I was totally wrong about scheduling inspections for a strip mall job

My foreman pointed out that booking the framing and electrical checks on the same day was a huge bottleneck, because the electrical guy couldn't start until framing was signed off. We lost a full day waiting. Anyone else have a better way to line these up?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaretj402mo ago

Honestly, why not just schedule the electrical for the next morning? That way you have a buffer if framing runs late.

david_hayes2mo ago

Yeah, but that buffer can backfire too. If the framers actually finish on time, now you're paying the electrician to sit around or reschedule, and they hate that. I've seen guys charge a full trip fee just to come back the next day. It can turn a one day job into two half days, which costs way more.

owens.willow12d ago

Framing guys finish on TIME? hah. Mine finish on "fashionably late" which is usually about 3 hours after they promised. Next morning buffer sounds great until you're staring at a $250 trip fee for the electrician to stand there while the framers are still arguing over a soffit. Margaret's idea is solid in theory but in practice you might as well schedule the electrical crew for the next DAY after framing, because that buffer never works out the way you think. I've got a foreman who swears by scheduling everything for 7am and then just praying one of the trades actually shows up.