Drywall contractor wants to bankrupt me!

[ultrarunner]

Pulling return air temporary from outside the construction zone will greatly reduce drywall related problems.

One of the local high end builders has a pallet of hardboard and duct tape... any flooring that needs protection has hardboard on top with duct tape seams.

Floor covering is very temp specific from my two weeks at the Armstrong Training school... all material required normalizing to the surrounding...

I've painted a lot of homes and would always leave the furnace on and windows cracked... the property owners sometimes would pitch a fit... "Rental Property"

The alternative is to push the job out...

 

[4570Man]

Why do you crack the windows? I’ve painted plenty of houses with latex paint and never had a problem with fumes.

 

[ultrarunner]

Why do you crack the windows? I’ve painted plenty of houses with latex paint and never had a problem with fumes.

I use a lot of oil... maybe 1/3 of the job is oil.

I crack the windows with the furnace on so the water vapor and fumes can get out.

Also... having everything up to temp makes life easier... paint and surfaces...

Been there and done that... painting when it is in the 30's outside and 40's inside... once was enough.

 

[fried1765]

I use a lot of oil... maybe 1/3 of the job is oil.

I crack the windows with the furnace on so the water vapor and fumes can get out.

Also... having everything up to temp makes life easier... paint and surfaces...

Been there and done that... painting when it is in the 30's outside and 40's inside... once was enough.

You live in California, and they will still sell you oil paint?
Tisk--Tisk, that should certainly be a No-No in Ca.
I can only buy oil paint in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts if it is "Industrial".
Also: Can't buy pump dispensed ethanol free gas anywhere in Ma.

Do you use ethanol free 100 octane LL (airplane) in your antique vehicles?

 

[MossRoad]

Yeah, it's not so much the fumes, but the moisture.


Still, on the OP's job, he said they'll have to keep the house at 64+ until April. 5 months. But he didn't say how long the drywall job itself is supposed to take. I'd guess two weeks tops. Once everything is sanded, painted and the dust cleaned up, he can turn on the furnace and not worry about warranty.

So why do they need to keep the electric heaters on for 5 months? Are they actually planning to take 5 months to do a drywall job?? :confused3:

 

[ultrarunner]

You live in California, and they will still sell you oil paint?
Tisk--Tisk, that should certainly be a No-No in Ca.
I can only buy oil paint in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Taxachusetts if it is "Industrial".
Also: Can't buy pump dispensed ethanol free gas anywhere in Ma.

Do you use ethanol free 100 octane LL (airplane) in your antique vehicles?

Have to buy it in quarts now...

The airports here are fortified... not really an option.

 

[bruceha2000]

OK good stuff thank you. I didn't realize the moisture issue could affect the other things like hardwood floor, etc. Total living area about 5,500 ft-- but the basement is always cold so it will be a challenge to keep it warm.

The GC told me he needs the house at 64 degrees or warmer-- but explained it is the drywall people who spec that. Until today there were large openings in walls (15x10 and 10x8) and no insulation at all. But they are boarding up the openings (waiting for moveable glass wall system.) And the insulation is going in. So maybe the idea of huge electric bills might not materialize.

GC said it might run $1,000/mo for electricity-- but he was just guessing. So maybe $5k to keep it warmed up. Not sure.

I ASSUME the basement walls above grade are insulated? The ground is likely minimally 45° and shouldn't be at all hard to keep the basement at a higher temp. Easier than the upper floors with all their windows and doors. Even if the windows are triple glazed.

I don't know what LP prices may be in your area, but here it varies between $0.97 and $1.70 per gallon.

**** near free! It is over $4/gallon here

Its a $1M house. What is $2K in electricity?

Where is the "like" button

Yeah, it's not so much the fumes, but the moisture.

Still, on the OP's job, he said they'll have to keep the house at 64+ until April. 5 months. But he didn't say how long the drywall job itself is supposed to take. I'd guess two weeks tops. Once everything is sanded, painted and the dust cleaned up, he can turn on the furnace and not worry about warranty.

So why do they need to keep the electric heaters on for 5 months? Are they actually planning to take 5 months to do a drywall job?? :confused3:

Seems like all of the contractors following the dry wall guys would need it warmer than ambient outside in any case! Don't want the floors, cabinets, etc shifting between "really cold" and "comfortable enough to work" every day. But that shouldn't require electric heat after the humidity from mud and paint is gone. Should be no reason not to run the house furnaces after the drywall is completed and has a primer coat on it. If you are having hardwood floors, the guys that sand that do a good job of dust collection. No reason you can't put setback thermostats in and have it 65° during working hours and drop to 55°F at other times. Lots of people do that with the houses they live in.

 

[Diggin It]

Seems like all of the contractors following the dry wall guys would need it warmer than ambient outside in any case! Don't want the floors, cabinets, etc shifting between "really cold" and "comfortable enough to work" every day.

Does northern NV get that cold for that long? I don't know ... maybe it does.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

It shouldn稚 take very long to complete the drywall. I致e seen crews hang that size job in 2 days and finish it in 2 days. 2 weeks would be a generous amount of time. I think running the heat longer than a week after theyæ±*e done is a waste of energy. Moisture isn稚 a problem here in the winter and is probably never a problem in Nevada.

I wouldn't hire a crew that would hang and finish a 5,000 sq ft house in 2 days. A level 4 finish is a four day process itself. Fast isn't good... Anyway, it is imperative to keep the house acclimated through the process so as not to get cracked joints.

 

[chim]

Its a $1M house. What is $2K in electricity?

While that response made me chuckle, there is a good reply. Most people who have become millionaires have gotten there by saving $10 at a time in countless places.