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It always surprises me.....

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Dave H (MI)

Well-known Member
....when I ask about one of my crazy projects, just how often someone suggests that I am going to have somebody else do the work and how expensive it would be. I almost never hire out my projects. I hire small companies, frequently clients, to repair things like furnaces or such where a skilled tech is really an advantage. But pretty much everything related to constructing something is handled by me...frequently alone, usually with my wife and daughters, sometimes with assorted neighbors and family. Makes for some fine days and everyone knows that, at a minimum, at the end of the day I am going to feed them very well. I have a big wood fired BBQ just for that purpose.

Do you do your own projects or do you contract them out?
 
I generally do things myself. I hired a cousin and his crew to build my hay barn,but a 40x100 with 16 foot sidewalls was just more than I wanted to tackle. Do your own work,but know your limits.
 
(quoted from post at 09:15:42 02/14/17) ....when I ask about one of my crazy projects, just how often someone suggests that I am going to have somebody else do the work and how expensive it would be. I almost never hire out my projects. I hire small companies, frequently clients, to repair things like furnaces or such where a skilled tech is really an advantage. But pretty much everything related to constructing something is handled by me...frequently alone, usually with my wife and daughters, sometimes with assorted neighbors and family. Makes for some fine days and everyone knows that, at a minimum, at the end of the day I am going to feed them very well. I have a big wood fired BBQ just for that purpose.

Do you do your own projects or do you contract them out?
Click to expand...

I used to do all the projects by myself, but I'm not young anymore. Recently we hired someone to re-shingle the roof, and later we hired someone to to install all new windows. Most recently we hired someone to replace the siding on the house.

If the project needs to be finished in a timely manner, I hire it done. If the project can be started and piddled at until done, I do it myself.
 
(quoted from post at 09:15:42 02/14/17) ....when I ask about one of my crazy projects, just how often someone suggests that I am going to have somebody else do the work and how expensive it would be. I almost never hire out my projects. I hire small companies, frequently clients, to repair things like furnaces or such where a skilled tech is really an advantage. But pretty much everything related to constructing something is handled by me...frequently alone, usually with my wife and daughters, sometimes with assorted neighbors and family. Makes for some fine days and everyone knows that, at a minimum, at the end of the day I am going to feed them very well. I have a big wood fired BBQ just for that purpose.

Do you do your own projects or do you contract them out?
Click to expand...
I grew up on a farm and we did about everything ourselves...our cousins over the hill took every repair to town, always quit at five, went to town Wed and Sat nights....guess who lost the farm....

I was always one to do whatever I could by myself. My last major project was this 3300 square foot house. Kinda burned me out on construction, plan on hiring out my next pole barn and will probably buy a manufactured home and build the garage myself after we sell this place. As I get older it is easier to hire the young people to do that stuff while I ride around on my tractor @ $75 an hour.
 
I hate sending anything out do to bad experiences. Two times the outfit that had my parts moved while I waited one was Advanced Plating in Nashville and one was Olympic Powder Coating in Ca. Turn around times of two weeks was promised and each took six months to send back the parts. Anything you can do yourself saves trouble. For something like a new roof a will barter for it and it is a win/ win like the guy gets a running bike and I get a roof. He gives me a basket case .
 
There are some projects I have had to hire someone to do, but found out early in life that if you wanted things done right you had to do them yourself. I took a car in to a garage for new front struts and when I drove it home and got to my drivewy I didn't have any brakes, they hadn't bled the brakes correctly. I figured if you have to do a job over you might as well do it yourself
 
Coincidence! I put up that exact barn a year and a half back. Studied it for a while, then hired a crew. Too dang high carrying trusses. I did all the foundation work though.
 
When I had my hotrod built I had an experienced body man do all the work according to my ideas. I wanted it to look good and knew he could do a better job. I bought all the custom parts and he incorporated them according to my vision. I don't have much patience with projects.
 
