Hack drywaller, what to do?

[stevenje]

Trim it out, put the plates on, submit your bill, when you are called back to do it again after the sheetrocker corrects his mistakes submit a change order before you do it. Hopefully the GC is smart enough to still have some of their money or at least their retention to pay your C.O.

Roger

I agree with Rodger. If you get any blow back from the GC or homeowner, just let them know that they are in violation of NEC 314.21. Not only is it an un-professional drywall job, it is a code violation.

 

[kwired]

I agree with Rodger. If you get any blow back from the GC or homeowner, just let them know that they are in violation of NEC 314.21. Not only is it an un-professional drywall job, it is a code violation.

But it is the electrician that will get the correction order - that is why I suggested caulk around the box to comply and hopefully a jumbo plate will cover the blemish. If they don't like to see jumbo plates then it is still drywaller/finisher's fault.

 

[growler]

But it is the electrician that will get the correction order - that is why I suggested caulk around the box to comply and hopefully a jumbo plate will cover the blemish. If they don't like to see jumbo plates then it is still drywaller/finisher's fault.

The electrician may get the correction notice but it's still the GC or owner's problem. You can probably get an electrical final with problems like this (I have) but they won't give a building final.

On a job like this there is normally a long list of punch-out items that need corrected. Either the
GC or owner can do it or they get a handyman type to do the punch out.

 

[goldstar]

...they are in violation of NEC 314.21. Not only is it an un-professional drywall job, it is a code violation.

But it is the electrician that will get the correction order

Sadly enough, kwired is correct otherwise, why would they have this section in the NEC ? An EI can legitimately fail you if he picks up on this violation.

 

[stevenje]

But it is the electrician that will get the correction order - that is why I suggested caulk around the box to comply and hopefully a jumbo plate will cover the blemish. If they don't like to see jumbo plates then it is still drywaller/finisher's fault.

You are correct, but it will "force" the GC or homeowner to get the drywaller's to repair the work. In the end, the project will not be issued a CO, until the code violations are completed.

If more electrical contractors would inform the GC, homeowners and drywall contractors about this code requirement, maybe this would be less of a problem in the future.

 

[growler]

In addition to the bad cuts and depth issues, he buried two of my boxes which I already informed the owner I will be charging extra to locate and expose. (I can see a big ass bulge in one of the spots. Guess the drywaller didn't check his work.)

I'm thinking about a couple of solutions:
(1) Use adjustable depth boxes for all boxes.
(2) Adding a "poor workmanship by drywaller" extra charge in my contracts.

How do you guys deal with this? Is there some product that helps?

I have used the adjustable boxes for everything and it does seem to help. They don't bury as many boxes. I would rather they do bury a few boxes because I charge to located and normally make pretty good money for some real easy work.

For materials I always calculate the cost of mid sized cover plates for everything. This is prety much standard now. You may as well figure on useing a whole bunch of box extensions and figure this cost also. They don't even crown studs any more so the depth of a box is all over the place. Look at some chair rail or even base board before it's caulked and you will see how crooked walls are ( not like metal studs).

 

[kwired]

The electrician may get the correction notice but it's still the GC or owner's problem. You can probably get an electrical final with problems like this (I have) but they won't give a building final.

On a job like this there is normally a long list of punch-out items that need corrected. Either the
GC or owner can do it or they get a handyman type to do the punch out.

You are correct, but it will "force" the GC or homeowner to get the drywaller's to repair the work. In the end, the project will not be issued a CO, until the code violations are completed.

If more electrical contractors would inform the GC, homeowners and drywall contractors about this code requirement, maybe this would be less of a problem in the future.

This kind of depends on how interconnected the electrical and general building AHJ's are to one another. In municipal systems they often are just different divisions of the same AHJ. Other places the EI is completely separate entity and his inspection results go directly to the EC and EC must fix any problems before the electrical permit can be closed, such permit is in the EC's name. That is how it does work for me.

 

[growler]

This kind of depends on how interconnected the electrical and general building AHJ's are to one another. In municipal systems they often are just different divisions of the same AHJ. Other places the EI is completely separate entity and his inspection results go directly to the EC and EC must fix any problems before the electrical permit can be closed, such permit is in the EC's name. That is how it does work for me.

I see your point. Here the building and electrical are part of the same AHJ. I don't even have to pay for the permit in most jurisdictions because the cost is calcualted under the building permit. I just have to sign in as the electrician of record.

The inspectors are kind of used to this sort of crap work by the sheetrockers.

If I had to fix this sort of thing I wouldn't use caulk I would do it right and charge for it. I can do good sheetrock repair I'm just not very fast. Painting is not required so I would leave that to others.

