Fezmid Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 As some know, I'm in the process of finishing my basement. I have nearly no skill when it comes to this sort of thing, so I've been getting friends and family to help me out for the most part... Anyway, I'm part of a Twin Cities Home Theater mailing list, and there was a guy wanting to buy my projector (I bought it two years ago, but have only used it for about 150 hours because of the problems with the basement). The projector 's worth roughly $900 on eBay, maybe a little more. I was thinking of selling it to this guy and buying a newer one, when he asked if I'd be interested in his services instead. He's willing to hang a screen door, install a Dricore subfloor (http://www.dricore.com) and do the trimwork in the basement (two regular doors, one bifold door, one egress window) for the projector. I'll be paying for the materials, he'd do all of the installation. I havn't gotten any quotes for this stuff yet, but it sounds reasonable to me (for example, Menards wanted $139 to install the screen door).. What do you guys think? CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 No. No way at all. Do not do this. Do not. He KNOWS what he's getting. You have no idea other than what he tells you. Pass. Just pass. Contractors are bad enough when you pay them full price. How bad do you think they'll be when you just have to give them hardware instead of money? Pass. Please. You've worked too hard for this basement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Fong Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 Contractors are bad enough when you pay them full price. How bad do you think they'll be when you just have to give them hardware instead of money? 280425[/snapback] Dude is giving you good advice. Just get a quote from someone else on doing the work. Doesn't sound like you have $900 worth of work to do because most of it seems pretty light. Although I won't confess to knowing how much it should cost to install dricore because in Virginia Beach we don't have basements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjeff215 Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 No. No way at all. Do not do this. Do not. He KNOWS what he's getting. You have no idea other than what he tells you. Pass. Just pass. Contractors are bad enough when you pay them full price. How bad do you think they'll be when you just have to give them hardware instead of money? Pass. Please. You've worked too hard for this basement. 280425[/snapback] Agreed. There may also be legality issues with bartering like that, in terms of recourse on a shoddy job. If you really trust him, you MIGHT consider getting a quote elsewhere... if $900 is less than the quote, might be worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gflande1 Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 I would agree with everyone here. I would sell him the projector and use the money to hire a contractor. I cant imagine that the labor for all of that could be much more than what you could get for the projector. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todd Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 Nope. Don't do it. Sell it. With the contractor ususally you'd want examples of his work and references. Not to mention putting a cash value on his work, and keeping records for your improvements if you ever sell the house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elcrusho Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 If you lived in Buffalo I would help you out... Sounds like a job that I would do for less than $400 and a case of beer, but that's just me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubes Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 No no no no no Listen to everyone else here, they're right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted March 19, 2005 Author Share Posted March 19, 2005 Nope. Don't do it. Sell it. With the contractor ususally you'd want examples of his work and references. Not to mention putting a cash value on his work, and keeping records for your improvements if you ever sell the house. 280547[/snapback] Well, he did offer me references if I was interested, and said that he is insured... However, the idea of references is pretty lame IMHO, as you know everyone's only going to give you people they know will say something positve, no? If you lived in Buffalo I would help you out... Sounds like a job that I would do for less than $400 and a case of beer, but that's just me 280561[/snapback] I just bought you a roundtrip ticket from Buffalo to Minneapolis -- $334. What kind of beer should I buy for ya? Thanks for the input everyone -- it all makes sense so I think I'll pass and hire someone to do it for me. It'll save me money anyway, as my projector is perfectly fine, just not as good as the newer stuff (I'm still kicking myself for buying it when I did -- had no idea this stupid project would take so long to start! ). Thanks all! CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 Thanks for the input everyone -- it all makes sense so I think I'll pass and hire someone to do it for me. 280680[/snapback] SEE HOW THIS WORKS, ED?!?! Someone asks for advice, people give it, and the person puts it to good use. You won't catch Fez with a string hanging from between his legs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elcrusho Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 Well, he did offer me references if I was interested, and said that he is insured... However, the idea of references is pretty lame IMHO, as you know everyone's only going to give you people they know will say something positve, no?I just bought you a roundtrip ticket from Buffalo to Minneapolis -- $334. What kind of beer should I buy for ya? Thanks for the input everyone -- it all makes sense so I think I'll pass and hire someone to do it for me. It'll save me money anyway, as my projector is perfectly fine, just not as good as the newer stuff (I'm still kicking myself for buying it when I did -- had no idea this stupid project would take so long to start! ). Thanks all! CW 280680[/snapback] Miller Light or Labatt Blue Light works!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 Miller Light or Labatt Blue Light works!!! 