[utilitarian]

Hi,

I need to replace one side of a wooden deck, which was damaged in
a storm. I've called 3 different contractors / carpenters, found in
phone book. Every time, I get an answering machine, leave my message,
and get no response at all from the carpenter. Obviously they are not
interested.

I am loathe to resort to the "handyman" types. They might answer
the phone right away, but I'm afraid of their quality.

What to do? Keep calling the real contractors / carpenters until
someone responds ?

Also, I noted a listing in the phone book for a "contractor referral
service". Does that sound legit ? Ideally I could call this
"contractor referral service", I suppose, tell them I'm looking for a
carpenter to do a small project, and they can refer me to a couple.


Thanks

[harry]

On May 31, 5:57�am, utilitarian wrote:
Hi,

� � I need to replace one side of a wooden deck, which was damaged in
a storm. �I've called 3 different contractors / carpenters, found in
phone book. Every time, I get an answering machine, leave my message,
and get no response at all from the carpenter. �Obviously they are not
interested.

� �I am loathe to resort to the "handyman" �types.. �They might answer
the phone right away, �but I'm afraid of their quality.

� � What to do? Keep calling the real contractors / carpenters until
someone responds ?

� Also, I noted a listing in the phone book for a "contractor referral
service". �Does that sound legit ? �Ideally I could call this
"contractor referral service", I suppose, tell them I'm looking for a
carpenter to do a small project, and they can refer me to a couple.

Thanks

Just do it yourself.

[Christopher Glaeser]

What to do? Keep calling the real contractors / carpenters until
someone responds ?

I've had good results using Angie's List.

Best,
Christopher

[ransley]

On May 30, 11:57*pm, utilitarian wrote:
Hi,

* * I need to replace one side of a wooden deck, which was damaged in
a storm. *I've called 3 different contractors / carpenters, found in
phone book. Every time, I get an answering machine, leave my message,
and get no response at all from the carpenter. *Obviously they are not
interested.

* *I am loathe to resort to the "handyman" *types. *They might answer
the phone right away, *but I'm afraid of their quality.

* * What to do? Keep calling the real contractors / carpenters until
someone responds ?

* Also, I noted a listing in the phone book for a "contractor referral
service". *Does that sound legit ? *Ideally I could call this
"contractor referral service", I suppose, tell them I'm looking for a
carpenter to do a small project, and they can refer me to a couple.

Thanks

if you are afraid of quality pull a permit it gets you a free
inspection, and have in the contract thet you dont pay until its
inspected, then just get the cheapest dirt cheap bid. Permits are
cheap insurance and free inspections have alot of benifits few use,
they protect you against shoddy work.

[aemeijers]

utilitarian wrote:
Hi,

I need to replace one side of a wooden deck, which was damaged in
a storm. I've called 3 different contractors / carpenters, found in
phone book. Every time, I get an answering machine, leave my message,
and get no response at all from the carpenter. Obviously they are not
interested.

I am loathe to resort to the "handyman" types. They might answer
the phone right away, but I'm afraid of their quality.

What to do? Keep calling the real contractors / carpenters until
someone responds ?

Also, I noted a listing in the phone book for a "contractor referral
service". Does that sound legit ? Ideally I could call this
"contractor referral service", I suppose, tell them I'm looking for a
carpenter to do a small project, and they can refer me to a couple.


I feel your pain. BTDT, got the T-shirt. They either don't call back, or
after the 'free' estimate, they send me an absurdly high write-up, for
simple carpentry jobs like replacing some panel siding, or reskinning my
dry-rotted deck. They clearly Don't Want The Job.

About all I can recommend, and what I am trying to develop the
motivation to do (no SWMBO here to nag me), is start calling the ads in
the local free paper for the 'semi-retired' guys, or the guys who say
'licensed and insured' in their ads. A good carpenter with a day job is
simply not going to be available. Trick is finding a good one with time
on his hands due to the still-poor (around here) new construction
market. For specialties, you can find moonlighting guys willing to do
small jobs on evenings and weekends. But for basic outdoor carpentry,
they pretty much need to be available during daylight hours.

--
aem sends...

[Smitty Two]

In article
,
utilitarian wrote:

Hi,

I need to replace one side of a wooden deck, which was damaged in
a storm. I've called 3 different contractors / carpenters, found in
phone book. Every time, I get an answering machine, leave my message,
and get no response at all from the carpenter. Obviously they are not
interested.

I am loathe to resort to the "handyman" types. They might answer
the phone right away, but I'm afraid of their quality.

What to do? Keep calling the real contractors / carpenters until
someone responds ?

Also, I noted a listing in the phone book for a "contractor referral
service". Does that sound legit ? Ideally I could call this
"contractor referral service", I suppose, tell them I'm looking for a
carpenter to do a small project, and they can refer me to a couple.


