On Jan 31, 5:44*pm, "Info" wrote:
"Pat" wrote in message

...
On Jan 31, 12:31 pm, "Info" wrote:



"KC" wrote in message

...
On Jan 29, 1:57 am, "Info" wrote:

I'm the wheelchair-friendly bathroom remodel guy. Here's the initial
"scope
of work" document I received from Tub Cove. This company is the
only contender because the others were too expensive too much rot. I
don't
think they
wanted my business and Tub Cove has specialized exclusively in this work
for at least
twenty years.

http://www.geocities.com/haroldshams...pe_of_Work.xls

I've been on project teams, coordinating work, but I have not been at
the
front end "SOW" part before. What do you think ? I need a more specific
document and will ask for it.

On other concern I have is the contract. At a minimum, I need to make
sure
he can restore the bathroom if a problem (I don't know how to put it)
crops up that makes the original plan unworkable. Suppose the wall
on the side of the tub gives way when he removes the tub? That will be
his obligation to fix, but I need to make sure I can make that stick. I
also
want a "not to exceed" amount in the contract.

Info,

Take what everyone says here with a grain of salt. I think the fact
that Tub Cove has been doing this kind of work for so long is your
best guarantee of success. You are not a pain in the ass just a
concerned buyer of these services. You don't want to make the process
more difficult or cumbersome than it has to be. Check references and
the Better Business Bureau for anything negative. Read the contract
carefully to see if your concerns are adequately adressed. Good luck
and I hope things turn out well for you.

KC
-------

Thanks. I am a pain in the ass. Ask my wife. I just don't understand
where those posters got their belligerence. I did nothing but ask a
question. But, just ask my wife.

"Too much rot" was horrible shorthand on my part. See me next post. For
what it's worth I had already checked the state's contractor database and
found no complaints. Tub Cove has the job for $12k.

Doing a work write up is sort of an art in it involves some
assumptions. *You are either assuming (a) that there is no concealed
rot or (b) that there is rot. *If there is rot, then (a) you are
either unaware of it or (b) you are hoping to hide it from the
contractor. *You want a fixed price. *So, the contractor can either
(a) assume there's rot and charge you a fortune (if there isn't rot,
then they make out like a bandit) or (b) they can assume there isn't
rot and lose money. *Which do you want?

So obviously, the best scenario is for the contractor to assume there
is no rot and charge accordingly while you assume there IS rot and
have enough money to cover that. *Then, if there's no rot you are
charged a fair price. *If there is rot, then they give you a change
order and again you are charged fairly.

The reason that people are viewing you as a PITA is because you want
the contractor (who didn't develop the scope of work) to guarantee
that there isn't any rot and price accordingly. *So for the
contractor, it's best just to walk away because it's the start of a
bad relationship.

BTW, I looked at the scope of work. *You really can't work off of it
but that's a completely different problem.

-------

1) The scope of work is too vague for me so I came here for opinions. *Why
do you think it's insufficient or whatever? *The contractor, Tub Cove, did
write the scope of work and emailed it to me. *Why do you say that the
contractor didn't write it? *I'm not criticizing you. *I don't know who
other than the contractor would have written it. *Tub Cove is the one that's
doing the work. *That's why I'm calling Tub Cove the contractor.

Can you elaborate about your the scope of work comment?

The scope of work would normally involve statements like:
"remove existing tile and substrate down to stud. appropriately
remove debris. remove existing water lines and reinstall PEX lines.
After plumbing inspection, install approximately 180 s.f.; 5/8th
"green board". Install "brand x, model y" tub in location of prior
tub with drain on the south side of the tub. Install "brand z, model
A" faucets at location "b" at a height of between C" and d". Location
to conform to ASTM spec XXX.XX spec for a handicapped accessible tub
(note, faucet location is not standard for a tub).

Sheetrock to be installed using 1 1/4" type W screws on 12" center.
Installation must comply with US. Gysum spec E. Finish according to
U.S Gypsum spec F to a Grade 5 finish.

Even installing something like sheetrock isn't a no-brainer. It is if
you all agree on it but if you want it one way and the contractor
wants it another, then you need a spec. For example, for the bathroom
are you using paperless sheetrock? You need to spec it if you want
it. What brand of paint? What finish and what color? Is the
contractor just priming it and leaving the final paint to you? Is he
using 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of paint or 1 coat of tinted
primer and 1 coat of paint? Is he installing an anti-bacterial
additive? What type of lighting fixtures? flourescent or LED? Who
is paying for the bulbs? What wattage? Who is ensuring that it meets
handicapped standards? Who is paying for lead and asbestos testing?
What brand and type of flooring will be used? How is the transition
from old to new being made.

The problem is that you don't know the answer to most of the stuff and
therefore can't spec it. The contractor is going to do it the way he
always does it and doesn't care about your spec. The problem is going
to occur 3 months from now when you see the final product and you
don't like it and there's nothing in the spec about what you wanted.

Here's what I would recommend. Forget doing a spec. Find a
contractor you like/trust. Go to a home store and find everything you
want to use -- faucets, flooring, sink, paint color, lighting
fixtures. Put it all on sheets of paper and incorporate it into HIS
spec. You keep a copy and he gets one, stapled to the contract. Get
a price and ask if it includes rotten and other "site conditions". If
so, sign it, leave and let him get to work. If not, ask him how much
you should set aside (extra) for rot and stuff, based on his
experience. He probably has a standard formula or s.f. cost for sub-
flooring etc. Let him know what you have set aside so that he can
work within your budget.



2) Please see my response to Nate Nigel. *I blew it by my horribly-written
phrase "too much rot" way early in this thread. *Nobody knew that when they
started posting, so all the observations prior to my post to Nate about the
contractors' rights are certainly valid. I understand that. There might be
rot behind the walls. *I don't expect perfection. *I'm just looking for ways
to contain the possible financial damage. *My "too much rot" was atrociously
worded. *I have no excuse for it.

I have only one question about the PITA stuff. *Those responses are venomous
personal attacks. *I don't understand the mindset that prompts them. *A
simple, "I don't agree because..." would have been sufficient. * *I have
many flaws, but I don't attack people *whose opinions I don't share. *Where
the heck does this venom come from? *That's the last I'll say about the PITA
stuff.

Thanks