280761[/snapback] Way to aim high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted March 19, 2005 Author Share Posted March 19, 2005 Way to aim high. 280764[/snapback] Hey, he's getting a free vacation (1) out of it! CW (1) If by vacation, you mean working in my basement 24x7 until he's done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elcrusho Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 Oh yeah and I'm gonna need a copy of the Comeback game on DVD too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted March 19, 2005 Author Share Posted March 19, 2005 Oh yeah and I'm gonna need a copy of the Comeback game on DVD too... 280859[/snapback] Fine, but you're paying for your own hotel CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SouthernMan Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 As some know, I'm in the process of finishing my basement. I have nearly no skill when it comes to this sort of thing, so I've been getting friends and family to help me out for the most part... Anyway, I'm part of a Twin Cities Home Theater mailing list, and there was a guy wanting to buy my projector (I bought it two years ago, but have only used it for about 150 hours because of the problems with the basement). The projector 's worth roughly $900 on eBay, maybe a little more. I was thinking of selling it to this guy and buying a newer one, when he asked if I'd be interested in his services instead. He's willing to hang a screen door, install a Dricore subfloor (http://www.dricore.com) and do the trimwork in the basement (two regular doors, one bifold door, one egress window) for the projector. I'll be paying for the materials, he'd do all of the installation. I havn't gotten any quotes for this stuff yet, but it sounds reasonable to me (for example, Menards wanted $139 to install the screen door).. What do you guys think? CW 280421[/snapback] $139 to install a screen door? First of all, any idiot should be able to install a screen door. As long as everything is plumb, level, and square, it should be a breeze. Might require a little planing if the door jamb isn't prefectly straight, but still, not a big deal. Even if it took 2 hours to install (how is that possible) the guy/company would be getting $70 and hour. Hello?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frez Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 Just maybe the guy is for real. Check into it a little bit. You might get the deal of your life and become friends, who knows? Not everyone is a crook! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazykat Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 What do you guys think? CW 280421[/snapback] You can always sell him the projector for $900 and "pay him" $900 for the job. That way you have a receipt against any poor workmanship etc. I'd find out who does that kind of work in your area and who does it well. Get an estimate from them. If it comes in at below 900, use them. If not, then consider using that guy. There are ways around making the payment for the job the projector. See above. Make a contract and make part of the stipulation that he doesn't get the projector for $900 until the job is complete. That way it's a cashless transfer yet you're covered. Some of the rest of you need to seriously consider taking a vacation. It sounds like bitter, cranky old men central here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30dive Posted March 20, 2005 Share Posted March 20, 2005 I just had some work done on my house that required a master carpenter, I'm not sure if this guy is a master carpenter or if your work requires a master carpenter, but here is what I am thinking; I paid (after shoping for bids) $68.00 per hour plus materials at cost, which was also very good considering the receipt copys enclosed in the bill where 90% from wholesale outlets, and much cheaper than prices I had earlier shopped at Lowes. So if the pricing in your market is similar ($65 -$70 per hour) The question you need to ask is: "Can this work be done 12 - 14 man hours?" Assuming he is insured, has a good reputation, member BBB, set a deadline for work to be completed and when it's done pay him and then sell him the projector for the $900.00 Bottom line is, what is the going rate per man hour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 Never hire a carpenter for door work who can't show you his butt gage. "Butt gages" "The butt gage is a specialization of the marking gage which is designed for marking mortises for butt hinges. This is a surprisingly complicated job with little room for error-- if the hinges are not properly placed, the door may not work properly (or at all). There are two common situations encountered in butt mortising-- one in which the door is being fitted into a rabbeted jamb, and one in which the strike for the door is nailed on. In each situation, the marking job is slightly different. In the case of a rabbeted jamb, the most important thing is to mark the hinges such that a small gap (usually 1/16") exists between the face of the door and the back of the rabbet. If this gap is not present, the door will bind. Butt gages designed for this situation will mark a specific distance from the corner of the rabbet, and a corresponding distance (minus the desired gap) from the face of the door. The Stanley #93 is designed for marking these types of butt mortises. The points move together, so that if the jamb is marked referencing the outside of the end plate of the gage and the door referencing the inside, a small gap (the thickness of the plate) will automatically be left. The third point (on the side of the gage) is used to mark the hinge depth. In the case of a nailed-on strike, the job is much simpler. Since the strike is added later, there is no need to account for the gap between the strike and the door. In this situation the hinge depth is marked referencing the outside of the jamb and the corresponding side of the door, so the door will be flush with the jamb. A normal marking gage could be used for this operation, if not for one problem-- the door casing. In typical door construction the casing is attached such that only a small portion of the jamb edge is visible, which is normally much too small for a marking gage to reference off of." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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