Just realized a client's 'simple' request for a built-in almost cost me a $2000 cabinet job in St. Louis.

He kept insisting we skip the scribe to the wall to save time, saying 'it'll be fine, just caulk it.' Had to walk him through exactly why that fails on an old plaster wall... anyone else deal with clients who don't get the basics?

4 comments

4 Comments

wade_kelly7711d ago

Hold up, I gotta disagree here. Caulk is not some magic fix for everything and on an old plaster wall in St. Louis with all its settling and humidity swings, that gap will show up like a sore thumb after one season. You're basically asking for a call back in six months when the caulk cracks and the customer is mad at you for a job that looks sloppy. Skipping the scribe is just kicking the can down the road and it makes you look like you take shortcuts. A pro scribes to the wall because it's the right way to get a tight fit that lasts, not because it's the fastest. Your client's job and your reputation are worth more than saving an hour on site.

miles_robinson201mo ago

But is it REALLY that big of a deal? Sometimes caulk IS the right call.

nancy_wood1mo ago

Caulk is a legit fix sometimes though.

shane_bell1mo ago

That's the worst, trying to explain why a shortcut ruins the work. Some clients just can't picture how bad a gap gets over time. Good on you for holding the line, man.