Roofing contractor working at 6:20am on Saturday.

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Over the 30+ years of painting I had customer's neighbors make projects more difficult than they had to be. We were doing exterior work and needed access to a next door neighbors property to safely stand a ladder to get to a high portion of the house we were working on. As it turns out these people hated each other and we were denied access. I had to erect scaffolding, something I didn't plan on which added grief and additional costs. Another person complained of the smell of paint we were applying on a house 50' away from her. The list goes on, I managed to work through it. I often wonder why some people act the way they do. I could see complaining about a loud radio at 7:00 in the morning, but people do have to work, and an early start during hot weather is always nice. JMO
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: bigmike
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Stop being a whiny neighbor with nothing better to do, its one morning out of your life, wake up and take advantage of it. I deal with crying neighbors all the time, by ignoring them. Last guy that cried about noise I told him to stop bother me and call the cops, never did. Cops will either tell you to stop working or give you a [censored] fine, which I rather pay for my roofer than risk him getting heat stroke.

If they really get annoying I set up the gas compressor and usuualy generator on their side. At precisely 7AM of course.

It gets hot in the summer, they have to start early. Ever roofed before?


This kind of attitude is disrespectful. If I came to you with an honest request and you gave me lip in return, you'd be the one calling the police. I'd expect no different if the shoe was on the other foot.


Id tend to agree. I have no doubt that rooftop work stinks bigtime in the summer heat, but to disrespect the neighborhood, its ordinances and the neighbors is just horrible.

To think that one's business is more important than unsuspecting people in the adjacent lots is really a sense of entitlement too.

Two options though - 1, if the houses are far spread apart, say 3/4+ acre lots, its likely no big deal, and 2, if the person getting the work done asked the neighbors if it was OK to do this for a short time, and they said it was OK, then its a different story...


I'm all for getting work done early. After all, I live in Florida and it's just awful on a roof.

However, some people think they're special. I'm surprised that contractors with the attitude displayed earlier are still in business. If I complained to one of my neighbors that they were using a contractor that disrespected people (placing all the loud machinery on the complainant's side of the building), they'd fire them and find someone that kept more peaceful qualities.

I believe it is a matter of courtesy to discuss with neighbors anything that may be detrimental to a neighborly relationship. After all, they can make your life miserable too. Obviously, that responsibility doesn't fall on the contractor to secure.
 
Originally Posted By: bigmike


I believe it is a matter of courtesy to discuss with neighbors anything that may be detrimental to a neighborly relationship. After all, they can make your life miserable too. Obviously, that responsibility doesn't fall on the contractor to secure.


Here's what I learned over the years. If I need access to a neighbors property to stand a ladder, or if I feel water from washing a house or deck might touch their property, or anything else like starting early because of weather, here's what I do. Before I submit my estimate I talk to the neighbor and ask permission. If I detect I'm going to have a problem I adjust price accordingly. If I don't get the job that's fine, I let my competition have the headache.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: bigmike


I believe it is a matter of courtesy to discuss with neighbors anything that may be detrimental to a neighborly relationship. After all, they can make your life miserable too. Obviously, that responsibility doesn't fall on the contractor to secure.


Here's what I learned over the years. If I need access to a neighbors property to stand a ladder, or if I feel water from washing a house or deck might touch their property, or anything else like starting early because of weather, here's what I do. Before I submit my estimate I talk to the neighbor and ask permission. If I detect I'm going to have a problem I adjust price accordingly. If I don't get the job that's fine, I let my competition have the headache.


Over the course of reading your posts, I really never expected much different from you. Good contractors are increasingly difficult to find, especially in any trade work. My grandfather ran a successful well drilling business for decades and I know what character someone must possess in order to do a job in a respectable manner. I wish you all the best.
 
Originally Posted By: bigmike
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: bigmike


I believe it is a matter of courtesy to discuss with neighbors anything that may be detrimental to a neighborly relationship. After all, they can make your life miserable too. Obviously, that responsibility doesn't fall on the contractor to secure.


