Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jun 26, 2009 10:22 am So I'm renovating at the moment and coming across a couple of instances where the builder asks me how I'd like something ... then basically comes back with "but the way you want is harder" ... and some of my choices are therefore irrelevant. eg. internal door slider - I wanted to re-use an existing door ... builder says not a problem. They then talk to me again saying door is not quite standard, therefore the door cavity thing would have to be adjusted - apparently possible, but of course takes more work ... I'm really not THAT fussed about re-using the door or not ... but I'm really unsure when it is just them taking the easy way out! another example ... tiling ... I'd like the tiles to go in a certain direction ... builder is all agreeable ... but then says it would be better to go the otherway because it is easier ... once again ... do I insist on my selected tile pattern? or trust that the easier version is actually the better version? Re: When to insist on my way vs the easy way? 2Jun 26, 2009 10:30 am Hi! How much experience do you have when it comes to construction/tiling? Sometimes they suggest a particular way of doing something because it's structurally more sound etc. I'd do some more research - perhaps take your plans to a tile place and actually ask them about tiling directions. E.g. floor tiles can be laid square or diamond pattern - tilers are always happy to do the diamond pattern but are more than happy to charge you extra for it The big question - will it affect the look/performance if you do it the builders' way? After 4 years - we're in! Re: When to insist on my way vs the easy way? 3Jun 26, 2009 12:18 pm If you really care about soemthing the time to insist on your way is now. If it doesn't really bother you the let it slide. We have an older house with 4 panel doors. When we did some renovations I put in cavity sliders. Like you, the doors were not the size for a standard cavity. We solved the problem by extending the size of the doors. It wasn't difficult. (not by changing the slider unit). Just means that the doors are painted instead of stained. If it is what you want insist on it. If it is for continuity throughout the house the insist on it otherwise the house will look a bit 'piecemeal'. Re the tiling, same deal. Tiles should not be structurally affecting the building but some ways of tiling are more time consuming, may have more cuts (therefore more wastage) or need a different preparation. For instance, the tiler who works with OH finds sand and cement hard work so charges more. So, it might just be more work or a little bit more cost. It may also be that your builder is using a tiler of more limited skill and the harder patterns are too difficult (good tilers are very hard to get). The short answer is, if it is going to bug you, the time to insist is now, before the work is done. But be realistic that what you want falls into your budget Re: When to insist on my way vs the easy way? 4Jun 26, 2009 1:26 pm you can insist at any time, but doing things the harder way is often more expensive so find out what it will cost to adjust the frame and fit the existing door, then price up a new door + fitting. If it is going to be cheaper to fit a new door then there really isnt any point going to the trouble of adjusting the frame for the old door. As for the tiling, by easier, the builder may mean the tiles fit better in a certain direction with less cuts, so weigh up whether this will look better having less cuts or whether laying the tiles in the original direction is important for the outcome and doing these things makes it easier to decide which way to go, but if you are the paying customer you want to be happy with the outcome but weigh up the different options so you can decide how you want it done and then tell them to do it that way. Re: When to insist on my way vs the easy way? 5Jun 27, 2009 1:11 am lucyshouse another example ... tiling ... I'd like the tiles to go in a certain direction ... builder is all agreeable ... but then says it would be better to go the otherway because it is easier ... once again ... do I insist on my selected tile pattern? or trust that the easier version is actually the better version? This sooo brings back memories for me! My reno's are just finished, but I got the impression very quickly that the builder wants to do it his way. That's fine, he's more experienced than me, having an option is good, but if you are gonna look at it for the next 20yrs or so, then you have it done how you want! Period. eg: position of toilet roll holder. I wanted it one height, he wanted it lower. I said no, it would annoy me that low, he said, 'what about little children?'...I don't have little children, their mothers can help them if any choose to visit.We're talking 80cms here! In the end, i just said put it where you want, so now when i sit on the toilet and use the paper it rolls out onto my lap! Guess what, he's coming back to move it! I will have a hole in the tile, but I don't care! It's the one thing in all my reno's that really annoys me. The moral here is: if you know it will annoy you or is outrageously expensive, DO IT YOUR WAY! And I found out it's the really small things that bug me, like position of light switches and whether downlights are in line with each other ....don't know why tho'!! Anyone got any ideas what I can put over the hole in the tile? Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck! - Dalai Lama Re: When to insist on my way vs the easy way? 6Jun 27, 2009 1:57 am stressedout did have any tiles left over that match? you can carefully chip out that tile and replace it or if the tiles are still available you'll be able to get one to replace it Re: When to insist on my way vs the easy way? 7Jun 27, 2009 2:02 am piscean stressedout did have any tiles left over that match? you can carefully chip out that tile and replace it or if the tiles are still available you'll be able to get one to replace it Yes, lots left over, but i'm thinking of money! Cost too much to get tiler back to do it, and I wouldn't dream of doing it myself in case i stuffed up more around it! Was thinking maybe something blingy or a sticker. I have a polished rock i stole from the beach in Nice, so maybe stick it there...memories for me! Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck! - Dalai Lama Re: When to insist on my way vs the easy way? 8Jun 27, 2009 2:39 am it's easy to do yourself especially if it's just one tile, all you need to do is carefully chip it out without damaging the surrounding tiles, clean out the surrounding grout and put some tile adhesive on the back of the new one and push into place, you can usually just use matchsticks as spacers until it sets, then regrout around the tile, as long as youre careful not to break any surrounding tiles it really is such a small fix up. couldnt the builder do it for you when he comes to move the toilet roll holder? He might not be keen on coming back to grout one tile so you could ask him to leave you some matching grout and grout it yourself (only a 2 minute job) Re: When to insist on my way vs the easy way? 9Jun 27, 2009 2:34 pm piscean it's easy to do yourself especially if it's just one tile, all you need to do is carefully chip it out without damaging the surrounding tiles, clean out the surrounding grout and put some tile adhesive on the back of the new one and push into place, you can usually just use matchsticks as spacers until it sets, then regrout around the tile, as long as youre careful not to break any surrounding tiles it really is such a small fix up. couldnt the builder do it for you when he comes to move the toilet roll holder? He might not be keen on coming back to grout one tile so you could ask him to leave you some matching grout and grout it yourself (only a 2 minute job) Not keen on that idea! The tiler broke one tile and the mess and 'hard' work he had to do to get it out was amazing! Not going there! I'm thinking I'd have to pay for a bag of tile adhesive, a new lot of the special colour grout, his time in $$$'s to get it out...per hour would not stack up for the money involved for 1 tile! The rock from Nice is sounding a lot cheaper, but thanks for the thoughts! Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck! - Dalai Lama Re: When to insist on my way vs the easy way? 10Jun 27, 2009 8:43 pm no problem stressed, if it were me i would just do it myself, especially if I had plenty of tiles leftover because you can save a lot of money doing small jobs like that yourself when you dont involve tradies. I've replaced broken tiles at my house and it wasnt very hard so thought I'd suggest it. Re: When to insist on my way vs the easy way? 11Jun 29, 2009 10:56 am I have ZERO building experience or knowledge ... and the builder knows it!!! So when he tells me this is the way it is done ... I really have very little ability to argue with him. He was telling me about certain floorboards having a warp in them and that we can't use a certain type of wood (baltic pine) ... which ... I'm now thinking is a load of crap (and he's trying to do it cheaper as he made a mistake and thought there was less floorboards to put in). I do have an architect - who I thought would help me with these things ... the reason for having the architect in the first place (didn't need him for the design!) ... unfortunately the architect is completely and utterly useless and is causing more delays than helping. StressedOut This sooo brings back memories for me! My reno's are just finished, but I got the impression very quickly that the builder wants to do it his way. That's fine, he's more experienced than me, having an option is good, but if you are gonna look at it for the next 20yrs or so, then you have it done how you want! Period. And I found out it's the really small things that bug me, like position of light switches and whether downlights are in line with each other ....don't know why tho'!! I found a new little thing ... the first window went in last week ... and I realised that the window doesn't match the style of the existing windows ... they have these sort of decorations at the bottom of the top sash window. Now I'm worried that ALL the windows are going to be missing this ... and I didn't even know to point it out before (&#$%^ architect!!). Good luck with your toilet roll holder ... it would certainly annoy me that every time I used the toilet it wasn't where I wanted!! But it is knowing when that thing is worth insisting vs not!! And I'm worried I'll realise too late! Thanks for all your advice ... off to hassle the architect again! Re: When to insist on my way vs the easy way? 12Jun 29, 2009 2:23 pm I think the decoarations you are meaning are the little filials (sp?), we have those too and I'm pretty sure you can still buy those and add them (before painting) You can use baltic pine for flooring but it is quite a soft timber so is suitable if you dont mind seeing a few dents and things over time. It suits if you like the older 'rustic' look DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair I mean, I install them/sell them for a living so I haven't done DIY, unless you count the first one I installed lol. (electrician by trade). Usually a 6-8 hour job for… 3 39579 Yeah mine about 9 metres long and 8 wide with slope of 25% at one point but the end point of the outlet is past the side of garage and if he concretes allowing for… 4 3571 4 7194 |