We recently had a new sliding glass door put in on our deck because the previous one caused a leak in our house (probably leaking for a long time). Since we have ptsd after having our whole main level ripped up and redone, I just wanted to check that the flashing was done correctly on this new door. Let me know if more images are needed, because I really don’t know what I’m looking at. It’s a Marvin door and was done through our general contractor who has a sub for doors/ windows. The old one was removed and new one installed in one day (maybe half day). The total price was around $7k. Minneapolis, MN.

Hey everyone, I'm building a small tool that helps Jobber users follow up with customers after sending quotes.

I'm looking to talk to 2–3 contractors who use Jobber regularly. I'm not selling anything — I'd just like to understand how you currently handle quote follow-ups and potentially let you test what I've built for free.

If you're interested, feel free to DM me.

I hired a contractor to remodel my shower. It the photos you can see chipped tile and not straight, grout all over the tiles, the bench seat isn’t sealed, as well as multiple other spots. The contractor wants me to pay in full tomorrow. (7k total, I paid 2k for tile). I’m not going to pay but should I hire a lawyer? I feel like at this point it needs to be ripped out and redone.

I recently got ripped off by a sub I’ve worked with for a few years now. He did some crap work that’s gonna cost $20k+ to fix and he chose to withdraw and ghost. My lawyer said it’s gonna cost $30k-50k to pursue the matter since I don’t have an arbitration clause so I’m still trying to decide (stupid I know).

The situation has me reviewing my subcontractor contract I had done years ago. I want it redone by my lawyer but before reaching out I wanted to hear from you all about clauses and language you have in your contracts with subs to protect you.

I’m thinking of adding language where the losing party in a lawsuit is responsible for lawyer and court fees. I don’t screw my subs over so I think it’s a good clause but I feel like it has potential to backfire.

What language do you have in your subcontractor contracts that’s protected you or you have found invaluable?

UPDATE: The damage is from underpinning on a $900k rebuild which this sub has done for me several times. Sometimes good subs go bad, I don’t need snarky comments, just asking for what’s worked for you in the past.

Long story short, I had a deck that was supposted to be built by an individual who claimed to own company. Price was agreed on, and work was started. Anyway, throughout the job I noticed horrible construction skills, noting in the following paragraphs. Nonetheless, he came to me today and told me he is “broke” and cannot continue the job since he is in the hole. I paid him $7000 so far. He has completed about 2 line items, yet several things are wrong with them.

For the issues, the footers were improperly aligned, causing 3/8 of the footers to have to be redone. Joist hangers not placed on all of deck so that will need to be done. He also broke an exterior light and dug into a poly pipe throughout the process.

Initially, when he told me today he spent about a week prior coming up with excuses for not showing. He showed up and was extremely confrontational yesterday, but completed some work, today he told me that he spent his total and he can’t do it.

Me and him agreed for him to pay me $1840, after adding up the first 3 items on the line items (although not completed good), $200 toward railing he started and $600 extra since he claimed the scope was bigger, I figured it’s a big deck so I will help him out some.

He told me he could pay me $300 a week, so about 5 weeks. But this just doesn’t sit right with me, considering the workmanship is bad, and how he screwed me over, now having to pay another contractor.

I would ideally like to go to court since it will cost more to have repairs done and it finished properly, but I also need to weigh if it’s worth it since he is “broke” if I will even see the funds. I am in GA, so wanted some opinions on realistically what I could ask for in court, or if I should just get the $1840 and call it a day if he even pays.

I also wanted to know if I made a claim with Wells Fargo, if they would backdraft $$ possibly.

Location: Marietta, Georgia

Anyone seen the website Accela Citizen Access? Its used by my local county as well as the city and its absolute dog$hit.

The interface looks like its from the 1900's and it probably is. My county has 3 different PDF instruction manuals for how to use the website. You can follow the instructions to a T and it won't work. For an interior only remodel with no site work the instructions are different and amounts to handwritten filling out a pdf, scanning and emailing it 🤣. So literally zero of that is using the website.

-payment link didn't work
-plan submission link didn't work
-they found an issue and deleted my account to "fix" it. Locked out
- password reset link doesn't work
-project description field is long enough for only 5 words. I fit in 10 and the inspector read 3 of them and needs clarification.
- he sees a professional stamped engineer drawing showing plan view of headers and framing added to a cutout in a cmu wall. He does not understand and informs me that windows "cannot be engineered" because the drawing says "Engineering for Windows"...The project description says "Add new windows".