Here's what I learned over the years. If I need access to a neighbors property to stand a ladder, or if I feel water from washing a house or deck might touch their property, or anything else like starting early because of weather, here's what I do. Before I submit my estimate I talk to the neighbor and ask permission. If I detect I'm going to have a problem I adjust price accordingly. If I don't get the job that's fine, I let my competition have the headache.


Over the course of reading your posts, I really never expected much different from you. Good contractors are increasingly difficult to find, especially in any trade work. My grandfather ran a successful well drilling business for decades and I know what character someone must possess in order to do a job in a respectable manner. I wish you all the best.


Thanks for the kind words, I wish you the best as well!

Years ago when I was younger and a little less wiser I'd gamble a bit more. As I got older I learned the easiest way not to have problems was to avoid them at all costs. Knowing what you're dealing with before hand pays off big time. It takes minutes to introduce myself to the surrounding neighbors and get their blessings. I even landed new customers by doing that, and passed on jobs as well. Nothing more rewarding than seeing my competition lose their shirt because of a difficult neighbor tossing obstacles in their way. lol
 
Originally Posted By: bigmike
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: bigmike
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Stop being a whiny neighbor with nothing better to do, its one morning out of your life, wake up and take advantage of it. I deal with crying neighbors all the time, by ignoring them. Last guy that cried about noise I told him to stop bother me and call the cops, never did. Cops will either tell you to stop working or give you a [censored] fine, which I rather pay for my roofer than risk him getting heat stroke.

If they really get annoying I set up the gas compressor and usuualy generator on their side. At precisely 7AM of course.

It gets hot in the summer, they have to start early. Ever roofed before?


This kind of attitude is disrespectful. If I came to you with an honest request and you gave me lip in return, you'd be the one calling the police. I'd expect no different if the shoe was on the other foot.


Id tend to agree. I have no doubt that rooftop work stinks bigtime in the summer heat, but to disrespect the neighborhood, its ordinances and the neighbors is just horrible.

To think that one's business is more important than unsuspecting people in the adjacent lots is really a sense of entitlement too.

Two options though - 1, if the houses are far spread apart, say 3/4+ acre lots, its likely no big deal, and 2, if the person getting the work done asked the neighbors if it was OK to do this for a short time, and they said it was OK, then its a different story...


I'm all for getting work done early. After all, I live in Florida and it's just awful on a roof.

However, some people think they're special. I'm surprised that contractors with the attitude displayed earlier are still in business. If I complained to one of my neighbors that they were using a contractor that disrespected people (placing all the loud machinery on the complainant's side of the building), they'd fire them and find someone that kept more peaceful qualities.

I believe it is a matter of courtesy to discuss with neighbors anything that may be detrimental to a neighborly relationship. After all, they can make your life miserable too. Obviously, that responsibility doesn't fall on the contractor to secure.


I'm not a contractor I own the property and am for a time at least their neighbor.

I'm a builder, most neighbors don't like me because I come in and tell them they can't dump their yard [censored] on my land anymore, or move their encroaching sheds/fences off my land.

Most people see some vacant land and just assume they can do whatever they want with it, well that's not always the case their is an owner.

So as a result I'm usually not very well liked, and quite frankly don't care.
 
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Originally Posted By: JHZR2
What if you have an infant that sleeps lightly and when it wakes up, it cries a lot? What if you worked night shifts and were trying to get to sleep around that time? Would that have any bearing? Or should everyone just grin and bear it?



Would 40 minutes be that big of a deal?

Seriously, if those were your concern then any roofing work any time during the day would be a problem to you unless you want them to work late afternoon on a very hot roof.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Over the 30+ years of painting I had customer's neighbors make projects more difficult than they had to be. We were doing exterior work and needed access to a next door neighbors property to safely stand a ladder to get to a high portion of the house we were working on. As it turns out these people hated each other and we were denied access. I had to erect scaffolding, something I didn't plan on which added grief and additional costs. Another person complained of the smell of paint we were applying on a house 50' away from her. The list goes on, I managed to work through it. I often wonder why some people act the way they do. I could see complaining about a loud radio at 7:00 in the morning, but people do have to work, and an early start during hot weather is always nice. JMO


You have no right to expect access to another's property. Zero.
It is YOUR fault that this was not forseen and dealt with in your estimate.
 
