I'm usually really enthusiastic about my job but the last week has been such a downer :(

First we've got this client who is questioning amounts he approved prior to our working on the project. Kakainis because we really did work our asses off...during the christmas break pa. Now we've got only 3 items to rectify, and he is holding off a major chunk of the payment.

Siempre we've got subcons and suppliers din. Sometimes I really want to rush into their office and have a fit there. Pero siempre that won't help anything. So I am arranging for rectification and am keeping my fingers crossed that he will do the honorable thing and pay.

Delayed payment by clients is almost a standard in construction. And I really am considering adding an allowance for this in future costs.
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Facts about construction are:

There is what you call a commercially acceptable level of finish - there is really no such thing as perfection. Your walls will be painted evenly, but will not be as smooth as laminate because of the properties of the paint, the roller, and the wall. If you want a perfectly smooth wall, use marble, or granite, or laminate.

Things will always surprise you. We were set for a move-in last Friday, with the contractors and suppliers rushing to complete. It was tight, but doable.

Then the circuit breaker for the floor blows and the building doesnt have a spare CB. They need to order one, and it takes at least a week.

Then we request for the AHU (Air Handling Unit) room to be opened. Because we want to test the AC before the client moves in. The maintenance personnel open the AHU room. Guess what. The AHU doesn't have a fan. This is like getting an electric fan and seeing that it doesnt have a blade. For fucks sake.

Turns out they pulled out the fan to use in another floor. Value engineering at its best.

I wonder how they expected the client to operate without power and AC? No notification at all from them. They got the move notice and....nothing.

Putang Ina.

I'm not done pa. The wallpaper was on site early because I wanted to make sure it was there in enough quantities so walang bitin.

They roll it out for installation...and it has STAINS!!!! 7 days airfreight from Holland and I need it installed already. So we change to a more expensive wallpaper in a similar color. Buti nalang the supplier didnt charge extra. I would have kneed him in the balls.
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Our other project naman. Everything is almost done na. The contractor just has to set the toilet fixtures in the exec toilet, and connect the pantry faucet. Site is being cleared so they can fix the installation of flooring at the pantry.

While hauling the debris and excess materials out, the building admin guard accuses the contractor of stealing the fire extinguishers from the building. The reason - the F-Exs are red...just like the color of the building F-Exs. Holy crap, ano ba naman yan????!!! Arent 10lb ABC type fire extinguishers fucking red by fucking law!!!!???

Tapos they dont say anything pa. The contractor goes to work Saturday to continue and finds that work has been stopped. And that the building admin says to meet on monday nalang to discuss the incident because no work that day daw. Araw ng Kagi-fucking-tingan holiday. But the contractor's deadline is monday na.

Buti nalang Manny was able to arrange for the plumber to work on saturday. Practically had to plead with the building engineer. So on Monday, rectification of the flooring na lang. Hay nako.
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It's times like these when I really want to throw in the towel.

It's times like these when I wish I were an accountant. or in a job where you dealt with finite objects, where you could predict everything...every result.

Maybe I'm just really tired. Eating good food isnt cutting it anymore. Neither is shopping. I am not consoled.

I wish J were here. When I used to get really stressed out from work, getting a hug from him after I left the office seemed to make everything bearable.

This entry was posted on 4/10/2005 at 4/10/2005 07:46:00 am. You can skip to the end and leave a response.