Amish Question

   / Amish Question #21  
Get what you want done in writing with an estimated price. Make sure you specify a payment plan that once x is complete then y is paid. Final payment is contigent on work being completed. We had the Amish build us a pole building and they tried several times to ask for more money after the price was agreed to. We also had them back twice to finish the final details before they got the final check. The work they did was just fine and I would have them back following what I have laid out.
 
   / Amish Question #22  
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.
Last barn I had built was by a Mennonite family/company. While there were no cigarette butts laying about, I was a bit concerned about the lack of a daily jobsite cleanup. However, at the end nothing was left behind. Not even the dunnage (6x6 cutoffs) that I was going to use for working on equipment and such.
 
   / Amish Question #23  
Get what you want done in writing with an estimated price. Make sure you specify a payment plan that once x is complete then y is paid. Final payment is contigent on work being completed. We had the Amish build us a pole building and they tried several times to ask for more money after the price was agreed to. We also had them back twice to finish the final details before they got the final check. The work they did was just fine and I would have them back following what I have laid out.
The builder I mentioned in my previous post wanted x amount to start, x amount at a certain point and x amount when finished.

The building was a horse barn. I was planning to build out the stalls myself and happened to mention it one day. Having a ballpark number in my head already, the builder said he would give me a number the next day. Turned out, he could do it cheaper than I could even buy the material.
 
   / Amish Question #24  
The builder I mentioned in my previous post wanted x amount to start, x amount at a certain point and x amount when finished.

The building was a horse barn. I was planning to build out the stalls myself and happened to mention it one day. Having a ballpark number in my head already, the builder said he would give me a number the next day. Turned out, he could do it cheaper than I could even buy the material.

That's pretty typical, I would put those numbers in writing though. Things have a habit of changing when things progress . I have had Amish come and buy hay off of me and after it was loaded they tried to negotiate a lower price after I had told them what the price was up front. Talk about getting my blood boiling!! Now if you want a bunch of things changed during the process that is entirely different.

I guess I am sounding like a hard *** or paranoid but I don't like when things change after we agree upon something you know?? If you have them build the stalls let me make a suggestion. We have 12 stalls built out of 1 inch rough cut and they are not heavy enough. We built 10 more out of 2 inch rough cut and they are solid. Make sure you brace and secure them beyond the minimum so that they last.
 
   / Amish Question #26  
Amish don't believe in tobacco or alcohol, are you sure they were Amish?

Amish don't believe in tobacco! ? I dunno what sects are what but the ones around here always have a pipe or a thin cigar on them. I will say I don't think I have ever seen them drink but my friends have ran into the younger ones on ramspringer or what ever their wild time is and they drink alot.
 
   / Amish Question #27  
Amish don't believe in tobacco or alcohol, are you sure they were Amish?

About 5 years ago I hired a contractor that used Amish crews. They did pretty good work (I did find some things that I made them go back and re-do) but I was surprised at a couple of things. Several of them smoked and I did hear some cursing from some of them. No *-word, but there was language that made me raise an eyebrow.

The fact that they used power tools didn't surprise me. I had heard that they could use just about any modern thing available as long as they didn't actually own it.

I will say this - that Amish crew knocked out the job!! We had a big hail storm come through and every house in the neighborhood (and for a large area around us) was getting a new roof and vinyl siding. I watched other crews in the neighborhood take well over a week to do a house. This crew (6 or 7 guys - I don't think I actually counted them) stripped the old roof, re-roofed, stripped and replaced the old vinyl siding, powerwashed and stained the deck, powerwashed and clear coated a cedar fence (about 300 linear feet), powerwashed and stained a 9x12 shed, reroofed the shed, replaced about 5 or 6 cedar fenceposts and a couple of other things I'm probably forgetting in 3 or 4 days! Pretty amazing!!

Another thing that I found that was interesting was that their driver was just that - a driver! Once he had them on the job site, he basically sat around and did nothing. He would occasionally run an errand for them, but he sure didn't help out around the job site. Maybe that job description explained the physical shape he was in! :laughing:
 
   / Amish Question #28  
Amish don't believe in tobacco or alcohol, are you sure they were Amish?

No alcohol, but yes many Young Amish men smoke around here.
 
   / Amish Question #29  
Last barn I had built was by a Mennonite family/company. While there were no cigarette butts laying about, I was a bit concerned about the lack of a daily jobsite cleanup. However, at the end nothing was left behind. Not even the dunnage (6x6 cutoffs) that I was going to use for working on equipment and such.

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.
 
   / Amish Question #30  
Another thing that I found that was interesting was that their driver was just that - a driver! Once he had them on the job site, he basically sat around and did nothing. He would occasionally run an errand for them, but he sure didn't help out around the job site. Maybe that job description explained the physical shape he was in!

LOL.......Yoder Toter :laughing:
 
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   / Amish Question #31  
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...
 
   / Amish Question #32  
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
 
   / Amish Question #34  
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.
 
   / Amish Question #35  
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.
 
   / Amish Question #36  
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.
 
   / Amish Question #37  
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.
 
   / Amish Question #38  
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.
 
   / Amish Question #39  
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.
 
   / Amish Question #40  
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.
 

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