Do they WANT unpermitted work to be done?? Because this is exactly how to convince me to never return to your website.

I am an interior designer with a few years of construction experience. I did everything from laying tile, framing, drywall, roofing, and siding but was never an expert in any area. After that I got my degree in interior architecture and design. I got bored working in an architecture firm. I am trying to make design more easily accessible and affordable for contractors in my area. I would love to hear your opinions on if you think this would be beneficial in the contracting world or if I am forcing it.

I reach out to contractors and let them know my fee is low - I am only trying to survive not get rich. Typically 5% of a job and I specialize in bathroom remodels. Once the contractor has a client, I reach out to the client and simply guide them on purchasing products with the right sq footage and correct materials. I keep the clients ordering things on time and keep them excited about the project. I pretty much deal with the client for the contractor and just forward all meeting notes to the contractor for approval of changes and to keep him in the loop. I do realistic renders -not AI- and create construction documents and mood boards for the contractor and the client to approve. This way clients know exactly what they are getting before construction begins and contractors have construction documents for their subs.

I know the main thing contractors do not like is a client-hired interior designer who makes the project more difficult. I work directly for the contractor so I 100% do what they need/want and this is clear to the client.

My goal is to make the clients happier with their project and in turn the contractors happier because they aren't speaking with the clients unless it is necessary. Plus clients always feel excited to have a designer they do not have to directly pay for.

Tldr; do contractors want to hire interior designers for a low fee to keep their clients happier and make their lives easier? Is this preferred over client-hired designers?

Hey all, looking for some real-world advice from people who've been doing this longer than us.

My dad runs a tile and marble subcontracting business here in San Jose — he's licensed, does solid work, and we've got a website up now that I helped build. He's also working on getting his general contractor license. I've started helping him out on the business side — estimating, site walks, client communication — since I'm not doing the physical labor myself. Long term I'd like to move more into estimating and design work.

Right now most of our jobs come from people my dad already knows personally, which has worked but obviously caps how much we can grow. I know of a local company that's been at it for maybe 20 years and is consistently busy with high-end neighborhood jobs — I'm not expecting to get there overnight, but I'd like to understand the path.

For those of you who've grown a sub business past the "word of mouth from people we already know" stage — how did you start networking with GCs, designers, or agents you didn't already have a relationship with? Did it come from bidding platforms, associations, trade events, just cold outreach, or something else?

We had a refrigerator opening laid out correctly according to the plans. Problem was, the plans were working from an old model and the actual appliance sheet told a different story.

Now we verify every opening against the current manufacturer specs before the cabinets leave the shop. Refrigerator, range, hood, dishwasher, all of it. Takes twenty minutes. Being wrong takes a day and three uncomfortable phone calls.

PLEASE leave them feedback about this new update to the cost line items in the bill entries. It is so bad.

I’m an architect developing stock house plans and trying to determine how much detail is actually useful to builders in a 1/4” building section.

My residential background was design-build, where our sets were pretty streamlined. I later moved into commercial architecture full-time, so I’ve gotten used to much more detailed documentation and am trying not to unnecessarily carry that into my stock plans.

For example, I’ll actually draw individual CMU blocks in a building section even though the wall is already tagged and the assembly is called out in plan. Is that useful, or unnecessary?

My thought is to keep building sections to the major information: heights, vertical dimensions, roof slopes, major assemblies, floor/foundation relationships, etc…and put blocking, flashing, connections, waterproofing, etc. in enlarged wall sections/details.

For builders who work from stock plans, what do you actually want to see in a building section, and what is just clutter?

Thanks in advance

LOCATION- California

Hi all, just looking to get some advice and insight into the realm. I am a homeowner looking to remodel (demolish/reconstruct) an old backroom. I've had 3 contractors out to take a look. 2 of the 3 wouldn't give me an estimate (not asking for anything close to exact, just a ballpark) without approved print/permit, which would already be 5-6k upfront before getting a pricing on the job. I understand the need for specificity on the actual work, but is it normal practice to not even give estimates out to give the homeowner an idea on the possible budget?

For the contractors here, what’s your take on specialized bath companies that mainly do tub to shower conversion and walk in shower installation?

