Carpenters and would be handymen, need your input...

[Homerboy]

GC started up on the home addition today, and in talking to my wife he said "2 months work, would be another 2 weeks if he was doing the trim work"

I plan on doing the trim work myself to save some $$ and just because I like to do such things myself. But doesn't 2 weeks seem like a long-ass time? It would be ~6 windows, baseboards, 5 doorways and not much else. (bedroom and bathroom). Granted it's one guy that is doing the work (not a team) so the time frame would be a tad longer. But 2 weeks?

What did I get myself into? I fear I may have over extended myself/abilities here.

 

[lozina]

do you have a good miter saw and a nailgun? I think it would take me less than a week for that much trim work (assuming your standard trim - nothing fancy) and I'm factoring in paint work/caulking and I'm no pro. prime the pieces in batch before you nail them up (line up multiple pieces right up next to eachother so you can use a paint roller to paint a bunch at once, rotate the pieces and repeat to do other sides - will save some time doing it this way.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

*edit* misread. if it's just a bedroom and bath, thats about a days work for 2 guys.

 

[fitzov]

Just let the guy do the work. If you don't and you screw it up you're going to be sorry.

 

[Armitage]

Yea, two weeks seems pretty long for that small a job. I'm guessing about 2 days to cut & pre-finish the pieces - less if you paint instead of stain/poly. Then another day to actually put it up and another day to putty, finish, etc.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: fitzov
Just let the guy do the work. If you don't and you screw it up you're going to be sorry.

can I borrow $2k?

I have a decent miter, no nail gun though. Figure Ill just rent one of the day or so... or just go old school on it.

Certainly will be painting before I put up.
I dunno, this is coming from my wife too, so I'm sure something got lost in translation.

 

[DainBramaged]

I asked my grandfather who has been a carpenter for 52 years. He said that it would take him about two days.

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: fitzov
Just let the guy do the work. If you don't and you screw it up you're going to be sorry.

can I borrow $2k?

I have a decent miter, no nail gun though. Figure Ill just rent one of the day or so... or just go old school on it.

Certainly will be painting before I put up.
I dunno, this is coming from my wife too, so I'm sure something got lost in translation.

I'd just buy a finish nailer if you can't borrow one and you have a compressor. They aren't that much relative to the $2K you'd pay the contractor. Don't go "old school". Hanging trim is *much* easier with a finish nailer, particularly if you're working alone. And you'll probably end up with hammer dings otherwise.

 

[Homerboy]

no compressor... could borrow one I guess.
don't they make electirc nail guns? or is that a waste of time?

 

[fitzov]

can I borrow $2k?

You mean you didn't think your addition would cost as much as it's going to?

 

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
no compressor... could borrow one I guess.
don't they make electirc nail guns? or is that a waste of time?

I've seen electric brad nailers, not sure about finish nailers.
But this is a great opportunity! "Honey, if I spend $500 on tools, I can save us $2000!"

 

[nutxo]

I do quite a bit of handyman work. I ALWAYS give a longer timeframe.

#1 To give me time in case things dotn go just right.

#2 Some people feel ripped off when they pay you 400 dollars for a days work.

 

[Electric Amish]

It could take awhile. It depends on what he's doing.

First off, I don't know if the finish nailers will auto-set a nail or not. If so, that will save a lot of time. Otherwise you'll have to hand-set each nail.

Then you have to spackle and sand each nail hole and each joint. I assume he's doing that.

Also, is that 2 weeks @ 8hr/day or what?

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: fitzov

can I borrow $2k?

You mean you didn't think your addition would cost as much as it's going to?

know I know how much its going to cost... and put aside an extra 10%
but if I can save $2k why shouldn't I?

Amish: Yeah normal 8hrs day $440/day

Hell I don't care if it takes me 6 months to do it. If I save $2k I save $2k. of course the little lady wants into her new bedroom ASAP though

 

[Izzo]

I seem to recall Paslode making a really nice cordless finishing nailer. I used their heavy duty cordless framing nail gun and it sucked donkey balls. But their small, finishing nail gun worked wonders and made trimming a lot easier. It fired easily everytime and had a good adjustment for amount of drive in the nail. I rarely had to use a punch to set the head of the nail into the wood. You should be able to rent one of these. They are a lot more convenient than worrying about air compressor and hoses.

DO NOT old school it. It will likely look like ass when you are finished. '

2 weeks sounds like a lot for trimming out a job like this for an experienced carpenter.

edit: Paslode Cordless

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: Izzo
I seem to recall Paslode making a really nice cordless finishing nailer. I used their heavy duty cordless framing nail gun and it sucked donkey balls. But their small, finishing nail gun worked wonders and made trimming a lot easier. It fired easily everytime and had a good adjustment for amount of drive in the nail. I rarely had to use a punch to set the head of the nail into the wood. You should be able to rent one of these. They are a lot more convenient than worrying about air compressor and hoses.

DO NOT old school it. It will likely look like ass when you are finished. '

2 weeks sounds like a lot for trimming out a job like this for an experienced carpenter.

edit: Paslode Cordless

Cool very good to know.
I have some friends who are handier than me lined up to lend a hand too, so I feel we can knock it out.

 

[ITJunkie]

Originally posted by: Homerboy

Originally posted by: fitzov
Just let the guy do the work. If you don't and you screw it up you're going to be sorry.

can I borrow $2k?

I have a decent miter, no nail gun though. Figure Ill just rent one of the day or so... or just go old school on it.

Certainly will be painting before I put up.
I dunno, this is coming from my wife too, so I'm sure something got lost in translation.

Definitely rent the nail gun. Nothing is a bigger "p1ss-me-off" then when I make great miter cuts that fit like a glove and then dent the trim with my hammer. The money for renting the right tools is worth its weight in gold when the completed job looks really nice!

 

[Homerboy]

Definitely rent the nail gun. Nothing is a bigger "p1ss-me-off" then when I make great miter cuts that fit like a glove and then dent the trim with my hammer. The money for renting the right tools is worth its weight in gold when the completed job looks really nice!

yeah I dunno why I really made that "Old School" comment. I planned on renting/borrowing a nail gun for doing it (likley borrowing so it can get done at my leisure). I've put up moldings before with a hammer and realized quickly that there was a better way.