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#4086 09/09/01 01:45 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
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pauluk Offline OP
Member
Just curious:

Do you guys have the same problems with builders that we have in England? Do you regard them, as we often do, with utter contempt for the stupid things they do?

#4087 09/09/01 02:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
Just as any other profession has good and bad, we've got good and bad builders.
My best friends and my worst enemies are builders.
I try not to broadbrush them, but if they do something really stupid I try to avoid them in the future. If they do something unethical, dangerous, or dishonest I hate them relentlessly.

#4088 09/09/01 04:39 PM
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Posts: 7,520
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pauluk Offline OP
Member
Fair comment. Obviously we have some good builders here as well, but I find that large numbers of the seem to be completely lacking in any common sense when it comes to electrical matters. OK, they're not electrical experts, but I just sometimes wonder how they can work around electricians so often and STILL come up with such crazy ideas.

An example:

I was working with a local builder refurbishing an old Victorian house. A wall light was to removed, and in fact it practically fell off the wall as soon as I touched it. The connections were so loose that they fell apart as well, leaving the bare (still-energized) wires sticking out of the wall.

Naturally, I pulled the fuse and went in search of the other end of the cable to isolate it. The builder's suggestion on how to save time?

"Just shove it back into the wall and I'll plaster over it!"

Hmm...

#4089 09/09/01 05:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,044
Tom Offline
Member
Pauluk,

That guy would fit right in with some guys I know here in the Mountain State. [Linked Image]


Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.
#4090 09/09/01 07:36 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
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pauluk Offline OP
Member
Quote
Originally posted by Tom:

That guy would fit right in with some guys I know here in the Mountain State. [Linked Image]

Yep, I gather from Virgil's posts that you often find some pretty shaky wiring in WV.

#4091 09/09/01 08:17 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
LOL!
the ..
'just make it work'

mentality is alive & well universally
[Linked Image]

#4092 09/10/01 08:02 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
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pauluk Offline OP
Member
Quote
Originally posted by sparky:
LOL!
the ..
'just make it work'
mentality is alive & well universally
[Linked Image]

Oh yes......

I've even seen a builder disconnect the main earthing lead to the rod - with power still on - because it was in his way, despite the warning tags we usually put on the clamps.

I wonder what part of "SAFETY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION - DO NOT REMOVE" he didn't understand?

#4093 09/10/01 06:16 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
I've had more service calls involving demolishion & sawsalls with builders, it's a wonder they walk away from some incidents.

#4094 09/10/01 07:58 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 1
Member
My pet peeve is when they take it upon themselves to do some of our work for us... like removing staples to change the location of a wire that was in their way...

That one really gets me... (I use my dikes for staple removal, avoiding contact with the cable... they use clawhammers, screwdrivers, whatever, and aren't so careful... [Linked Image] )

[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 09-10-2001).]


-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
#4095 09/11/01 06:43 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 58
K
Member
my personal peeve with the builder is the drywall hangers. no matter how far i push the wires back into the box they manage to pulverize them. i normally try to leave a bit of excess in the wall to compensate their ignorance but then that can be costly.
....i thought about connecting the temporary power to a couple outlet box to break them..!
ha! ha! any suggestions? ken m

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