Crappy stupid apartments

[redcup]

If you're looking for an apartment in that price range, you're not going to find one that's been designed for a Westerner.

Yes I know. But I've also seen some apartments in my price range that had good doorway height, good entry staircases and good other things but had a fatal flaw, such as low water pressure in the shower.

[robboat]

Robboat, that's why I asked in a previous thread if they are still building these low doors in new contruction. If these problems are only in old buildings then it's understandable, because they were built in an era when there were few tall people here. But if they continue to do the same in new construction, as you indicate they do, that is just hopelessly stupid and doesn't bode well for the future.
Maybe they need a new NGO to teach them not to build low doorways and countertops and not to put showerhead brackets so low that you need to squat to take a shower.

We just finished our third construction and I was beginning to think our guys were sorted for getting things right the first time......wrong!

It seems the need for constant supervision is acute to prevent costly waste of time & materials when they fuck up something they have done correctly before.
Many examples...recent one was painting/lacquering of furniture...an experience (trusted) worker who usually does a great job turned in a finish that even the Cambodians said was "ot laor"....rubbish. But he could not see what was wrong from his point of view....very frustrating.
Another example was mounting a water jet pump to lift water to the header tank....previous job was fantastic, great concreting and pipework....this job was lousy, leaking and noisy....worker thought it was ok as it did the job

I have been concentrating on consistency using pictures and examples of the previous good jobs they have done to motivate them....still do not have the definitive answer.

We are starting another development later this year so I will get that completely planned and sorted before they even start.......

I think this is why the current housing is so poor and various in heights....just no corporate knowledge or standards about how to build things correctly the first time......

[cambod]

... I was beginning to think our guys were sorted for getting things right the first time......wrong!

It seems the need for constant supervision is acute to prevent costly waste of time & materials when they fuck up something they have done correctly before.
Many examples...

Truly shocking to hear this about Cambodian workers.

[Gray Pilgrim]

They need close supervision. You have to fire the guys that won't listen and insist on doing it their own way. I built a house in the Philippnes where the attitude is almost as bad as there. Their ethic is speed over quality. Insist on quality the first time and avoid expensive do-overs. I had to be on site all the time and with a tape measure and bar level checking their work. When they laid tiles I had to pretty much watch them set each tile. Mostly I limited the crew to 5 guys, more than that is too much to watch closely.

[robboat]

They need close supervision. You have to fire the guys that won't listen and insist on doing it their own way. I built a house in the Philippnes where the attitude is almost as bad as there. Their ethic is speed over quality. Insist on quality the first time and avoid expensive do-overs. I had to be on site all the time and with a tape measure and bar level checking their work. When they laid tiles I had to pretty much watch them set each tile. Mostly I limited the crew to 5 guys, more than that is too much to watch closely.

Crikey - watch and check all the work every day?
Maybe better you do it yourself - less frustration...?

Our guys are good when they are focused - just a problem with consistency.
I find if I make a joke about their incorrect work in front of the other workers then they work really well for the rest of the day to regain face.....but you have to reinforce the good behavior every day....like a child sometimes....

You are right about sacking the ones who don't/won't learn - oxygen thieves - also the ones who reckon they know all (fuck all)
Sacked a young guy today for that same thing - he couldn't even use a screwdriver to screw in a screw without fucking it up - but he was keen to tell everyone how good he was....gone before lunch...

I still like the idea of a go/no go frame for the doors and windows - that way they can check the work standard themselves - and maybe have a different pay scale - much higher rate for less fuck ups?

Frustrating - but it is slowly improving the standard of our workers. There is no "technical" training here..all on the job.

[Gray Pilgrim]

The most import thing: don't leave the jobsite when they are mixing cement. Do-overs on concrete work is tough.