I do all my own work. If I have to hire anything thing out it seems like I am not happy with what they did. I was brought up to do it myself and I have built many pieces of equitment over they years as it was cheaper for me to do, but the biggest reason I enjoy doing it. I have all my own tools and a small mill to help
 
When they built mine,the weather was so bad I didn't even want to walk out there to see what they were doing. It was a winter about like this one. They hadn't anymore than got the poles in the ground and it turned to crap. I don't know why they didn't quit and come back a week later,but they kept going. That's devotion to your job.
 
If a person's house payment is due, it makes you a lot more tolerant of bad weather. At least that's what I found out, when I was still working!
 
I hire very little done. This is probably how I kinda fell into a home remodeling business. My customers like having one person to do everything.
 
I used to do everything myself, but old age and health won't let me do anything heavy these days. All you young people should learn to do as many things as you possibly can: carpentry, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, welding, etc. If you don't have time to do it all yourself, at least you will know if someone else tries to gouge you on price - and you will also know if the job is done right.

There are a lot of books available, as well as information on the internet; there is no excuse for not learning the basics of all those areas.
 
I do all my own work for carpentry masonry plumbing and electric around the house. I do what I can on my vehicles but I know my limits, when to call the mechanic.
 
Hoenes; I had a boss tell me one time, " I like to hire men that are married with kids, they show up for work every day." gobble
 
I used to do everything myself but not anymore. For one thing heights bother me now and never used to. When I was young I would go up the tallest ladder. I guess I thought If I fall I probably won't get hurt. Now at 63 yo. if I fall I know I am not getting up. Also when young I didn't have any money. Now I can afford to hire someone. You are right in that no one can do the quality of work that I think I can and that bothers me as I am a perfectionist. Pa used to say "let the plumber do the plumbing, let the builder do the building. I am a farmer and I will do the farming. That way we can all make a living"
 
I do all my own projects. Last one was to refurb a foreclosed home we bought couple of years ago that is adjacent to property we own. Our plan is to sell our house in the suburbs this summer, retire, move into the refurbed place and build a new home (2800 sq ft) on the vacant property with 36x72 and 80x160 barns on it. My current plan is to do everything I can myself on the new place. I'll sub out the basement, roof (8/12 pitch), brickwork, drywall and "maybe" the framing. The rest (electric, plumbing, flooring (hardwood and tile), windows, trim, painting) I'll do myself.

Wife is scared to death that I'll kill myself doing this (I'm 66, she's 65). But it would pain me to no end to be retired, stand around and watch while I pay someone to do a project I could do myself. I plan to put up the barns myself. Rest assured that I will not do anything that would be unsafe for me. I have good equipment for handling heavy loads and to do the work and plan to stay off ladders and rent lifts when needed.

That being said, I'll post back next year and fess up on what I ended up farming out because the project was too big for me. :wink:
 
I do everything my self that I can, I do not like asking anybody for help. That is unless it is something than cannot be done with one person. Even when I added onto my house, I had a contractor black it in and put the tin on,and I finished out all of the inside. Do all of my mechanic work also.
 
Years ago yes (and a lot of stuff I should not have) Now like many others I can not. So I look at it this way 1. is it some thing I can do, save money or want to do?? 2. Is it better to hire out (specialized equipment or skills required) 3. Where does it fit in on a tax deduction point of view? Example me putting lots of time in and little to deduct. 4. Getting it finished (a pet peeve of mine) If I hire a carpenter/painter he has to get it finished buy say Friday. I might still be working on it for 2 years!!!! You will also find if you adopt such an outlook you will get more time to do what you want to do and stuff gets done.
 
I do everything I possibly can myself.

Been burned nearly every time I've hired anything out.

Worst was asphalt driveway repair at my moms old house. What he did do washed away first time it rained, the rest he never came back after getting paid for materials. That was a $2500 lesson in don't pay anything up front EVER!

Latest was foolishly trying to hire tile work. Main reason was I didn't want to be on my knees doing the floor, and the contractor came highly recommended, I had even seen his work. Don't know what happened, suspect drugs and alcohol. Had to fire him, paid him for what he had done, which was scrap a bunch of tile! Worse case of don't care slop I have ever seen!