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Over the 30+ years of painting I had customer's neighbors make projects more difficult than they had to be. We were doing exterior work and needed access to a next door neighbors property to safely stand a ladder to get to a high portion of the house we were working on. As it turns out these people hated each other and we were denied access. I had to erect scaffolding, something I didn't plan on which added grief and additional costs. Another person complained of the smell of paint we were applying on a house 50' away from her. The list goes on, I managed to work through it. I often wonder why some people act the way they do. I could see complaining about a loud radio at 7:00 in the morning, but people do have to work, and an early start during hot weather is always nice. JMO

You have no right to expect access to another's property. Zero.
It is YOUR fault that this was not forseen and dealt with in your estimate.

True you don't have a right, but on the other hand the neighbor doesn't have to a be a **** just be one either. Sometimes you have to run into these types of neighbors and start taking into account that possibility. For me I have little problem with working with someone that isn't going to hurt my property or cause me a problem.
 
Quit your whining. It's not like it happens every day of the year. Sheeeeeesh. If that's all you have to whine about, you must have a pretty boring life.
 
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Over the 30+ years of painting I had customer's neighbors make projects more difficult than they had to be. We were doing exterior work and needed access to a next door neighbors property to safely stand a ladder to get to a high portion of the house we were working on. As it turns out these people hated each other and we were denied access. I had to erect scaffolding, something I didn't plan on which added grief and additional costs. Another person complained of the smell of paint we were applying on a house 50' away from her. The list goes on, I managed to work through it. I often wonder why some people act the way they do. I could see complaining about a loud radio at 7:00 in the morning, but people do have to work, and an early start during hot weather is always nice. JMO


You have no right to expect access to another's property. Zero.
It is YOUR fault that this was not forseen and dealt with in your estimate.


Did I ever say I had a right to access someone's property? I never did, I don't have a right and know it. I learned once by asking after I started a job and got shot down. That was 30 years ago, I learned and never forgot.

Let me put it in different words. I never said I had a right, I check first to see if the neighbor is going to be a ****, before I give the price to the customer. If he's a ****, I pass on the job, and let some greenhorn newbie get burnt. I've been at this a long time, and know all the ins and outs. If the customer himself is a **** on the estimate I pass too. There are plenty of good people to work for no point in chasing down A-oles.

As a side note I never give an estimate at the time I look at the job, I go home and figure it out. Especially with exterior work that requires access from someone else's property. I want to be [censored] sure I can access a neighbor's property if need be before I give a price, or get involved for that matter.

I just turned a job down because a new customer wanted to pay me on his terms. $5,000 worth of work, and get paid when I finish, sorry no cigar. If I worked for him before not a problem.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint

Did I ever say I had a right to access someone's property? I never did, I don't have a right and know it. I learned once by asking after I started a job and got shot down. That was 30 years ago, I learned and never forgot.

Let me put it in different words. I never said I had a right, I check first to see if the neighbor is going to be a ****, before I give the price to the customer. If he's a ****, I pass on the job, and let some greenhorn newbie get burnt. I've been at this a long time, and know all the ins and outs. If the customer himself is a **** on the estimate I pass too. There are plenty of good people to work for no point in chasing down A-oles.

As a side note I never give an estimate at the time I look at the job, I go home and figure it out. Especially with exterior work that requires access from someone else's property. I want to be [censored] sure I can access a neighbor's property if need be before I give a price, or get involved for that matter.

I just turned a job down because a new customer wanted to pay me on his terms. $5,000 worth of work, and get paid when I finish, sorry no cigar. If I worked for him before not a problem.


