk them through that in ten minutes or less.. a razor knife and a tape measure ah, you don't even need the tape. Come to think of it even finish work is simple did you know all you have to do to tile is spread out adhesive and then stick the tiles to it, and you can rent a wet saw at home depot to really make life easy.

The ideas are flowing I could go on for ever, you are going to make some people happy with all of this labor savings and... Oh wait a minute if there spending all there time doing this simple labor stuff then they can't do there job and they won't have the money to buy all the materials. Let say the guys a lawyer and if he's not working people like us won't be able to......oh yes! we can we can do what they do! we can take care of our own legal problems. You know what Chris this would be perfect for you!.....YOU DO KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT A LAWYER WHO DEFENDS HIMSELF........

Chris Maderia

Radiant Web SIte II

Wow. When I decided to post this thread, I did not expect to receive so much feedback. This has been the best debate I've seen on this site in a long time. I would like to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to share your comments and thoughts. While each of us have different opinions on this subject, we all have the same thing in common. We care about our industry and strive not only to make it better, but also to better ourselves.

The comparisons that some made to other industries while valid are not a really good comparison in my opinion. Those industries are much better regulated and set to a higher standard. This is a shame. Most of those have some type of organization that monitors or regulates them. Here in Connecticut we don’t even have enough state inspectors to police the non-licensed contractors out there doing fly by night jobs at such low cost and hurting our market or the hacks out there giving out industry black eyes. Those other industries have a standard code of ethics that they must adhere to or lose their license. They have organizations that have the means and the manpower to investigate and punish those that violate their standards. We do not. So what we are left with is to take care of ourselves, make are own set of ethics based on our individuality and fight for everything we have. Not fair.

While that vast amount of knowledge each of us has and paid for in one way or another should be given at a cost, we at the same time cannot just sit back and let those without the knowledge cash in at our expense. We each have to come up with our own ideas to make our industry better to the best of our ability. This is what the web site focus will be about. The most important people to all this is the contractor and that is why I asked for your opinions.

If at anytime you have an idea or question, please feel free to e-mail. Again, I wish to thank each and every one of you that took the time out to share your opinion. I have saved every e-mail that was sent to me and you can feel assurred that all your ideas will be taken.

Remember, “We are not out to win each battle. We our out to win the War.”


Respectfully,

Chris Maderia

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Not surprising that...

...most of the arguments made have some real validity.

Restrictions and regulations almost always have a luster that seems to dull rapidly when you wonder, "restricted to what and excluding whom." While I understand "this is my bread and butter, I know my work and I've got to protect my livelihood" there are major problems.

When such occur primarily at the local level they tend to result in the stifling of innovation and competition. Cozy relationships form between those administering the system and those implementing it--such relationships are completely self-serving and often result in severe corruption and the destruction of change.

National regulations and restrictions try to solve some of this but wind up with a new problem. Manufacturers of new products lobby national authorities HARD to have their new widget made into a REQUIREMENT. Unfortunately the requirements can be of dubious utility on such a large, blanket scale and the only real winner is the manufacturer. EVERYONE who pays the bill winds up being FORCED to foot the cost for something that may or may not be of any benefit whatsoever to them--only some.

Taken to the extreme, one serves only to protect the trade from competition; the other only to protect profit margins of manufacturers. Unfortunately, both of these extremes are more common that many who are involved are willing to admit.

The internet seems to be in a void in between these extremes. Its nearly unlimited supply of "free" information requires something lacking in most of us some of the time--good judgment. Those with a vested interest in selling a product count on this. By claiming that "we'll do the design work for you and make a difficult task easy" they pray that their customers will make snap judgements based on what they "want" to hear in the first place.

The problems and solutions are all deeply embedded in human nature itself. That perfect balance between socialism and capitalism is fleeting.

Chris Maderia

That is not the point

of the web site. The point is to provide accurate information, assist in finding them qualified contractors and providing them with the right tools to make the CHOICE that they want to make. If I can change one DIY's mind into not doing it himself or that he really needes to find a contractor before he purchases or installs material then I've done something good for the industry. It's up to the individual homeowner if he wants to save some $$ and install the tubing himself. Nobody is demanding that you take the job. But guess what, if you cared about his situation or demands and you'd work with him so he could have that radiant heat home I bet that homeowner would be the best bulletin board you could buy. If you don't do it someone else will just look at that post. There were a few contractors out there that do it.

heatboy

How do you propose.......

to fund this site, Chris? I think you have a good idea, but what's in it for you? Are you considering doing design work for these clients to support the site?

Warm Regards,

heatboy

"Expert in Silent Warmth"™

610.250.9885

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frank s

No disrespect

But you sound like a MORON! not you heatboy! this is for the post before Chris's