Thanks

If you use a newsreader to get to usenet instead of going through google
or some other lame-ass web based portal, your post will be seen by more
people.

The phone book is last century, and the people who advertise there are
no more likely to be qualified than the freelancers. In fact, I would
never use a contractor from the yellow pages. I don't want to pay for
all that advertising, secretaries, fancy company vans, and a big
carpeted suite of offices, only to have the owner, who actually knows
the trade, send me some punk kid trainee who earns $10/hr. but for whom
I get charged $85/hr.

There are only two ways to find a competent contractor: trial and error,
and word of mouth. I don't care if you're a hermit or you just moved to
town fifteen minutes ago, start asking everyone you know or don't know
for recommendations.

The best tradespeople work alone, and don't advertise anywhere, because
they have all the work they need from repeats and referrals.

[Peter[_14_]]

On 5/31/2010 9:53 AM, Smitty Two wrote:
In article
,
wrote:

Hi,

I need to replace one side of a wooden deck, which was damaged in
a storm. I've called 3 different contractors / carpenters, found in
phone book. Every time, I get an answering machine, leave my message,
and get no response at all from the carpenter. Obviously they are not
interested.

I am loathe to resort to the "handyman" types. They might answer
the phone right away, but I'm afraid of their quality.

What to do? Keep calling the real contractors / carpenters until
someone responds ?

Also, I noted a listing in the phone book for a "contractor referral
service". Does that sound legit ? Ideally I could call this
"contractor referral service", I suppose, tell them I'm looking for a
carpenter to do a small project, and they can refer me to a couple.


Thanks

If you use a newsreader to get to usenet instead of going through google
or some other lame-ass web based portal, your post will be seen by more
people.

The phone book is last century, and the people who advertise there are
no more likely to be qualified than the freelancers. In fact, I would
never use a contractor from the yellow pages. I don't want to pay for
all that advertising, secretaries, fancy company vans, and a big
carpeted suite of offices, only to have the owner, who actually knows
the trade, send me some punk kid trainee who earns $10/hr. but for whom
I get charged $85/hr.

There are only two ways to find a competent contractor: trial and error,
and word of mouth. I don't care if you're a hermit or you just moved to
town fifteen minutes ago, start asking everyone you know or don't know
for recommendations.

The best tradespeople work alone, and don't advertise anywhere, because
they have all the work they need from repeats and referrals.

There's another possible way. The OP indicated that this was storm damage.
There might be homeowner's insurance on the property. Even if the OP does not
intend to file a claim (damage might be less than the deductible or
unwillingness to risk raising premiums) insurance companies usually have a list
of "recommended" or "trusted" contractors they can refer him to.

[benick[_2_]]

"Smitty Two" wrote in message
news
In article
,
utilitarian wrote:

Hi,

I need to replace one side of a wooden deck, which was damaged in
a storm. I've called 3 different contractors / carpenters, found in
phone book. Every time, I get an answering machine, leave my message,
and get no response at all from the carpenter. Obviously they are not
interested.

I am loathe to resort to the "handyman" types. They might answer
the phone right away, but I'm afraid of their quality.

What to do? Keep calling the real contractors / carpenters until
someone responds ?

Also, I noted a listing in the phone book for a "contractor referral
service". Does that sound legit ? Ideally I could call this
"contractor referral service", I suppose, tell them I'm looking for a
carpenter to do a small project, and they can refer me to a couple.


Thanks

If you use a newsreader to get to usenet instead of going through google
or some other lame-ass web based portal, your post will be seen by more
people.

The phone book is last century, and the people who advertise there are
no more likely to be qualified than the freelancers. In fact, I would
never use a contractor from the yellow pages. I don't want to pay for
all that advertising, secretaries, fancy company vans, and a big
carpeted suite of offices, only to have the owner, who actually knows
the trade, send me some punk kid trainee who earns $10/hr. but for whom
I get charged $85/hr.

There are only two ways to find a competent contractor: trial and error,
and word of mouth. I don't care if you're a hermit or you just moved to
town fifteen minutes ago, start asking everyone you know or don't know
for recommendations.

The best tradespeople work alone, and don't advertise anywhere, because
they have all the work they need from repeats and referrals.



DITTO...Talk to your neighbors..Stop at the local lumber yard or contractor
supply place and ASK who the good ones are...

[willshak]

benick wrote the following:
"Smitty Two" wrote in message
news
In article
,
utilitarian wrote:

Hi,

I need to replace one side of a wooden deck, which was damaged in
a storm. I've called 3 different contractors / carpenters, found in
phone book. Every time, I get an answering machine, leave my message,
and get no response at all from the carpenter. Obviously they are not
interested.