Guess that's why I hate to go to the Dr. or dentist. If there was any way...
 
I was in the construction business for 44 years and never ever heard the term "black it in".
 
Over my lifetime I fixed everything and did everything I could possibly do to avoid paying anybody anything. I recovered my own airplane(J3) and repaired boats I owned , did my own A/C but there came a time when I could not do the work. Sometimes because the tools were gone or I just was physically not able. At 85 I still do what I can but my strength and movement limit that to small at home stuff. It really hurts to have a less qualified person do things that I kow are wrong. Sometimes I have to have a job redone by another so called repair man. Getting old is not for sissies.
 
I understand. I built mine in that heavy snow winter two years back. They were actually able to construct a road of sorts across the field from the road to the barn site. The frost was OVER 42" deep and they had to go get the auger welded midway in the hole boring. I walked out there every day and took pictures of the progress. They show up every day because they have a waiting list. Guys get impatient waiting for their new barns!
 
Having long ago passed 70 years old I'm not in shape for jobs requiring physical exertion and can afford hiring them done. Problem is finding someone willing and capiable. I've had so many things ruined by poor workmanship,I just buy new or fix it my self. I do really enjoy things(old tractors) that don't need quick completion.
 
I do most everything my self---built 3 houses from the foundation up for myself and then a few others for family and friends. do a lot of mechanical repairs on my vehicles and am restoring 3 Cat bulldozers
 
I try to tackle as much as I can by myself for the enjoyment and to save the labor costs. Have a major house addition on the list this summer going to need some help just to move it along but I like to keep the hires to people I know.
 
I hired a crew to cut down two trees in front of my house. They were too big and too close for me to mess with.

When this picture was taken the temperature was around 20F with a good wind blowing. The guy up in that bucket can have that job.

<a href="http://s125.photobucket.com/user/wRNIVmg0/media/Tree2_zps6cj9m9hl.jpg.html" target="_blank">
Tree2_zps6cj9m9hl.jpg" border="0" alt="Tree felling photo Tree2_zps6cj9m9hl.jpg
</a>
 
Dave, sometime back you said you had problem with heights so on this kind of projects how do you handle that. I never could handle heights and even less now at 73.
 
I have more time than money, and I don't have much time. Seems every time you hire someone to do something, they screw it up one way or another, and you have to do some fixing. And just to kick you while you're down, you paid them to do the stuff that you're now fixing. Just not worth it.
 
Dave;
Some of those family "project" days make for some great bonding and good memories. I call myself a rabid DIY guy. My grown kids turned out the same. They continue to amaze their friends and neighbors.
 
I think he is referring to dry it in , as to put the underlayment on the roof. Probably using black tar paper, hence the term " black it in" .
 
I do all my own work. I know some people that take pride in the fact they can make a cell phone call and get everything done and not break a sweat. They have zero skills and they think it odd that anyone would want a wide range of skills.

When I'm in a group of people and someone asked what I've been doing lately I just say "not much of anything."
 
I do everything my self. Home projects/repairs or mechanic work. If it involves something heavy or awkward to handle I make a tool to help. Very little goes to an outside person. I am a one man construction crew. Neighbors and clients are amazed. Last project completed about 3 days ago was making a disc with adjustable angles. Couldn't find one for a decent price so I used parts from the old angle iron frame one with fixed angles I had. Tried it today with great results.
 
I never made enough money working to pay others to do my projects/repairs. My brother was a professional builder so I learned from him enough to do my own. My profession was auto body/paint/restoration and I did the mechanical as a labor of love. I repair my own furnace when it needs it (brain box solder joints deteriorating / auto ign. etc) Minor plumbing , drywall all my own auto mech work , decks , roofing, light elect etc , etc. This is all tax free income. My goal when I was 20 was to learn auto body/paint...not so I could "get a job" but so I could "own the shop". One doesn't have to work near as hard and long if he isn't trying to make a living for 5 - 10 other people. My body shows the wear and tear but I did it my way and would do it all over again. I had a few "jobs" for other people but when they realized they couldn't "own" me that was about it..sometimes my call...sometimes theirs and sometimes mutual. I had an "option" at home and they knew it...and most didn't like it. The one thing I hate is buying new tires...I can't make them...I have no option and they start wearing out the minute you put them on. I always joke that I'm not very good for the economy...so be it.
 
