2 days ago a contractor called about layout for the new concrete deck around the Westin Hotel Pool. It's about 2 1/2 acres of pool and 6 acres of decks.
I go right out to meet on the site. It's all compound and reverse curves with kidney shaped islands around the existing palms. I figure about 100 points to set. I say I need a few hours with paper plans but if you have digital that will save a lot of my time and your money.
Late last night the plans came in. I look them over and called the contractor to say I'll be there this PM. "Well, we couldn't wait, so one of my guys is laying it out himself".
You should not feel bad about it. There are many construction people who can lay out anything with little including spirals, compound curves etc. They do it everyday on the job off of paper plans.
If you don't do this everyday on the job, then you are limited in lay-out to others.
Though having the digital is very nice and makes it easier.
And I don't want to hear your whine either.
Come on...you are in the Virgin Islands ... Get with the program there.
If you wait... they will be calling, when it is all a mess!
🙂
N
> ... "Well, we couldn't wait, so one of my guys is laying it out himself".
Sorry you missed out on the work, but this sounds like a job that will be all right as long as it looks about right. The question I have is whether the "contractors guy" will end up doing this more efficiently than you would have.
yeah, he is going to scale off the print, use a 100' stanley tape and a helper, while he drags a screwdriver across the sand. It'll look beautiful when it's all done.
Like others said...wait for the call then double your price.
Great advice for the ego, horrible advice for business.
".wait for the call then double your price."
Why is it contractors think they are smarter than everyone else. I am doing two different construction jobs and on both jobs, I have issues with a contractor(s). They basically throw out the plans and adjust to what they "THINK". I don't argue, but state that I won't be apart of it. One lowered the whole building for some unknown reason and luckily mentioned it to me. Even the Construction Supervisor had no clue that it was lowered. Luckily or I would of staked all the curb and gutter off by 6 inches higher. Then another one didn't like the parking lot design so he was changing the design and I basically left it to the Supervisor to make the call and ended up staking to the plans. I guess if you are in construction, you are smarter than everyone else.
Playing devil's advocate here....
So there's pretty plans with dimensions on compound curves, etc. Right? And you planned to comp them in and stake them according to plan to the nearest 0.04'.
Contractor lays them out on his own. It ends up looking impressive, but it's not exactly to plan.
Who's going to check if it's exactly to plan, and more importantly, who cares?
Just because some arkeeteck can produce a plan that is to the nearest 1/8" and we can stake it out to the nearest 0.01', doesn't mean that it can't be built without us. Some of the most impressive structures were built centuries ago without computers and GPS.
Sounds like those contractors are not very smart by hanging their butts out in the wind like that. I know of a contractor who did crap like that all the time. After three of four projects where he had to rip up what he did and rebuild to plan or not get paid, he's no longer in business anymore.
Well, remember, those plans (oftentimes) are JUST concept. They have no real value, in their specifics. How many times have you gotten a set of plans with loads of errors on them? Release a dwg for the surveyor, to exactly follow? Suicide!
Just thinking out loud here.
N
