Haven't posted on here for a long time, but after arriving on job to lay new wood floor just thought I would share this experience. I had had no previous site vist - first mistake - as job had been planned by supplier - who is no novice to the trade- and verbally explained to me with minor details and I expected to have to improvise as his attention to detail is somewhat limited these days. Job was at farmhouse being renovated, engineered 17mm smoked oak 2.40 planks part secret nail over existing boards part liquid battens to concrete level with boards with two steps down to a small platform plus a matwell to be set in front door area. My hackles went up as I arrived to see about 15 vans already in driveway. Walked into site of utter mayhem, all trades rushing around doing their thang. Painter leaps up and says - " How long you here for mate, we're waiting for you to get floor down, so everyone can get done". Builder then piped in with "Customer wants you to lay boards same direction as existing and staircase is arriving today so we need to work round you. I walked. Called customer - a lovely understanding lady - said I would come back when everybody was off site, that I would need to overlay with ply to get a good fixing - will use stick down everywhere - and advised her that I had upset the painter because I had called his a "wet trade" - (Never been called that before mate) What does he use solid emulsion? I still am feeling guilty though for holding up job and being a prima donna.
whos gonna get the blame if something goes wrong because of the site conditions, did the right thing pass the buck onto the builder/surveyor.
Just right, people hovering like vultures trying to rush you on, even if their not verbally hassling you their presence is enough to subconsciously intimate you and make you rush a job with the possibly of buggering something up or them walking over you while on the job. Feck that!!
Thanks for supportive comments everyone. I am normally quite co-operative and easy going on site, but this bunch took the biscuit. Thank goodness for a sensible customer, who saw my point if view and is happy to wait until all other work is done. SV
Its good to hear people say no when it needs to be said. So many people will do it in them conditions which makes us who wont the bad guys! Good on you fella....
Ooooh the ole prima donna/jobs worth snare net...The scenario...you get the vibe everyone is questioning your ability to do your job, they think you don't want to do the job, they only care about their own deadline, they think you're just being a cry baby because you don't want to work shoulder to shoulder, and so many more situations. Then you crumble to either or all of the pressures and the job goes tits up. Oh, but it's not their fault...you took the job on...you'll have to sort it out...Sh1te!!! I fell for this many years ago. I got bullied/pressured off a woman that was due to give birth in two weeks (not two weeks from now for all you funny guys ha). I'm not going into the whole situation but, the Job went tits up and I ended up paying out a couple of thousand pounds. Funnily enough, all the mithering and pushing was totally and completely forgotten (They were reminded) and it was all my fault Well done mate...You've got to have mental wings of steel in this game to repel the ar1eholes. It's good your client had common sense too..
