Interior Design and Redesign

Friday, July 07, 2006

Plumbers Can Try Your Patience

In a recent bathtub replacement project, I was left with some tasks at the end that had to be completed before the tub could be used. Normally my drywall man would have done this, but he had saved me from a dilemma late at night and I was in a hurry to get the tub ready for an out of town guest.

So I thought I'd pass on my experience by way of some tips:

1) Don't think that a tub replacement is an easy task and that it will go totally the way you want it to go. That's a very unrealistic dream.
2) Your plumber will probably arrive late.
3) Your plumber may take off in the middle of the project, saying he has to go get something from his office or that something is broken and needs to be replaced. It's amazing how many of these guys don't have the little part needed on their truck. Can it be they are actually going to another home to start a project, only to leave that homeowner mid way to return to you? Don't be fooled.
4) Your plumber will probably be gone much longer than he says he will be gone.
5) Your drywall or surrounding walls WILL get damaged.
6) Your plumber will probably tell you he doesn't do drywall very well, and you'll have to wait to bring in another guy to do that.
7) If it's late, the new guy might not stick around to wait for the drywall patch to dry so he can prime it (twice) and seal the tub and wall where they meet. You'll have to do that yourself.

I know things can come up and these types of jobs can be very time consuming. But wouldn't it be better to guestimate the time rather than promise you emphatically that the job will be done by a specific time?