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Whats your take on this?

Oak River Mike | Posted in Business on April 16, 2009 05:23am

Building a pretty complex addition (1400 sq ft) to a house.  Trusses will be rather unique and I want to assure everything is right on.  HO asked if the truss company could send out a rep just to answer some of his questions.  I agreed as I am friends with the HO so I said sure.

So I call the truss company and have already told them I would buy the $8k worth of trusses from them as I buy all mine from them.  Well, today the owner of the company tells me he wants $500 to come out to the site.  I was a bit taken aback.  I mean I don’t mind paying for someones time but when they already have the job, I assumed this would be just part of their own assurance as well before they build them.  In addition, it wasn’t presented to me as a cost for his time as much as I was bothering him to come out so it was a way to get me to agree his trip wasn’t necessary by throwing a high figure at me.

Am I just being too cheap or is this a red flag that I should take my business elsewhere as there are about 4 truss companies within two hours of my city.

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  1. User avater
    jonblakemore | Apr 16, 2009 05:43am | #1

    That would bother me. If you're a high maintenance customer, I would have no problem with the truss company charging a premium for the services you would require.

    I imagine that you're like me. I try to give my truss guy as much info as possible to make his job easier. He has not had to come out on a site in the past 5 years, so I guess it's working. If I had a request like you had, I'm sure he would accommodate and everyone would be happy.

    If I were you, I would explain to him just how you feel and see what he says about it. A little give and take in a long term relationship never hurt anyone.

     

    Jon Blakemore

    RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

    1. Oak River Mike | Apr 16, 2009 05:55am | #2

      Yeah, I feel like you do.

      I actually don't mind the idea of paying for his time but when he tossed out the number it was almost like he was just trying to get me to say I didn't need him out there.

      I probably need to call him like you mentioned.  Maybe be was just having a bad day and I called at the wrong time?

      Thanks, Jon

      Mike

      1. User avater
        jonblakemore | Apr 16, 2009 09:47pm | #9

        Ralph makes a good point. I was assuming your contact is not a PE. The guy I deal with is a truss designer and that's who would come out on site.I can see more of a justification in charging for the PE's time. With the company I work for, I think the PE just checks and stamps the designs and repair work. I could see how the PE leaving the office would cause a slowdown for many different people.Still would be nice if they indicated some concern about your relationship. 

        Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

  2. davidmeiland | Apr 16, 2009 05:57am | #3

    I'd call one or two of the other companies and ask for a quote that includes coming out for the site visit. The guy with the $500 price is kinda spitting in your face, unless it's a long drive or something. He should be willing to drive 1/2 hour each way and spend an hour with you for $200 or so.

    Now, asking the truss company to come out is a little unusual. I have always been able to send in plans with a few redlines and get trusses. We rarely use them but that has worked fine.

    1. Oak River Mike | Apr 16, 2009 06:02am | #4

      David,

      Thanks for the input.

      It does seem unusual I realize but one of the reasons is that its a complete "truss over" while leaving parts of the existing roof in place.  Here in Floirda, the engineer will draw the whole building but the truss engineer is responsible for the roof framing.  So my primary engineer deferred to the truss guys and now they are dragging their feet.  I have never asked a truss engineer to come out before in all my years but I felt this job warranted it just for my own peace of mind.

      Mike

      1. davidmeiland | Apr 16, 2009 06:46am | #5

        Well, for $500 he should spend most of the day there. I was imagining a quickie meeting to answer a few questions for the owner.

        1. Oak River Mike | Apr 16, 2009 07:02am | #6

          Yeah, I told him it wouldn't take more than 30 minutes of his time.  For $500, I am thinking he should help set them in place too!  ;)

      2. RalphWicklund | Apr 16, 2009 07:32am | #7

        Is this the ACTUAL truss engineer - the guy whose stamp is on the printout - or just the owner of the truss company? What's he going to say to the customer, other than if it's in my truss software it's going to work.

        Although I seldom ask, maybe twice in 7 years, my primary PE will come to the site to look things over and NEVER charges extra. I also get plan revisions and clarification letters included in the deal at no extra charge. The primary is also responsible for reviewing and signing off on the truss design as well as it's attachments to the structure.

        I do truss overs and conventional frame overs too and the primary concerns are the attachment points, bracing and the hardware needed to secure whatever to the existing structure. That, and making sure you have the clearance over the existing so you don't have to be butchering and boogering.

         My suggestion is to ignore the truss guy, save the bucks and get the real engineer to hold your customers hand - for free. I usually draw up what I want from my PE, he has the draftsman put it on their paper, he does the calculations to prove the points, I submit the plans to the city and build to those plans and everybody is happy.

        1. brownbagg | Apr 16, 2009 01:55pm | #8

          I notice in the past year. that the liability issue keep popping its head up. with architect throwing the blame on special inspector. So everybody having too cross the I and T's. So maybe he real busy with other request and dont have the time, or he afraid they going try the blame game so he wants to get paid for his time. Most engineer charge about $150 a hour so $500 is not un reasonable, if he doing an engineer job on the jobsite. Or maybe he just doent want to meet with you, throw a high price to keep from doing it.we got this one arch that is a pain, we quote $1000 a meeting, he approves it every week.

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