Hello!
I had the landscaping contractor on site, and he told me to make sure that the general contractor leaves the construction site clean. He even said that if cigarette butts are left on the property afterwards, he would charge for waste disposal by subcontractors. Is that normal?
The general contractor, of course, says that he is not responsible for picking up his workers’ cigarette butts and considers small Poroton crumbs as acceptable residue left on the site. Now I’m not sure where exactly the line is—what does the general contractor have to do and what not? It’s actually quite simple: if I know what he is required to do, I can formally ask him to fully clean the property upon completing his work and report back to me. Then I can photograph any remaining debris, set a deadline for cleanup, and refer to deductions from the final payment if necessary.
Another point of discussion will definitely be all the “small” plaster residues in the bushes, etc.
How was it on your construction sites? The contract says nothing about this... sometimes you read about the interior being handed over “broom clean” — but I cannot find any similar term for final site condition outdoors and don’t know what is generally expected there.
I had the landscaping contractor on site, and he told me to make sure that the general contractor leaves the construction site clean. He even said that if cigarette butts are left on the property afterwards, he would charge for waste disposal by subcontractors. Is that normal?
The general contractor, of course, says that he is not responsible for picking up his workers’ cigarette butts and considers small Poroton crumbs as acceptable residue left on the site. Now I’m not sure where exactly the line is—what does the general contractor have to do and what not? It’s actually quite simple: if I know what he is required to do, I can formally ask him to fully clean the property upon completing his work and report back to me. Then I can photograph any remaining debris, set a deadline for cleanup, and refer to deductions from the final payment if necessary.
Another point of discussion will definitely be all the “small” plaster residues in the bushes, etc.
How was it on your construction sites? The contract says nothing about this... sometimes you read about the interior being handed over “broom clean” — but I cannot find any similar term for final site condition outdoors and don’t know what is generally expected there.
ypg schrieb:
Just submit a request to the local authorities like shown here and wait (like we are waiting for your response) for their reply. Maybe then you can remove the stuff in a year.Let's think a bit outside the box! For the individual asking, it might not make a time difference whether they handle it themselves or clarify the legal situation (in their favor). However, for that individual, there is a huge difference in convenience between quickly typing a few lines over coffee or rummaging through the trash in wind and weather. Not to mention the disposal fees.
For everyone else (and that’s the point of such an online forum!) the idea is to check in briefly here and then demand removal. The amount of time saved adds up unbelievably!
Some people tend to discuss everything extensively before taking any action themselves.
In my (work) world, you have to act immediately. And you also do things for others... okay, often these are colleagues. And yes, you often have to deal with or accept issues in our environment.
That definitely shapes you, and you apply it privately as well – not constantly complaining, not calling a lawyer, or questioning everything.
But apparently, this is a way of life around here.
If someone is a boss or a delegator and embraces that role with enthusiasm, they probably can’t act differently in their private life...
In my (work) world, you have to act immediately. And you also do things for others... okay, often these are colleagues. And yes, you often have to deal with or accept issues in our environment.
That definitely shapes you, and you apply it privately as well – not constantly complaining, not calling a lawyer, or questioning everything.
But apparently, this is a way of life around here.
If someone is a boss or a delegator and embraces that role with enthusiasm, they probably can’t act differently in their private life...
How is waste disposal handled? In many construction scope descriptions, waste disposal is stated as the responsibility of the builder.
This does not mean that everyone just dumps everything anywhere and someone else has to clean it up.
Are there waste containers provided at all?
If so, it is not too much to ask to put your trash in them.
However, the client can also take a moment to pick up and dispose of some waste.
For the roofer, I would provide ashtrays or waste bins and politely ask them to use them. For the landscaper, I would set clear boundaries. That sounds like the first way to increase the contract value.
This does not mean that everyone just dumps everything anywhere and someone else has to clean it up.
Are there waste containers provided at all?
If so, it is not too much to ask to put your trash in them.
However, the client can also take a moment to pick up and dispose of some waste.
For the roofer, I would provide ashtrays or waste bins and politely ask them to use them. For the landscaper, I would set clear boundaries. That sounds like the first way to increase the contract value.
Given the amount of waste left on site, I end up spending at least a whole day dealing with it, having to borrow a trailer and a vehicle, and I’m completely exhausted afterwards.
I shouldn’t have to do that when I’ve already paid. If I haven’t paid, then it’s a different matter and you can discuss whether it’s worth it.
The architect’s scope of work doesn’t mention waste disposal, and we don’t have a general contractor. The individual trade contracts also don’t include anything about disposal.
I will bring this up with the site management.
I shouldn’t have to do that when I’ve already paid. If I haven’t paid, then it’s a different matter and you can discuss whether it’s worth it.
The architect’s scope of work doesn’t mention waste disposal, and we don’t have a general contractor. The individual trade contracts also don’t include anything about disposal.
I will bring this up with the site management.
ypg schrieb:
Some people prefer to discuss everything thoroughly before lifting a finger themselves.It’s one thing to pick up a cigarette butt yourself, but it’s a completely different matter to spend every Saturday morning cleaning up after each trade on the construction site. Beyond the significant time required, this can become quite costly over time, and if you don’t do it, you actually encourage the following trades to "use" the existing pile of debris.
Maybe you’ve accepted in your work life that you act as the “housekeeper” for others and even appreciate the working-class attitude that comes with it (“The YPG isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty!”, “They don’t waste time talking, they just get to work!”). But calling anyone who doesn’t want to emulate that a spoiled, out-of-touch white-collar worker goes a bit too far for my taste.
We’re not talking about a disgruntled employee sending a five-page email to HR copied to anyone it might concern because a coworker left their coffee cup on the desk again. We’re talking about homeowners who hire professionals, for payment (!), on their own construction site. In that situation, you’re the boss, and no one would waste time chasing their employees around the office either. This is usually less about being aloof and more the logical result of a simple business calculation. For the same reason, highly paid specialists are always given appropriate assistants.
Setting that aside: I simply see it as a sign of good upbringing to clean up your own mess unless something else has been explicitly agreed upon!