The buck stops with the GC

March 22 2008

In the last couple of days I, as the GC, have been in the center of the storm called the 'Moment Frame'. More on the moment frame later, but suffice it to say that it is a 8,000 pound steel structure that becomes the frame for the front of the house. Also, this steel frame will cost as much as the entire lumber package. Steel prices are at an all time high. A mistake with this part of the stucture is a very expensive mistake.

A critical part of the moment frame install happened at the time of the concrete pour. We had to locate and place four 24 inch threaded bolts into the concrete to support the frame. (Similar to how a lamp post is secured on a sidewalk. Next time you walk by a city lamp post notice how it is bolted to the sidewalk. That is how this moment frame is bolted to my house).

The concrete guy said he did not want to take any responsiblity for the placement of these bolts. The plans were VERY specific about where these bolt should be on the wall. I didn't want to get this wrong. The good news is that I got the bolts in the right place. The bad news is that they should have been sunk further into the concrete so that we had an easier method to make the moment frame plumb and level. The bolts are in the concrete per the plans but because I didn't understand how the moment frame really attached to these bolts we have a minor work around for getting it level. (If you would like to understand the finer details of jacket nuts and how to plumb a 8,000 pound moment frame and tolerances for non shrink grout....email me and will be happy to discuss.)

The steel guy, who happens to be Irish with a very sexy accent, is the one who pointed this out to me and he immediately blamed the concrete guy. He was adamant that the concrete guy didn't read the plans and didn't sink them in far enough. I told him that I felt responsible and it was my fault. I mean I dont think the concrete guy has much experience with moment frames either. If he did, I am confident he would have said "Hey Sara, we have to sink this in farther than your plans so we can put a jacket nut on these threads."

This made me realize how easy it might be to point the finger at other trades if something goes wrong. THe sheetrocker can blame the framer, the tile guy can blame the sheetrocker etc etc etc....

This and a couple of mis prints on the blueprints got me thinking about the blame game. I have heard countless times from various friends how different subs and even the GC starts pointing the finger at any other sub-contractor for a mistake.

The buck should stop with the GC. I think a critical question when hiring a GC, might be something like this: "Will you take full responsbility for all mistakes that are made with this project?". Unequivocally, the GC should say yes. Otherwise, I would move on down the road and find another one.