Amish Question

[ultrarunner]

Interesting to read as I don't think I have ever come across a Amish work crew in the SF Bay Area.

Plenty of other groups... all Irish, Mormon, Mexican, Salvadoran, Czech, Russian, Cambodian and Korean...

 

[aczlan]

When they were almost done the lead guy (owner) asked me if I wanted the left over lumber. I told him that I definitely did (figured if I paid for it......). Well, there was a lot of lumber left and I am wondering if I may have made them mad by making them leave it behind. The mess they left was terrible, not just construction material..........pop cans, empty cigarette packs, lunch trash, etc.

Probably depends on the crew. The Mennonite crew who did our barn left things very well picked up at the end of each day.
They really liked it that I had a dumpster 20 feet away from the building site which I said they could use.
Aaron Z

 

[mark02tj]

LOL.......Yoder Toter :laughing:

LOL!! Hadn't heard that one before!!

 

[sixdogs]

They will bring everything they need. Tell the women to be modest. No shorts, etc. Amish around here are pretty street smart and steer clear of what they need to.

 

[s219]

The crew who did my barn cleaned up at the end of each day and I had them toss stuff in my tractor bucket so I could dump it in my trailer. They left me all the lumber that was left, which I have put to good use in the time since. I quickly used up the rough-sawn pine siding planks, but still have a lot of battens left, 16' long. I have used the scraps for a lot of projects, and anything that is too twisty or punky becomes kindling.

 

[buickanddeere]

Much of what they will or won't use is dictated by the Church Elders. Some will use battery powered tools, some won't. None that I know of will use anything directly tied to the power grid. If they are "old order", they won't touch much of anything using electric in my area. The rules are different per area. Just don't cuss in front of them and most will not look you in the eye when talking to them. Outsiders are the "English" and they sure love us when they get paid, but not so much any other time.

That is why I always have my Scottish wife do the business talking with the old order Amish and Mennonite . She is 6'1" plus what ever height heels she is wearing . The Amish tend to be short little twerts about 5'6". The Almish don't enjoy the negotiations but they do like the English's money.

 

[John White]

My experience with them or other pole building contractors was not the best. First of all, I don't like to have to stand watch over a contractor and his help. I have work to do too and cannot devote the time to standing there measuring every thing to see if it is square, nailed right, lined up right. I have had 4 pole type buildings put up and I should have just taken time off from work and baby sit them. #1 building was a 32x34. After paying them, I was putting some siding on it, and noticed the truss spacing didn't look right. Checked it out 3" out of square. #2 building a 52x84. Didn't put shingles on right. Tacks were put in at a angle (not flush) within a year I had holes every where. #3 building 32x40, trusses not set level, 3" bow in 40 ft. Then on #4 building 50x80. Some one told me if you want a building put up right use Amish. I located a Amish contractor that specialized in pole type buildings. My only really request was that all the holes for the siding and roof be drilled on the ground before panels were set up. My other buildings have a droopy, sagging chalk line in places, with the nails in a bow. He said no problem. They measured and drilled about 6 sheets at a time. After building was completed, about a year later I noticed some of the screws coming out. Got up on a ladder and found they had just barely caught the 2x4, right on the edge and some places missed it. On the roof they used 1" screws and the all keep working loose. Should have used longer screws, and completely missed the 2x4 in a few places.. Tried to call them and phone disconnected. Plus I had specified a 12' door height and allow for 6" of concrete floor. They measured from ground to top of door and did not allow for 6" of floor.

 

[nybirdman]

Just because they are Amish doesn't make them master craftsmen.I have seen both sides in our area.The very good ones are always busy.We are lucky that we found a group that does excellent work.They are starting the third major project for us this month.
On our work we purchase kiln dried lumber and do not use Amish "green"lumber...too many problems with that.

 

[DrRod]

I've found that their drivers are drivers because they can't do anything else. My Amish friends have a driver with only one arm. He'll do a little helping but generally has a hard time participating in a construction project. And my Amish friends smoke but don't drink. They don't leave a big mess but aren't all that conscientious about food wrappers and little stuff.

 

[dodge man]

I didn't read all the posts but I've had the Amish work on my house a couple of times. The contractor took care of everything, he wasn't Amish. In my area, part of the deal is you drive them to the job site and home every day and feed them lunch. They never had any problems using power tools.

Don't worry about offending them, they will let you know if there is something they won't do. They are just regular people also, and having talked to several of them over the years I just talked to them like regular people and never felt I offended them. They joke and have fun also.