mercredi 14 décembre 2016

New Home Constr these days surprises me (poor quality)

For the last ten years or so, I have often had several jobs at a time, or a job with one on the side, etc. Just the nature of the economy and trying to get by.

Right now, I have been helping a crew that cleans homes, occasionally residents' homes, but most often, cleaning new construction homes to get them ready for owners to move in. Small company, nice owners, do a better than normal very detailed job.

So, over the last couple months I've seen new homes built by several different builders. These are not what you would call mass development average homes. They are custom and mid to upper end nice places.

I'm surprised at the poor quality of both materials and workmanship (kinda sad to call it "workmanship") that I've seen.

I do not intend to personally insult anyone here that makes their living as a builder or contractor. I also don't intend to offend anyone who lives in a new home or such. Hope nobody takes it as a bashing against an entire group. I'm just putting some observations and ponderings here that are my own. To each his own, and maybe I'm not normal in my expectations. Nothing wrong with different views.
I'm fully aware that there are quality "new" things out there somewhere. I just thought that the higher end homes would reveal some of that. But it appears, at least around here, it is more rare that I thought.

Around here, you can buy a basic new home in a quickly put together development for anywhere from 150k to 350k. You have to expect in the speed these things go from forest or pasture to housing with bermed up landscaping and cookie cutter homes, quality may not be first on the list of priorities. You could not give me one of these places.

With the higher priced custom homes I've been seeing lately, I expected more time and quality. But it's really just the same **** with a higher price tag.
Often, the doors are not sanded properly, matter of fact, pretty much all wood surfaces not sanded properly.
Wood trim is basically sawdust grade.
The paint looks like 3rd grade kids could do as well, barely covering the wood and sometimes not at all.
And the carpet OMG, I thought technology would have come farther with materials that are lasting. This stuff sheds and shreds little pieces you can just pull with your fingers, it comes right out. How long will that get vacuumed before it dissolves? And the installers miss attaching edges and corners.
High end marble or granite countertops with uneven sealant.
Entry way thresholds that sink when you step on them.
Corner trims that don't meet properly, just caulk in there and call it good.
Cabinet doors and drawers that self shut. Those tracks are not that great. They look fancy when empty and playing with them. But we remove them all, shop vac and then wipe to remove all dust, so I've seen how they work up close. Fill them with stuff, and add a few kids who aren't careful, and I don't see them lasting long.

I could go on, but basically, you get the idea.
I think maybe there's too many people involved. They don't communicate well, and they don't care, as long as "their part" is completed... whatever that means.
The trim installer isn't going to paint, so why should he care if the surfaces are suitable? The painters just paint, so who cares if it's not sanded properly, as long as it gets covered with paint? etc. etc.

But hey! It passed the gov inspection guidelines, so it must be awesome, right?!

Used to be, when I was young, there were a couple builders around here that you knew would build a home right. They've passed away or retired now. One's family still is in business, but is not the same. Competition from big conglomerate builders shut them out or they sacrifice both quality and profit.

I think it's a parallel to the general evolution of how things are these days in many other areas as well. You just can't find good "stuff" anymore.

I know I'm biased as the home I grew up in was built in 1965 and to this day, you can't find a nail that isn't properly seated, a hinge that isn't solid, or any other flaw in craftsmanship. Both of the only 2 homes I've ever owned were built in 1923.

I don't think these new places will last 50 years, even with 7 digit price tags. Do you? I've never desired a new home. I wish I had more land, but I am grateful for the structure I have. I don't envy young people looking to set roots and raise a family these days. The largest investment they will probably ever make looks very unstable to me.

Is quality building that hard to find? or is it maybe just my area? What do y'all see in your areas?

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New Home Constr these days surprises me (poor quality)

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