NFT Article discussion: My Biggest Gripe: Fast Track Construction by Ray Thompson

[Robert Akin]

If you guys get a chance read the June article by Ray Thompson regarding fast track construction. When things go wrong and whos to blame. He hits the nail on the head with this one. It seems that all we do is fight the clock and get er done now. Most of the time it bites us in the rear.


Rob

[TFP Admin]

Here is a link to the article: My Biggest Gripe: Fast Track Construction - Column - National Floor Trends

Excerpt from: Ray Thompson I was met by the manufacturer representative, the floor covering contractor sales representative, the installer and the general contractor job superintendent. They all pointed fingers at each other. My job suddenly shifted from consultant/inspector to referee. I listened to each party. Not surprisingly they all explained why it was not their fault.

I am moving this to the appropriate forum for discussion of articles. Good find, Robert, thank you.

T
PS: I changed the title of your thread to reflect the article title

[Robert Akin]

Hey you are better than spell check. I am really starting to like this site


Rob

[TFP Admin]

Thanks, Rob, I really appreciate your participation here too. I almost forgot to mention (until now) that you can subscribe for free to National Floor Trends magazine. Just follow this link: http://www.submag.com/sub/VN?&pk=W.HOME

T

[Nick Arrera]

Good article .. Old news ..

[Darren Ramey]

I agree in principle to most of that article but the reality for an installer is that their opinion doesn't count for much. The simple truth is that the vast majority of installers are self-employed in name only. Most work for a shop in one way or another. If you wont do it someone else will. Fine you say? It's more complicated than that once you factor in carpet shop politics. You piss them off, and until you are forgiven you get all the shit jobs. I like the feeling I get from a job well done. That said I like the feeling I get from a full stomach and a roof over my head even more.

From the shops point of view, saying no to a contractor is akin to giving them the finger. Contractors are going to go with price first and who jumps the highest for them second. "The customer is always right" may just be one of the stupidest phrases ever coined but that doesn't stop the majority of them from believing it, even when they should know better. From a contractors point of view shops are a dime a dozen so why bother dealing with one that doesn't do as their told. After all who wouldn't rather deal with the company/person that at least seems to be trying the hardest to accommodate them? I am sure there are some contractors that are exceptions to that rule but there aren't enough around here to make a living off of them I can guarantee you. Most of them are living draw to draw and the floor needs to be down to get the last one. As far as he is concerned, any problems I bring him are standing between him and that weeks paycheck.

If I refused to install carpet to anything but manufacturers specs, I would have to find a way to spend late fall through early spring doing something other than flooring. Now I have walked off a job or two in my time but in general I try to make it work. I still take pride in knowing that the job is going to be done better If I stay than if I walk off and someone without a conscience shows up to do it.

The problem with the industry is the same fundamental flaw with the rest of the universe. No one is capable of looking at a problem from any but their own point of view. Wars have been fought for the very same reason. I doubt the flooring industry is going to find the cure for human nature. In my opinion the thing that would do the most good would be the manufacturers figuring out how to make products that work in real world conditions and not just hermetically sealed, temperature and humidity controlled environments.

Man, it felt good to get that off my chest.

[rgfloor]

Let's break down a good sized commercial job.

Architect---------Well connected, high dollar.
Designer----------Well known, expensive
Manufacturer-----Multi-billion dollar corporation.
Retailer-----------Million dollar a year company.
Installer----------One or two guys who may break 100K
GC---------------Multimillion dollar a year company
End User---------Multi Million $ company.

If there is any problem, who do you think among these seven entities can not afford to defend themselves? Who stands at the bottom of the pile?

Yet who is asked to go against Best Business Practices most often?

NOTHING will ever change until the manufactures REQUIRE that their products be installed with at least minimum standards. Until that happens (a cold day in ?) there are NO consequences for the players to meet standards. So everyone pushes until the little guy (installer) gives in and does the job "on a wing and a prayer."

Just a guess, but I'll wager that everyone here and most installers have taken a "bath" by doing things like this at one time or another. I admit that my education was to the tune of 15K, David Hunt admits that he was educated by the IRS, I know several others here were educated in one way or another. The important this though is that we learn! Don't continue making the same mistakes.

[rusty baker]

That is why I no longer work for retailers. I don't make as much money, but I can sleep at night.