All Forum Posts by: Mark Redmann

Welding and installing structural steel and non-structural steel and sheetmetal actually. At one point was a certified structural steel welder (stick) and also had certs for MIG and TIG. We mainly worked in Dupont, pharma and process facilities including clean rooms and I welded a lot of stainless lab hoods and exhaust. I also learned many other trades working industrial and commercial construction (I'd say I'm proficient at plumbing, sheetmetal and electric) for over 10 years before moving over to the management side of construction and maintenance. ~20 years in the trades on one side of the fence or the other.

My point is, sure you'll trick a GC one time and save a few bucks but the job will take 3x as long, the quality won't be good and you've burned a bridge. How do you propose finding all these top notch subs? You may know a guy that does drywall or electric but what happens when you've rehabbed a house and the buyers mortgage company wants to see the permits you pulled for the $100k of work you did? It's starting to happen here in Philadelphia, especially when you bought a house for $100k 4 months ago and are now selling at $300k. What happens when the job gets shut down and then you need to pull permits anyway but now you've lost a month to finding a GC, getting bids, pulling permits, submitting plans, etc. Oh, you got all your drywall up and finished then got caught? Think they won't want you to pull down the drywall and insulation so they can see the framing, insulation, rough plumbing and electric?

This is a business and if you treat it as such (build relationships, use good contractors, get permits, don't F people over), you'll do well. I realize where you're coming from Kris, you have the "I can do it better/cheaper/faster" mentality because you are capable of completing some or most of the work and know people that can likely fill in the gaps. I get it but it's not a business model. Roll those dice a few times and eventually you'll lose big whether it's a lawsuit for an injury on your job, getting shut down and having to redo a bunch of work, finishing a place and not being able to sell it since it's unpermitted, etc.

I try and live by the golden rule of treating others how you want to be treated. Would you want to quote a job, line by line, build a scope of work, then have the homeowner take that and sub it all out?

I agree with Troy and have learned some of what he says the hard way.

0 Votes

Originally posted by @Troy Sheets:

Exhaust fan and light combo kills two birds with one stone. As you mentioned, GFCI protected and you're good to go. We used these in our last flip in Fishtown over the showers. They do make the sealed recessed lights only if you already have an exhaust.

Yours was actually IN the shower space? I don't remember. I didn't think exhaust fans were allowed to be in wet locations, but I guess it depends on the type of fan/manufacturers recommendations.

I don't believe they need to be GFI protected, but I've seen some inspectors require it and others not. This was dependant on what town I was installing the light. Most recently (summer of 2015) I was putting in shower high hats (recessed lighting), but only was required to use a "shower trim" It seals the high hat off from the moisture of the shower. These were being installed in Montgomery County, Whitpain Twp.

All that being said, the National Electric Code is a set of standards. You can't go below the standard, but inspectors have the power to require things that go above and beyond (safer, in their eyes) the code.

Does anyone know what year NEC Philly uses or has adopted? I have a few of the more recent versions and would like to look it up.

0 Votes

Originally posted by @Annmarie Oshea:

Hello! I'm Ann Marie and I live in West Philly. I have five properties and am interested in expanding my portfolio in the West Philly area, preferably with multi-family and apartment complexes. I am open to creative and entrepreneurial deals and love partnering. Looking forward to chatting!

Welcome to BP! This is a great place and I'm sure you'll be able to find a partner for future deals! I live in Graduate Hospital and currently invest in Brewerytown.

0 Votes

Originally posted by @Ryan Kaysen:

Hi everyone!

I have recently joined the BP community and it has really sparked a fire in my eye for REI. I bought the home that I live in last August and that began the itch to learn more about investing. My goal for 2016 is to flip my first house and I am hoping to connect with folks on here to learn about their experiences on flippin Philly. Thanks and happy new year!

Welcome to the site! I am currently rehabbing a house in Philly. I am certainly learning a lot!

0 Votes

Originally posted by @Mike Girard:

Originally posted by @Owen Dashner:

Geez, all you have to do is say, "I'm sorry that I didn't specify this in the beginning, but I want to use cement board for the surround. Obviously I will pay for the material costs to replace the green board. My bad. Thanks."

Just take the high road with him if you want to keep using him, and move on with your life.

You don't have to read the guy the riot act- you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Dude, you are so behind in this conversation. But thanks for helping us more than reach the gratuitously condescending guy quotient. To those reading: No more needed, thanks!

Are you always this much of a jerk? I don't understand why you have to act that way towards people. maybe that's why you have a sub-par contractor and no one wants to respond to your other posts... Making enemies on a forum where it could decide your future really isn't a good idea. you never know where you'll find your next opportunity!

4 Votes

@Mike Girard

It seems to me that you know the right answer, but will refuse to accept it. everyone has told you the answer to exactly what you asked of them. You've even reiterated the answer

"As to those who've said there's nothing wrong with green board, every how-to regarding tile placement recommends against it. One online tile guru says it's grounds for firing your contractor. There is a growing list of municipalities that forbid its use, but I am unable to find out if Philly is one of them. The argument is that it is water resistant, not waterproof and that a tile job done with it will have a lifespan of five years or less. It is also, apparently, a mold magnet. Of course there are exceptions, but these facts are often accompanied by horror stories and pictures of green board tiling projects gone wrong."

Then you started to throw a tantrum on here when no one came up with the magical solution you think is out there "Did no one see where I said I can't redo the job? I need a green board workaround stat."

Do yourself a favor and get out of your own way. You've read about this green board, people on BP have told you what to do, but yet you still want a different magical solution. For whatever reason, your head is up your rear end. Perhaps its because your over-budget on this project? You mention not having the means to rip it down and replace it with $15/sheet cement board. Why do a project if you can't have a buffer built in? That's just crazy.

You go ahead and rip down someone elses work? If I was the contractor, I would fire YOU! You think you'll get it started better than him? Then do the damn job yourself!! There is no magical solution. The facts are the facts and now you have to decide what to do with those facts.

11 Votes

Thankful for biggerpockets and @Brandon Turner and @Joshua Dorkin. I am thankful to have met great people on here. Thankful to have become partners with @Troy Sheets and @David Ross These two guys are doing this thing and I am learning quite a bit from them! Thanks Troy and David!

3 Votes

@Troy Sheets @David Ross Looks great! cant wait to see it at the open house!

1 Vote

All Forum Posts by: Mark Redmann

Mark Redmann has started 17 posts and replied 169 times.

Post: NEW CONSTRUCTION SINGLE FAMILY BREWERYTOWN PHILADELPHIA

Post: Custom Iron Railings

Post: Contractor price - lump sum or breakdown?

Post: Philadelphia/Pennsylvania: Shower light fixture

Post: New BP Member from Philly

Post: Looking for connections in Philly

Post: Contractor using green board for shower

Post: Contractor using green board for shower

Post: Thankful Roll Call

Post: Fishtown Flip Diary with Cash for Keys drama to kick it off!!!