Through the years I have hired out very little of the work done on this farm. Construction-wise the only thing I can think of that was hired out was some cement work a few years ago. I do hire all outdoor electrical and I have new electrical panels and gas connections done professionally. I usually do all inside wiring but not always. The way my body is treating me it looks like more of the work done above my shoulders will be hired out but I can still handle the below the waist stuff. I'm not ready to roll over yet.
 
I couldn't agree more! I've got two daughters who can handle just about anything. Never surprises me when I hear a chain saw running and I'm not out there!
 
I never turn a contractor loose without one of us standing right there making sure it is done right. Most of them it is unnecessary, but when that one clown comes along...
 
I pretty much do everything myself, by myself. I don't like to feel like I'm bothering someone, so I just plug along on my own. Also, if I'm the one doing the work, and something is done wrong, I can only be mad at myself, and not someone that is just trying to help. I do stuff I shouldn't by myself, but so far I've been ok. I spent a lot of last summer reframing part of my roof and changing the design of my wraparound porch. I then put a new steel roof on my house, attached garage, and the wraparound porch by myself. I did hire a guy to finish new drywall I had hung in every room upstairs and downstairs after a complete remodel. I don't mind doing a little but of drywall finishing, but my shoulders are shot and I would not be able to do as much sanding and mudding as was needed, especially any over head work. I do all of my repair projects myself as well, big and small.

Ross
 
I take it a little at a time. It's not a phobia with me, I used to be a fireman and have seen my fair share of high places. Just takes me a little time to get used to it again. Not my favorite thing though.
 
My shoulders were shot too until I built that short block wall last year. I have never seen anything so good for the upper body as laying block.
 
If it needs to be done, I usually do it myself. That's the only way I can afford to have the kinds of stuff I like.
 
Had SWMBO hire out a new roof (metal) a couple months ago and is the first time I haven't done everything that gets done in the eight years we've been here.
 
(quoted from post at 00:00:55 02/15/17) I couldn't agree more! [b:c9fb13592a]I've got two daughters who can handle just about anything. Never surprises me when I hear a chain saw running and I'm not out there![/b:c9fb13592a]
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My daughters can't so much as change a lightbulb. They each make more than my wife and I together, though, so their attitude when a problem comes up is to "throw money at it". :lol:

The chain saw comment reminded me when I mentioned to my wife a while back how I was going to ask 2 of my nephews (one about 20, one in his teens) to help me cut up some deadfall. Her comment was "No way. Their mother (wife's sister) would never let them do that". I said "huh"? Wife and her sister both thought that it was "too dangerous". I argued that the only way they'd learn to use a chainsaw (or any other tool) was for me to teach them and if you don't let me teach them.... oh well, you get my drift. They ARE very good at sitting on the couch or in front of a computer playing video games. :roll:
 
Nancy and I build our own projects.

Neither of us have any construction background or experience.



First project was the 24x60 barn in Hutchins.

a151631.jpg" width="650"




Second project was the 48x48 hay shed at the farm.

a151632.jpg" width="650"




Third project was the 16x114 equipment shed at the farm.

a151633.jpg" width="650"




Fourth project was the 12x24 run-in shed at the farm.

a151634.jpg" width="650"


 
I usually do everything my self. When I was working at my factory maintenance job, I was usually on the night shift by my self, and got along just fine.I can take motors down to the bare block, and reassemble them again. When it comes to electronics I am at a loss. I am finding at 74 I just can't do what I did when I was younger. Just yesterday I had to replace a line from the propane tank to my brothers house. I hired a person to dig the ditch. Laying on my back projects are going to be a thing of the past form me also. Still try to do as much as I can by my self. I worked by my self for so long I get uneasy when some is trying to help me.Stan
 
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