Amish Question

[scesnick]

I have an Amish contractor coming to build us a barn. I have a few questions about the Amish because I certainly do not want to offend them while they are working on my barn. I have heard that they will use power tools if a power supply is available. Is this accurate? I would hate to tote my generator to the build site and they look at me like I have three heads.
Also, what about caffeinated drinks ?

 

[nybirdman]

They may be different in your area but here we have the "Old Order" Amish and about as strict as they come.They will and do use power tools,phones and any sweets you are willing to supply.
They also will ride in any vehicle,won't drive or own but the will ride.
All the sects are different,just ask.

 

[murphy1244]

We have Amish and Mennonite here. My Barn builders used a gas compressor and a Bobcat with a PHD. Even carried a cell phone but says its not in his name. High tech is catching up to them. I think they will drink your water so bring it.

 

[davepg1]

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.

 

[DrRod]

As noted above, it all depends on the dictates of the individual order. A group of Amish work at my place periodically. They use air tools driven by a generator. They have a regular driver and share a cell phone kept at an English house. They even text me sometimes, which just kills me. When I have a question about something I just ask -- they may have some very different ways of doing things but they aren't martians.

 

[davesl708]

In my area the Amish use horse and buggy. Just remember the horse and buggy were modern and state of the art when they started using them.
A few questions up front will take care of ninety percent and be appreciated.

 

[KevT]

From those I have dealt with, they do not use line power, nothing that comes in on a pole. Generators, cell phones, battery, etc. are okay. Ask before you start taking pictures, most don't mind if asked, but they will not pose, action shots only or they will step away. And talk to them, they are nice people and will laugh at the things you say, we English are just as strange to them.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I find that they will make eye contact once the initial introduction is done but again it depends on the order. Simply ask them if they need a power source. Never assume anything. They usually build to what you expect but everything needs to be specified, trim, overhangs, etc. You probably know this but I will mention it anyway, don't take their picture.

The Amish farrier I pick up to bring to my place will readily ask me to do him a favor such as the time he needed to finish a shoeing job where he had not had the correct shoes with him. I only trim my horses so I readily agreed just to see him set shoes. He will also ask me to make calls for him on my cell but will not use the cell himself. But then the Amish around me a generally far more "relaxed" then many I used to do business with in the Lancaster, PA area.

Not sure if it's because this can be tough to eck out a living or because the Amish that I have dealt with have come from many different areas or what.

 

[Walt 2002]

"Much of what they will or won't use is dictated by the Church Elders." ( In their sect)

I think this pretty well sums it up. Ask politely as suggested several times. They recently put in a new concrete drive for us using diesel track hoe, gasoline powered trowel and vibrator, used our phone or their driver's who pulled their large trailer here loaded with their equipment. Were very nice, young sons, I'd guess 15 & 19 worked steadily and without direction, no profanity naturally.

At this point, very satisfied with their work and with the price which we got several bids on.

Walt Conner

 

[Jstpssng]

Definitely need to ask them anything they aren't sure about. You are the customer after all.

The one thing which seems universal is that they are very hard workers and the quality is great.

 

[s219]

I had CHA Pole Barns out of PA put up my barn -- the crew was two Amish guys (one the owner) and a non-Amish guy who drove the truck. The owner exchanged e-mails with me in the weeks before, and carried a cell phone, so he was clearly using some technology. They used extensive power tools -- compressor, saws, etc -- and had a bobcat with a real nice auger on the front. Nice truck and equipment, and he told me they run three crews like that.

Other than working harder and smarter than most people I know, they were pretty normal. They went to the local BBQ place every night for dinner and seemed real happy about it. Real nice group of guys.

I made a special 6 ga extension cord so I could run power the 300' to the barn. That worked well, no issues. If you run a generator, make sure it has enough guts to run a 20A supply at 110V. I made sure they had easy access to my garage to refill their water bottles, etc.

