DIY Network

Selections and Schedules: The Stress of Delays From "Home IQ" episode DHIQ-104

Stress comes in many forms when building a new home, but one of the most frustrating is a weather delay. Rain was the culprit on this day!

• A cause of major stress when building a new home is when the communication between the homeowner(s) and the builder or site supervisor goes askew. For example, Brad Oberg wanted four-panel doors but the spec sheet indicated six-panel doors, yet Brad never communicated this to his builder or site supervisor. The day before the doors were to be delivered, Greg Allen, the site supervisor, mentioned to Brad that the doors were being delivered, and when Brad asked what kind of door, Allen said they were six-paneled doors. Not what Brad wanted!

• Allen double-checked the spec sheet and it did list six-panel doors, but in order to please the homeowner he made a quick call to change the order. Unfortunately, the manufacturer couldn't get the doors to the site for four weeks, which would cause too much down time. But the Obergs wanted the four-panel doors and decided to wait the four weeks for them. This wait had a ripple effect on the carpenters and the painters -- adding another two weeks to move-in day.
  

  advertisement

  
  
  

  Figure A

• Another stress point can be weather delays. "We lost 38 of the first 42 days of construction due to the wet weather," Brad said. "We lost time with the trim carpenters (to get them to come back). We lost time with the finishing (figure A) crew trying to get them back because they were up in Alaska [due to the rain delay in Pittsburgh] at a church retreat. Lost a week with the tile guys ? out of the year we've probably lost three months."

• Luckily, the Obergs had very few disagreements. "If you don't have a couple of arguments, you probably don't care very much," Brad said. "It really hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be," Lynn said. According to Lynn the major stress point was having to run around and make exterior and interior selections in such a short time.

In next week's episode, the walls of the home are raised.

RESOURCES :

Bricks
PF Cook Brick Co., Inc.
202 Commerce Park Dr.
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
Phone: 724-772-5999
Fax: 724-772-6677
E-mail: PFCookBrick@Hotmail.com

Cabinets
Manor House Kitchens
Website: www.manorhousekitchens.com

Lighting
Sterling Lite, Inc.
Website: www.sterlinglite.com

Tile
Best Tile Distributors, Inc.
Website: www.besttile.com

Molyneaux Tile and Carpet
Website: www.beautifulfloors.com

Bathroom Fixtures and Accessories
Nicklas Supply, Inc./Splash
Website: www.wit-co.com
or www.nicklassupply.com

Windows and Doors
Andersen Windows
Website: www.andersenwindows.com

Carpeting
Molyneaux Tile and Carpet
Website: www.beautifulfloors.com

GUESTS :

Brad and Lynn Oberg
Homeowners
Company: IBACOS (Brad)
Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
Website: www.ibacos.com

Henry (Hank) Swierczynski
President
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: buildm@zoominternet.net

Greg Allen
Site Supervisor
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: gcrbs@adelphia.net

Allen Kline
Senior Kitchen Designer
Manor House Kitchens
See contact information above under Resources

Pamela F. Cook
President
PF Cook Brick Co., Inc.
202 Commerce Park Dr.
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
Phone: 724-772-5999
Fax: 724-772-6677
E-mail: PFCookBrick@Hotmail.com

Todd Kline
Installer
Manor House Kitchens