I am loathe to resort to the "handyman" types. They might answer
the phone right away, but I'm afraid of their quality.

What to do? Keep calling the real contractors / carpenters until
someone responds ?

Also, I noted a listing in the phone book for a "contractor referral
service". Does that sound legit ? Ideally I could call this
"contractor referral service", I suppose, tell them I'm looking for a
carpenter to do a small project, and they can refer me to a couple.


Thanks

If you use a newsreader to get to usenet instead of going through google
or some other lame-ass web based portal, your post will be seen by more
people.

The phone book is last century, and the people who advertise there are
no more likely to be qualified than the freelancers. In fact, I would
never use a contractor from the yellow pages. I don't want to pay for
all that advertising, secretaries, fancy company vans, and a big
carpeted suite of offices, only to have the owner, who actually knows
the trade, send me some punk kid trainee who earns $10/hr. but for whom
I get charged $85/hr.

There are only two ways to find a competent contractor: trial and error,
and word of mouth. I don't care if you're a hermit or you just moved to
town fifteen minutes ago, start asking everyone you know or don't know
for recommendations.

The best tradespeople work alone, and don't advertise anywhere, because
they have all the work they need from repeats and referrals.



DITTO...Talk to your neighbors..Stop at the local lumber yard or
contractor supply place and ASK who the good ones are...

You might not have to ask. Most of these places have business cards
stuck all over the counter.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

[jamesgangnc[_3_]]

On Jun 1, 5:56*pm, willshak wrote:
benick wrote the following:





"Smitty Two" wrote in message
news
In article
,
utilitarian wrote:

Hi,

* * I need to replace one side of a wooden deck, which was damaged in
a storm. *I've called 3 different contractors / carpenters, found in
phone book. Every time, I get an answering machine, leave my message,
and get no response at all from the carpenter. *Obviously they are not
interested.

* *I am loathe to resort to the "handyman" *types. *They might answer
the phone right away, *but I'm afraid of their quality.

* * What to do? Keep calling the real contractors / carpenters until
someone responds ?

* Also, I noted a listing in the phone book for a "contractor referral
service". *Does that sound legit ? *Ideally I could call this
"contractor referral service", I suppose, tell them I'm looking for a
carpenter to do a small project, and they can refer me to a couple.

Thanks

If you use a newsreader to get to usenet instead of going through google
or some other lame-ass web based portal, your post will be seen by more
people.

The phone book is last century, and the people who advertise there are
no more likely to be qualified than the freelancers. In fact, I would
never use a contractor from the yellow pages. I don't want to pay for
all that advertising, secretaries, fancy company vans, and a big
carpeted suite of offices, only to have the owner, who actually knows
the trade, send me some punk kid trainee who earns $10/hr. but for whom
I get charged $85/hr.

There are only two ways to find a competent contractor: trial and error,
and word of mouth. I don't care if you're a hermit or you just moved to
town fifteen minutes ago, start asking everyone you know or don't know
for recommendations.

The best tradespeople work alone, and don't advertise anywhere, because
they have all the work they need from repeats and referrals.

DITTO...Talk to your neighbors..Stop at the local lumber yard or
contractor supply place and ASK who the good ones are...

You might not have to ask. Most of these places have business cards
stuck all over the counter.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

craigs list
but generally you are right, it's going to be a handyman sort not a
regular carpenter. Job is too small.

[Caesar Romano]

On Sat, 18 Dec 2010 09:17:22 -0800 (PST), Shaun Eli
wrote Re No Interest from
Contractors, Small Project:

I'm reasonably handy but needed help with a project. Found a handyman
in the yellow pages, checked with Consumer Affairs to see that he was
licensed as a home improvement contractor.

He showed up, did good work, knew what he was doing... I wouldn't
immediately discount handymen. I'm happy with the one I chose.

+1 on that. I've done the same thing and been happy with the results.
--
Work is the curse of the drinking class.

[Ralph Mowery]

"Caesar Romano" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 18 Dec 2010 09:17:22 -0800 (PST), Shaun Eli
wrote Re No Interest from
Contractors, Small Project:

I'm reasonably handy but needed help with a project. Found a handyman
in the yellow pages, checked with Consumer Affairs to see that he was
licensed as a home improvement contractor.

He showed up, did good work, knew what he was doing... I wouldn't
immediately discount handymen. I'm happy with the one I chose.

+1 on that. I've done the same thing and been happy with the results.
--

I hired a couple of 'handy men' from where I work. They do mechanical work
in the plant, but do lots of house type work for people. Most are very
happy with their work and so was I.

One place I was not very happy with was a place that does floor covering and
carpets. They had been in business for many years,but the work looked like
this was their first job.