Contractors

CONTRACTORS - #18

Trying to coordinate a building project is a lot like trying to herd cats.   Or maybe  it’s more like dealing with toddlers – except these toddlers have power tools and aren’t afraid to use them.

For the most part, the guys working on our project have gotten along and cooperated – with the exception of the HVAC guys.  I am intentionally not identifying the company here, because there are still a couple of things they need to do to finish the job and I haven’t yet gotten their final bill.  No point in shooting myself in the foot just to make a point.

We had such high hopes in the beginning.  This HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) company had a couple of good references from people that I personally knew.  Besides, they were the ONLY HVAC COMPANY OF ALL CONTACTED that actually kept more than one appointment.

Only one other even kept the first appointment, and I’d used them several times in the past.  They never showed for the second, though.

So I went over what we wanted / needed with the owner of the company.  We settled on a plan.  Then 2 days later, he called back, wanted to meet and had “re-thought” the proposal and had a better way.

That’s actually fine.  It’s very much a “design-build” project that is reworked as things change.  I should have heard the alarm, though, when the company owner went underground for a couple of days.

We eventually made contact, though, and the project started as agreed.  Staffed by Igor, who seemed to have a real chip on his shoulder because he was being asked to – GASP – install an HVAC system -- and his silent minion.

It didn’t make a lot of sense.  I would talk with Igor and his boss, we’d have a plan of action.  Everyone would seem to understand what was going on.  Then I’d go by to check on progress and it was as if the Borg had appeared and built some bizarre variation that we’d not even contemplated, much less discussed.

There needed to be a new duct that went from the den, up through the ceiling and a closet to the attic over the bedrooms.  We talked about where that vent would come out on numerous occasions. 

All of us.  Together and separately.  It would go by the bathroom door.  At one point, I got wind that Igor was going to put it in the middle of the hall.  I talked with him.  I talked with his boss.  Problem averted.

I walked in the next morning to see the vent in the center of the hall.

Similarly, the duct going up there wasn’t back against the basement wall where it could be hidden in a closet, but was put out so that it would be an industrial decorative feature in the room.  That had to move, and I ‘splained it to Igor.

Who moved it.  And cut the new electrical wires when he did, because they were in the way.

Didn’t ask the electrician, didn’t try to work around it.  Clipped ‘em right in half.

Then, when he wired the new system into the electrical box, he did it in a way that (according to the electrician) would likely have burned down the house.

You’re ahead of me.  Relocating would be a significant ordeal, too, though.

But we do have air conditioning again, and it does seem to work as promised and airflow is improved.

But that particular contractor hasn’t endeared me to their company for future business.