Getting Contractor Assistance, Doing Work Myself

Sean · 12-26-2006, 09:45 AM

I have several projects that I want to do myself, but lack the confidence to tackle it without getting some assistance from a contractor. Mostly, I want the contractor to help get me started - like on re-shingling the side of my house. I also have several widows that need to be replaced as part of the shingle job.

Will a contractor want anything to do with me if there's little in it for him? And, if I am able to get a contractor, what should the contract state to cover the me as homeowner wanting to do 90% of the labor, but still keep the relationship flexible enough so the contractor can jump in if necessary? Keeping in mind I would not want him finishing-off the job in one day while I'm at work!

Does anyone have any advice regarding my situation, etc?

Sean

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 12-26-2006, 01:09 PM

It's going to be very tough to find an experienced contractor (not related to you) that can guide you through all of this at little to no charge.

Only thing I could offer is to find one with a hankering for brew and offer to buy him a few 24 packs and come over to check things out for you without actually doing any of the work.

Most decent and experienced contractors are far too busy with normal paying projects that take up all of their time...

-My 2 cents

yummy mummy · 12-26-2006, 02:19 PM

Atlantic:

your 2 cents are too expensive for Sean.

Just kidding Sean.
How about you let these wonderful professional people at the diy chatroom help you.

I pretty much have never done anything before in terms of construction and building and I am in the process of framing my basement and renovating it.

It's amazing what you can learn here.
And it's free.

I won't charge you 2 cents, Sean, like Atlantic did.

(These contractors, always looking to make a quick 2 cents)

Just kidding Atlantic, you know I love you.
(I have a sense of humour, very important in life)

troubleseeker · 12-26-2006, 08:47 PM

Don't believe you are going to have much luck here. As you stated" why would a contractor want anything to do with me if there is little in it for him". As a contractor, our job is to run construction projects to make a living, not watch diy projects go bad, then be asked to salvage them. I promise you it will be cheaper to pay the contractor to do it the first time, than hire him to fix something you botched.

No, I am not a diy hating contractor, but just from your statements, it sounds like you are trying to tackle projects for the first time, and you already know they are over your head. If you are lacking that much confidence, you should hold off on anything major until you have gained a few more skills.

Reshingling the side of your house usually is more involved than first expected, and will end up calling on some skills in quite a few trade areas. Replacing windows usually leads to the discovery of rotten framing around them,the need to waterproof and flash the new ones, interior trim that will have to be removed and replaced or possibly re-created from scratch, and some knowledge of how to set up the shingle courses so that they line up properly with the top and bottom of windows.

Not trying to sound mean, but I just see too many horrors a couple of years later from poor work that was supossed to save money.

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 12-27-2006, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troubleseeker

.....Reshingling the side of your house usually is more involved than first expected, and will end up calling on some skills in quite a few trade areas. Replacing windows usually leads to the discovery of rotten framing around them,the need to waterproof and flash the new ones, interior trim that will have to be removed and replaced or possibly re-created from scratch, and some knowledge of how to set up the shingle courses so that they line up properly with the top and bottom of windows.....
Not trying to sound mean, but I just see too many horrors a couple of years later from poor work that was supossed to save money.

All very true....