Reno/addition start times (and noise) in the AM?

[Anonymous]

We are pretty close to getting started on an addition that will take a few months and that we'll be living in the house during. Our preference is for construction not to start until 8am on a regular basis (although it's OK if there are occasional exceptions), but many of the bullders we've talked to say they typically start at 7 or 7:30. A couple questions:

1) Do you have any sense of how big of a deal it is to ask builders to start later in the morning than they typically do? Have you ever asked for this? Do you think it's a big hassle that they'll be annoyed about/charge us more for/agree to but then actually just arrive at their usual time most of the time anyway? Or might it be more doable than that?

2) In your experience, how much of the time do workers arrive right at/around the "typical start time," versus after (or before)? And do they typically start doing noisy work immediately after arrival, or is there often a lag? Like, if we went with someone who starts at 7:30, how many of the days do you think we might expect loud construction noise to start before vs at vs after 7:30?

[Anonymous]

I think you need to get over this. You very much want the workers there early and working. They mostly don't stay until 5 so anything you do to delay start will slow you down a lot. Also, summer is approaching and it's hot to early work is better.

Depending on what phase, they may not actually be that noisy early: they may be setting up. But if you just don't want people in the house with you, consider moving out.

[Anonymous]

10:22 back to add - crews have other jobs and it was not uncommon to have days with no crews, or days crews arrived late. Try to have a regular scheduled meeting with your builder about what to expect each week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to get over this. You very much want the workers there early and working. They mostly don't stay until 5 so anything you do to delay start will slow you down a lot. Also, summer is approaching and it's hot to early work is better.

Depending on what phase, they may not actually be that noisy early: they may be setting up. But if you just don't want people in the house with you, consider moving out.

+1. The crews are an ever changing cast of subs who will come in to do specific tasks and then go off to another job. Every day is different. We moved out for our remodel, and every time I go to the house, there are different subs there - plumbing, electrical, drywall, carpenters, etc. If you delay one crew, it has a knock on effect on the other crews. The fact that you are living there will already slow the efficiency of the work, so you really don’t want to cause any other delays.

But if the noise and start time is more important than the timeline, you can definitely request a later start. Just know that yes, you might be charged for crews to wait half an hour before entering the house, and yes, it will definitely impact the end date.

[Anonymous]

Check your city's noise ordinance for when commercial construction is allowed. The time windows may be more limited than you realize.

[Anonymous]

If they are union workers, you may not have a choice. Our neighbors are having a huge job done and they come at 7am and start by 7:05. They said it is because they are union workers.

[Anonymous]

Start as early as your muni code allows.

[Anonymous]

You want the workers working. That is for sure.

[Anonymous]

Looks like in Montgomery County they can start anytime after 7.

We are willing to prioritize a later start time over having the project done faster-- but not willing to pay substantially more, and don't want it to make us seem too annoying/demanding to the builder. Does that mean we should only invite builders to bid who are usually on an 8am schedule already?

[Anonymous]

Just talk to the contractor and ask that when feasible, you'd like to start at 8 each morning, and that if they do have to begin 7-8, to let you know.

[Anonymous]

The guys arrive by 7:15/7:30 and work is underway by 8. They’re gone by 3. Honestly, often by 2 iif the work comes to a natural breakpoint. Workmen work early hours. I would not try to mess with this at all—this is how you end up with your project abandoned for one with better working conditions that is less of a PITA.

[Anonymous]

If you can’t cope with this, you are not going to be able to handle living in the house during the renovation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can’t cope with this, you are not going to be able to handle living in the house during the renovation.

That came out more unkindly than I intended, but living in the house during is HARD. Getting an Airbnb for at least parts is worth it.

[Anonymous]

1) Earliest start times are governed by municipal code. Usually 7 am.

2) I had a consistent crew through the majority of my reno, apart from a couple of weeks here and there where electrical/plumbing/hvac trades came in. The standard crew, the contractor's own people, mostly commuted from far out, and their working day was timed to make the drive in and out less miserable: start at 7, leave by about 2:30. Fair enough. You really don't want to complicate their lives.

3) Limiting their working hours more than local law does will just lengthen your project. Bite the bullet and deal with their preferred hours. You'll be happier in the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like in Montgomery County they can start anytime after 7.

We are willing to prioritize a later start time over having the project done faster-- but not willing to pay substantially more, and don't want it to make us seem too annoying/demanding to the builder. Does that mean we should only invite builders to bid who are usually on an 8am schedule already?

You can do that, but there are still going to be subs expecting to start at 7:00. I also would not trust the builder to meaningfully stick to any start time: if you compromise on builder to get one who starts at 8 and then he's there at 7 half the time anyway, you're going yo be mad.

Can I ask what the issue is with 7 vs 8? I'm just curious. We lived in the house during our renovation last year and school starts at 8, and it was OK.