 

[jumper]

There are two diffferent drywall crews, those that hang the drywall and those that finish the dry wall.

I can never remember, which crew is the drunks and which one is the speed freaks?

IDK, maybe they mix it up these days, hard to keep track.

 

[growler]

I can never remember, which crew is the drunks and which one is the speed freaks?

I once saw a sheetrock finisher, walking on stilts, that was so stoned he was tapeing and mudding in switch junction boxes, completely covering them.

I watched him do a couple before calling it to his attention that those holes didn't need to be plugged ( we have a use for those).

 

[Coppersmith]

I use mid-sized plates. I was talking to my wife about this job at lunch. She said I should have used standard sized plates so the problem was more apparent. Then call the owner and point to the mess the drywallers made. I think she's right.

 

[jumper]

I use mid-sized plates. I was talking to my wife about this job at lunch. She said I should have used standard sized plates so the problem was more apparent. Then call the owner and point to the mess the drywallers made. I think she's right.

I agree with your better half.

 

[kwired]

I use mid-sized plates. I was talking to my wife about this job at lunch. She said I should have used standard sized plates so the problem was more apparent. Then call the owner and point to the mess the drywallers made. I think she's right.

If you are finding the majority of the cutouts need additional attention - yes by all means do something like that. If you just have one here and there maybe you use an oversized plate?

 

[jumper]

If you are finding the majority of the cutouts need additional attention - yes by all means do something like that. If you just have one here and there maybe you use an oversized plate?

Also, to repeat an old maxim of one of my inspectors.

"An oversized plate is a dead give away that there is a problem and that I should start looking real close at it and what ever else you are trying to hide."

Not saying that there is not an occasional good use of an oversized plate, but an abundance of them is like waving a big red flag and yelling " look at me". Not desirable IMO.

 

[gadfly56]

Also, to repeat an old maxim of one of my inspectors.

"An oversized plate is a dead give away that there is a problem and that I should start looking real close at it and what ever else you are trying to hide."

Not saying that there is not an occasional good use of an oversized plate, but an abundance of them is like waving a big red flag and yelling " look at me". Not desirable IMO.

I'm surprised an inspector wouldn't require all the plates to be off for the final.

 

[growler]

I'm surprised an inspector wouldn't require all the plates to be off for the final.

final ..... Last,job finished, done, game over

They call it a final for a reason. If the cover plates are off then who checks to make sure they are put back on? Maybe they could invent the ​pre-final inspection.

Most of the time a final on a house takes about 10-15 minutes.

 

[growler]

"An oversized plate is a dead give away that there is a problem and that I should start looking real close at it and what ever else you are trying to hide."

That's why mid sized cover plates are used. A standard size would work on many of the devices but then they would not match if you need a slightly larger cover plate on some.

I try not to ever use a jumbo. Years ago I did and a GC asked if the don't make any larger sizes to cover even bigger mistakes. It has to stop somewhere.

 

[trappstadt]

Here's an example of the kind of hack drywall work I was seeing today while trimming a house. While it's not usually this bad, I have to say I encounter more bad drywall work than good. This causes me to have to use more labor and materials (levelers, shims, arc shields) to trim than I should. I showed the owner and he said the guy would come back and patch the enormous holes now showing around the cover plate, but that doesn't help me.

In addition to the bad cuts and depth issues, he buried two of my boxes which I already informed the owner I will be charging extra to locate and expose. (I can see a big ass bulge in one of the spots. Guess the drywaller didn't check his work.)

I'm thinking about a couple of solutions:
(1) Use adjustable depth boxes for all boxes.
(2) Adding a "poor workmanship by drywaller" extra charge in my contracts.

How do you guys deal with this? Is there some product that helps?

That's rediculous

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[user 100]

Here's an example of the kind of hack drywall work I was seeing today while trimming a house. While it's not usually this bad, I have to say I encounter more bad drywall work than good.....

I'm thinking about a couple of solutions:
(1) Use adjustable depth boxes for all boxes.
(2) Adding a "poor workmanship by drywaller" extra charge in my contracts.

How do you guys deal with this? Is there some product that helps?

Get the adjustables...... and (even though I feel its not your responsibility to do the remaining patching/either get owner to bug GC or refer them to your DW guy if you got one ), there is a product from ALLWALL that is a patch w/a pre cut pattern that goes around a standard size box- it is specifically for these types of booboos- you might wanna check it out.

 

[Coppersmith]

Drywall guy a hack? No problem!

Try new Leviton Super-Gynormous wall plates.
They hide any problem!

Coming soon to a supply house near you!