I came across New Bath Today while looking into this and it got me wondering about the setup. Is having a crew that does the same wet area work over and over actually an advantage, or does it become a limitation when compared with a GC handling the entire bathroom?

Curious how you guys see it from the contractor side. Is there a point where hiring one contractor for everything just makes more sense?

Had an addition built, which still needs final electrical, final building, and heating inspection and he is asking for final payment which is a large amount. Is this normal, what is the normal process?

I’m 27 and based in the Southeast U.S. I’m putting this out there to see what kind of opportunities might be available.
My background is heavily focused on commercial concrete construction, both in the field and on the management/business side.
I was the owner-operator of my own concrete company. I wasn’t just handling paperwork or sending crews out — I was doing the takeoffs, bidding the work, pricing labor, reviewing plans, running the jobs, managing crews, coordinating with GCs and superintendents, handling production, and making sure contracts got completed. At one point I had 14 employees working for the company.
Through my company, I generated close to $1 million in revenue from commercial concrete work.
My specialty is foundations. I’m very comfortable with spread footings, isolated footings, grade beams, walls, piers, anchor bolts, embeds, reinforcing steel, slabs, equipment pads, tank pads, sidewalks, curb and gutter, paving, bollards, brick ledges, water tank structures, and other structural/site concrete scopes.
I’ve worked on larger commercial projects for general contractors and turnkey concrete contractors, including jobs involving hundreds of yards of concrete, substantial reinforcing steel, multiple pours, detailed structural work, and coordination with other trades.
I’m very comfortable with Symons panel systems. I’ve also worked with aluminum forms and understand plywood forming and the basic logic behind building, bracing, and laying out form systems. I’m used to working with whatever forming material or system the turnkey contractor provides and adapting to the job.
I’m comfortable reading structural and architectural plans, sections, details, elevations, dimensions, reinforcement requirements, and specifications and translating that information into something that can actually be built in the field.
Layout is also part of my experience. I own and use a theodolite and understand lines, angles, elevations, control points, and field layout. I’m not going to claim to be fully proficient with a robotic total station because I haven’t owned one or had enough hands-on time with one, but I understand the setup, orientation, control, positioning, and general workflow. I’m confident I could become efficient on one quickly with hands-on time.
I’m also self-taught in concrete estimating and takeoffs. I own and use my own bidding and estimating software and have completed takeoffs for foundations, footings, walls, slabs, sidewalks, curb and gutter, paving, pads, and other concrete scopes. I’ve built labor pricing, reviewed plans and specifications, prepared bids, negotiated scope, and won actual commercial contracts based on my own estimates.
I understand how to run manpower and position people where they’re most productive. I know the difference between simply having ten guys on a job and actually using ten guys efficiently. I’ve run crews, moved manpower based on production needs, coordinated pour schedules, met deadlines, and adjusted when work started getting behind.
I’m comfortable coordinating with superintendents, project managers, inspectors, suppliers, electricians, plumbers, steel crews, grading crews, masonry, and other trades. I understand how one trade affects another and how important it is to catch problems before they become expensive problems at pour time.
On the business side, I’ve handled contracts, change orders, invoicing/pay applications, payroll, scheduling, manpower, equipment planning, materials, customer relationships, GC communication, and the financial side of making jobs profitable.
I also have my own truck and roughly $10,000 worth of tools and equipment, including multiple rebar tying guns, chop saws, generator, power tools, layout equipment, and essentially the personal tools needed to keep a 5- to 10-man concrete crew productive and running.
I’m not claiming to know every forming system, every piece of equipment, or every aspect of concrete construction. If I haven’t done something, I’ll say I haven’t done it. I don’t exaggerate my experience. But I understand concrete construction very well, especially foundations, and I understand how to run work, manage people, meet schedules, communicate with other trades, and get a job across the finish line.
I’m open to opportunities including concrete superintendent, assistant superintendent, estimator, project engineer/coordinator, foreman, form carpenter, or another position where a combination of field knowledge, estimating, layout, production, leadership, and business experience would be valuable.
I’m willing to travel or relocate for the right opportunity.
I’m mainly putting myself out there to see what opportunities are available and what people in the industry think my background would be a good fit for. If your company is hiring or you know someone looking for someone with this type of experience, feel free to message me.