Well said!
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That is how my Brother and I handled the whole quote process and neighbor issues too. If we gave a quote and then the client started trying to haggle the price down, pushed for terms different than our standard policy on payment, asked for price break downs and parts lists saying they want to buy the stuff, and so on we just walked away. Not worth the hassle.

Also the initial visit to see the job so we could come up with a quote was also a sort of interview for the client and their spouse. If one or both were clearly ***** as you called them we politely declined to even offer a quote. Our work quality and work ethic was well known and we always had plenty of work to do. Working for people that are clearly going to be difficult to deal with is not worth your time. At least when you are not desperate for a job anwyay.
 
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Bravo! "There are plenty of good people to work for no point in chasing down A-oles."

Same here. We love to tell folks that we only work for the nicest people. If I see the slightest bit of idiocy (my 'radar' is good) I will quickly move on.

Screwy neighbors are why we bought acreage!
 
Good fences make good neighbors.
An old but true axiom.
People are not ___s because they do not want or allow others on their property.
Did you even consider if anything went wrong or someone got hurt that they may legally be at fault?
And they do not even need a reason - it's their property.
 
How many of you have roofed? It isn't just working in the heat, it is what the heat does to composition roofing. When I re-roofed our house in 2008 (in the middle of 20 acres, no neighbor problems) I worked early mornings and in the evenings. I also took carpet scraps up there to work on, both to protect and cushion me and to protect and cushion the installed roofing. Just walking on a composition roof on a hot day can leave marks.

Sometimes having a little understanding of a one day inconvenience is worth while. Being sympathetic to the neighbor about having to pay for a new roof might get his help with something you need later.

It is never worth getting into a fight with your neighbors.
 
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Good fences make good neighbors.
An old but true axiom.
People are not ___s because they do not want or allow others on their property.
Did you even consider if anything went wrong or someone got hurt that they may legally be at fault?
And they do not even need a reason - it's their property.


I agree 100%. I also carry insurance up the yin yang for that very reason, and offer proof of insurance for anyone who questions it. Still there are certain jobs where customers neighbors won't allow access. If the customer I plan on working for is a person worth working for, the additional rigging etc. is factored into the price. If I get the job fine, if not, oh well. If the neighbor, or the customer is a **** its game over before it even started.

I don't like surprises, and have only been burnt 2 or 3 times in 30+ years. Funny thing is I knew those customers were going to be a problem and went against my gut. I don't do that anymore.
 
Originally Posted By: Boatowner
How many of you have roofed? It isn't just working in the heat, it is what the heat does to composition roofing. When I re-roofed our house in 2008 (in the middle of 20 acres, no neighbor problems) I worked early mornings and in the evenings. I also took carpet scraps up there to work on, both to protect and cushion me and to protect and cushion the installed roofing. Just walking on a composition roof on a hot day can leave marks.

Sometimes having a little understanding of a one day inconvenience is worth while. Being sympathetic to the neighbor about having to pay for a new roof might get his help with something you need later.

It is never worth getting into a fight with your neighbors.


I think the majority of us agree with this, but suggest the home owner would have gotten alot more kudos if he had told his neighbors that ahead of time. Some people don't care and that's how neighbor quarrels begin and, once that starts, it rarely ever ends well.

I grew up in a ghetto where people were still partying at 6:20AM on the week day (or a whole host of other unpleasant and usually illegal activity).

The people where I live now are polite and respectful people. I go way out of my way to make sure it stays this way. I could give numerous examples of favors we've done for each other because of the relationships that have been forged by just being nice.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
If the neighbor, or the customer is a **** its game over before it even started.
I don't like surprises, and have only been burnt 2 or 3 times in 30+ years. Funny thing is I knew those customers were going to be a problem and went against my gut. I don't do that anymore.


NEVER question your gut feeling. It's probably right!
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8


NEVER question your gut feeling. It's probably right!


Exactly, once you have some experience under your belt you have every reason to trust your instincts when it comes to other people.
 
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