Construction

Due to the delays with the City, our window of opportunity closed. John Weibe of Beeline Enterprises (General Contractor), had originally been ready to start the project at the end of May. Due to the delays he had to take other jobs and was busy. With the delay, a Concrete Subtrade wasn't scheduled so everyone that we spoke to indicated that October would be the earliest they could even look at it. As the Foundation is the basis of which the entire structure rests it wasn't as if we could work around this.

Between John and I we worked the phones and emails contacting everyone we knew. Through friends of friends I sent out drawing set after drawing set to try and get someone to price the job. I eventually made contact with someone who appeared to have some time by the end of August and more importantly came through someone that I have done work with in the past so there was some level of confidence on my part - or so I thought. A deposit cheque was written to guarantee the start date.

Concrete work is one of those jobs where everything is weather dependant. One day of heavy rain can delay a job for up to 3 days as we wait for the ground to dry somewhat. Three days of heavy rain and it adds a week + to the equation. August in Winnipeg this year feels like it has been the wettest month ever.

With the rain, the end of August concrete start date came and went. I wasn't too concerened as I did expect this. That being said I phoned the Concrete Contractor to confirm what his schedule was like and to see when he might be available to start. I left message after message - no response. At this point I started to worry. I tried calling him from home, from the office, from my cell phone - nothing. Beginning to think the worst, figured I would try calling him using one of my Designers cell phones. He answered on the second ring. If this wasn't a huge warning bell I don't know what is. He seemed surprised, more like whoops I shouldn't have answered this call.

I didn't say what I was thinking. I still wanted a foundation poured before Fall and I didn't have many options as I had stopped looking for a Concrete sub trade in July. If they were busy then... good luck finding anyone now. I was nice, he assured me he would get get me the information that I had requested the next day. I knew that wouldn't be the case but I had to play along. The next day came and went and there was nothing and there was still no response. Now I couldn't even get ahold of him. I had lost confidence and did not want him anywhere near the house. The great concrete search was going to have to start afresh.