This is not a nice post. But, learn from my grievances. I am steamed with ContractorTalk.com. Never have I met such unprofessional, backward, good ol' boy mentality contractors that live in plastic bubbles. Don't go there, as you'll be told by a lot of unprofessional folks WRONG information. These are people that believe global warming doesn't exist, and their most famous argument "I've been working with building for 30 years, and we know better than you about building" is meritless, they only look at bottom line dollar figures, and call me a zealot because I like SIPs. They try to call you names like hippy, tree hugger because you want to see change in the industry. When all they are doing is covering up their ignorance and closemindedness with name-calling and irrational arguments.
Never have I been treated so poorly by a company site. I am very level headed and don't name call, but I was basically kicked off for having such progressive views in building. These guys will try to talk homebuilders out of building green because they don't understand these green concepts or they will say they'll do it cheaper going stick built. It is a very very closed minded, conservative way of living, which I highly disapprove of. It's either take the bus or stay behind, and there's a big ass group of them back there picking their teeth and holding their precious dollars until their hands bleed.
Industries change and improve, and these people will never understand that. These people are afraid of progress and don't want to even investigate improvements in methods. They would rather be stuck in their own little worlds, defending themselves with their semi-automatics and sit on top of their precious tax money. They don't invest in their surroundings. They say bottom line, you have to pay more. Well, I always look at it as a living investment not just what I save NOW. I believe you have to pay for the society you want to live in, not let everything go haywire around you while you live in your gated community with guns under your pillows. Jan and I are wealthy beyond the $ signs, with a consciousness of both our wellbeing and society's wellbeing, and that's much more important than fending for yourself and keeping your money.
And this infuriates me to no end - they think "Humans first, fish and birds second" (yes, I kid you not, some Republicans in Texas actually had this slogan going against environmental rights). It pisses me off to no end how unreal their minds work and how short sighted they are about stuff happening around them.
I've actually lived in Sweden, where you have the right to camp/travel across all natural areas (even people's backyards), free health care, free college tuition, free school lunches to highschool, child stipends, 1 year maternity leaves (with 80% of your pay during this period), and where I gave 40% to taxes. However, I have never been so stressless and relaxed as I was there. People don't worry as much about money and health as they do here. Besides, you pay your money to SOMEONE here in the U.S., if not to taxes. I know for a fact that health insurance can cost $1000/month for a family of 4, and that's a lot of money! Please don't give me the "high taxes" excuse BS, I know how that works since I lived in both worlds!
Whew... I had to rant, and since this is my blog, I guess I can say what I want. I don't normally talk politics on here, but it has a lot to do with your life here in the U.S., and I have pretty strong beliefs. Ahh, I feel better now! :-)
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9 comments:
Got an apology from the ContractorTalk.com people. That was nice! I am really more mad (and surprised) at the contractors on there! Oh, they don't like people to be THAT informative, do they?
Sorry you had a bad experience. Keep in mind though, that for a lot of low and middle income consumers, the initial cost of the home is critical. I think that's largely the reason stick-built continues to be the standard. Still, I think SIP construction is great, and I'm sure you'll be very happy with your home.
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Bob
Yes, Bob, you're right, but being frugal should be applied on the long term as well. Just remember that stick built is cheaper upfront, but not long term in energy savings. Trying to convince people of that is difficult to say the least! I'm glad I'm not in politics :-).
I agree. Builders in the US are great at delivering a lot of square feet for a very reasonable price. Unfortunately, people often do think about the long-term maintenance costs of a code-minimum home or how characterless a whole house of drywall and carpet is.
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Bob
nice that they've come back an apologized, that can really go a long way ... maybe there is hope for them yet!
Sorry. There was a typo in my last post:
"people often do" NOT "think about the long-term maintenance costs"
I'll proof more carefully next time.
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Bob
Thanks for your support guys, I feel much better. I'm just surprised at how unprofessional and shady some contractors can be, especially when talking among themselves. It just shows how careful you have to be and how much to rely on female intuition.
if you build it, they will come.
sorry you got met by internet bullies. those forums are often a place for where some feel free to let it all hang out and should not be taken too seriously.
it's a supply and demand thing. I realize you are excited about SIP construction, but those guys make a living at just building the most for the least. and many home owners are struggling just to get into a home.
it's the consumer that needs to change. if there is a demand for energy efficient green homes with smart design, then the builders will change. unlikely the builders will build something that costs more if their customers don't want it.
blogs like this help to raise interest in the mind of the consumer.
Paul, that's a good point that builders will have to change if consumers change. I also think that people will be forced into changing with our current energy and oil crisis, war, etc... houses will have to be built to be sustainable, because no matter how cheap it is, if it's expensive to maintain, you're not going to be able to handle the house. My parents pay upwards of $500-600 for their 2500sf home in the summertime. We chose to put the money in NOW and reap the benefits long term. We hope that more and more people will come on board.
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