Lost a whole deck rebuild because I forgot to check the truss layout

Drove 45 minutes to a job site in Huntsville last Tuesday, got all my tools unloaded and started framing. After 3 hours of work the homeowner comes out and says hey that deck doesn't match the truss spacing. I totally missed the engineer drawing had different joist centers than what I marked. Had to tear out 80 bucks worth of lumber and start over. Now I always double check the truss layout before I cut a single board. You guys ever screw up something simple like that just from rushing?

3 comments

3 Comments

rileyp4923d ago

I mean I kinda see it different. You say you were rushing but honestly the homeowner should have caught that too if they were paying attention. Its not all on you. I've had jobs where the drawings had mistakes and the homeowner didnt notice either. Maybe its just me but I think everyone misses stuff sometimes and its not always just one persons fault.

kaid599d ago

Yeah I actually read something about contractor liability recently... said even if a homeowner signs off on plans the pro still holds responsibility for major oversights. It's a tough spot to be in.

patriciareed23d ago

@rileyp49 I get what you're saying about shared responsibility, but I'd flip it and say the homeowner is paying you for your expertise, not to double-check your work. If you're the pro, the buck stops with you every time, even if they should have caught it too.