I think the funniest part of the experience was when the building inspector showed up around 11am the first morning, to inspect the footing holes for the posts (only inspection required during construction). It was a woman, who I met before when she did the final inspection on our home, so no surprise to me, but the crew seemed amused. The owner remarked "wow, a woman building inspector, that can only be good" and I thought to myself, wow, worlds are colliding here...

 

[MacLawn]

I'm now in an Amish family by marriage in the family. Like old davepg said, they like pay day about better than any group of people I know! Them Amish boys do love their money!! The family I'm in now has some who left Amish, and wow, I mean they are filthy rich! Wish they'd get me a bit dirty...:2cents:

And, just because they're Amish does not mean their work will be any better than us English either. Just treat'em with good old fashioned respect like you would anybody else. I wouldn't worry too much about offending them.

 

[ProjectKing]

I have an Amish contractor coming to build us a barn. I have a few questions about the Amish because I certainly do not want to offend them while they are working on my barn. I have heard that they will use power tools if a power supply is available. Is this accurate? I would hate to tote my generator to the build site and they look at me like I have three heads. Also, what about caffeinated drinks ?

Just ask them. I don't think you will offend them. Treat them nicely and they will be nice to you. (0: Nice of you to be concerned about hurting their feelings. (0;

 

[KretZ]

Out here in Montana there are "Hutterites" which are like Amish except they have no qualms about using technology. A guy I work with has a Hutterite contact who calls him up before he comes to town to see what kind of stuff he needs (pies, chickens, turkeys) That is where we are getting our bird for this year. :licking:

 

[buckeyefarmer]

We had an amish crew frame and roof a building, I also used them to reroof my house last year. these ones from PA did not drive, had a hired driver, but used cell phones and pneumatic tools. They brought their own generator/compressor, etc. And they also drank Mt. Dew when away from home. lol. They did good work, and I have pictures of them.

 

[LD1]

Ditto what everyone else has said. No way to know until you ask. Amish can be Absolutely no power tools, pictures, vehicles, etc to people who use every modern feature as you or I just dress differently, or anything in between.

Even have different levels in the same area.

Amish who built my parents used electric miter saws, circular saws, battery tools, air nailers, bobcat, 4wd forklift, cell phones, etc. This amish guys 3 sons were in business with him but were no longer amish. They drove the truck and trailer. But even the Amish "owner" Dad would hop in it and move it on site if needed.

And they drank coffee too IIRC

So it all just depends. You wont offend them by asking. You "may" offend them by assuming something wrong.

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.

What part of ohio you from?

 

[teejk]

As mentioned a lot, their "local" sets the rules. They are of Swiss origin after-all (the Swiss branch of the Anabaptists) and "local rule" trumps national rule. Also being Swiss, "cash is king" and their taxes are none of your business (with which I agree). Polite and true craftsman IMHO. One hint though...when they start talking to themselves in that modified "Svischy deutch" language, you know they are talking about you and there is no way you'll understand a word of it. Interesting culture (that I despise when it comes to our annual woodworking equipment auctions...I rarely get to buy anything with all that cash bidding against me).

 

[Got2BTru]

I'm going to look into this when building our barn, hopefully next fall. Not sure of where to even begin in CNY though.

 

[aczlan]

I'm going to look into this when building our barn, hopefully next fall. Not sure of where to even begin in CNY though.

Only one name you need to know, Ray Martin. His company is Martin Builders out of North Rose, NY. Their phone number is 315-587-9836.
We had him put up a pole barn for us this summer and his crews did a great job for an excellent price. I have known him since the mid 1990s when we had him shore up and re-side a barn (it still looks as good today as it did the day he finished).
Expect to be scheduled 6-8 weeks out (if not more).

Aaron Z

 

[polo1665]

Had Amish contractors do work at my place here in NE Ohio. Quality of work was great........mess they left behind was not. I pretty much had to clean up all of the construction debris after they left, along with the cigarette butts all over the yard. It's too bad, they did a nice job, but I would never recommend this contractor in particular due to the mess.
Not saying all Amish will leave a mess, just my experience.