Every Project Has Its Issues... A Case For Specialty Contractors
“There are a number of home improvement projects that are big enough to be painful if they are mismanaged but small enough that a typical General Contractor would not be enthusiastic about managing.” Tracy Lust, Owner of Yankee Classic Floors of Madison
“Flooring is a good example of projects that need management, but often do not receive the attention they deserve, costing the homeowner more in the process. Some issues are obvious. Some issues are not as obvious,” Lust added. It starts with the homeowner. Many times, they act as their own ‘General’, but may not know all of the elements of the project needed to m manage it effectively. Often, they have come in after the fact, and, unfortunately had to fix what was done incorrectly.
Specialty contractors use their unique experience to identify existing conditions before projects are started to ensure a superior outcome. If there are no hitches in the process, there is no reason a project can not be completed successfully.
There are many moving parts which are interdependent in every project. A typical project involves at least four components that all have to be on the same page. They are:
Homeowner —
They rarely are knowledgeable enough in all of the aspects of carpentry, construction, installation and flooring materials to
manage a project from start to finish. Also, their lack of knowledge and familiarity with the process can be magnified because they are responsible for coordinating people, schedules and specifications.
Retailers —
Some are very knowledgeable and some are not. Most never see the site that is being improved, so the look/feel of the room is generally not known.They rely on the homeowner for direction in helping select the product to be installed. Since they have not seen the sub-floor or other factors that could create issues with the process, they can’t effectively troubleshoot in the planning and the product selection.
Installer —
The installer installs. They get paid on a by piece basis and are focused on minimizing the installation time. However, if the wrong type of product was selected for the sub-floor at the site or there are defects with the flooring (in wood for example), it is not their responsibility to change the project or is in their best interest financially.
Manufacturers —
They process huge amounts of flooring. In general, they produce the quality they say. However, if even the slightest problem is noticed after the installation, the manufacturer is absolved from responsibility. Quality checks early in the process and leverage with the manufacturers after the fact are important elements of what the contractor can do.
The Missing Link
Specialty contractors serve as a General Contractor geared to work with specific types of projects. From start to finish they supply experienced eyes on every facet of a project. They see the site, observe what the feel of the room is like, review the sub-floor, note construction/carpentry issues related to the install plan the finishing or thresholds and stair nosing and assist in selecting the appropriate flooring material given the sub-floor condition.
“But,” adds Lust, “A specialty contractor can only run the project smoothly, help you avoid problems and save you money if they are involved in the beginning of the process. We get much more satisfaction managing a project well in the first place rather than correcting a mistake. The sad part is the final quality is better and the cost often ends up being less using a contractor.”
