Talking to Subtrades on Site: Respect Their Time and Get Better Results

When you're building or renovating, you’re going to have questions.

Lots of them.

You’ll want to know why something is being installed a certain way, whether something can be changed, what happens next, and whether the finished product is going to look the way you imagined.

Asking questions is important. In fact, good communication with your subtrades can prevent some very expensive mistakes.

But there is another side to good communication that homeowners and project managers sometimes overlook:

Your trades are there to work — and their time matters.

Learning how and when to communicate with the people working on your project can make the jobsite run more efficiently and help you build a much better relationship with your trades.

Remember: You're Talking to Someone Who Is Working

Imagine trying to do your own job while someone stands beside you asking questions every ten minutes.

That's essentially what can happen on a construction site.

Your carpenter may be laying out a complicated wall. Your electrician could be calculating circuits. Your tile setter might be establishing an important layout. Your plumber could be halfway through something that requires concentration.

Stopping them repeatedly doesn't just take up the five minutes you're talking.

They have to stop what they're doing, explain it, answer questions and then get themselves back into the task.

Multiply that by several conversations throughout the day and a surprising amount of productive time can disappear.

Save Your Questions and Ask Them Together

Instead of approaching your trades every time a question pops into your head, keep a running list.

Then choose an appropriate time to go through several questions at once.

For example:

Instead of this:

"Where is this outlet going?"

Ten minutes later:

"Are you putting another one over there?"

Twenty minutes later:

"Can we move that switch?"

Try:

"When you have a few minutes, I have three electrical questions I'd like to go through with you."

That's easier for everyone.

The electrician can finish what they're doing, put their tools down and give you their full attention.

You'll probably get better answers too.

Ask Before Starting a Conversation

One of the simplest ways to show respect on a construction site is to ask:

“Is now a good time?”

If the answer is no, don't take it personally.

Ask when they would have a few minutes.

A good trade would usually much rather spend ten focused minutes going through your questions than be interrupted six times over the course of the day.

Understand That Time on Site Costs Money

Whether your trades are charging hourly, daily or by contract, their time has value.

Long conversations can ultimately affect productivity and the cost of the project.

There's also a difference between discussing the work and simply chatting.

Having a good relationship with your trades is great. Construction sites don't need to be cold or unfriendly.

But a 30-minute conversation every morning adds up.

Over a five-day week, that's 2.5 hours.

Do that with several trades over a long project and you're potentially talking about dozens of hours of lost productivity.

Be friendly. Have a laugh. Get to know the people working on your home.

Just remember that they're also trying to get a job done.

Be Prepared Before You Ask

If you need to discuss something important, have the information ready.

Don't make your plumber stand around while you spend ten minutes searching your email for the faucet specification.

Don't ask your electrician about lighting placement when you haven't decided which vanity you're buying.

Don't call your cabinetmaker over to discuss an appliance opening when nobody has the appliance specifications.

Have your drawings, measurements, photos, specifications or product information ready.

Five minutes of preparation on your part can save twenty minutes of someone's time on site.

Know Who You Should Be Asking

Not every question needs to go directly to the person holding the tool.

On a larger project, there may be a foreman, lead hand, site supervisor, general contractor or project manager who should be your main point of contact.

Going directly to individual workers can sometimes create confusion — particularly if you're requesting changes.

One person may tell the apprentice one thing while the supervisor is working from another set of instructions.

If there's a communication structure on the project, respect it.

Know who is responsible for making decisions and communicate through that person whenever possible.

Don't Make Casual Changes

One of the most dangerous sentences on a construction site is:

“While you're here, could you just…”

Move this.

Add that.

Change this opening.

Put another outlet over there.

Make this wall slightly different.

What sounds like a five-minute change may affect materials, inspections, another trade, the schedule and ultimately your budget.

Before requesting a change, ask what is involved.

“Can we change this? What would that affect?”

That's a much better conversation.

Give Trades Time to Think

You don't always need an immediate answer.

If you discover a problem, explain what you're trying to accomplish and let the trade think about it.

Experienced tradespeople are professional problem solvers.

They may have encountered the exact situation before.

Instead of hovering over them waiting for an immediate solution, try saying:

“Have a look at it when you get a chance and let me know what you think our best option is.”

Sometimes the best answer comes after someone has had ten minutes to think about the problem.

Don't Assume a Question Is a Criticism

How you ask a question matters.

There's a big difference between:

“Why did you do it like that?”

and:

“Can you explain how this is going to work once it's finished?”

The first can sound accusatory.

The second opens a conversation.

You absolutely have the right to question work that doesn't look correct. But beginning with curiosity rather than accusation usually leads to a much more productive discussion.

If there really is a mistake, you can deal with responsibility after you understand what happened.

Respect Their Expertise

Good tradespeople have spent years — sometimes decades — learning their craft.

If you hired experienced professionals, use that knowledge.

You don't have to agree with every recommendation, but listen to the reasoning behind it.

Try asking:

“If this were your house, how would you do it?”

It's one of our favourite construction questions.

You might have spent three hours researching something online.

The person standing in front of you may have installed it 300 times.

That experience has value.

Deal With Important Questions Quickly

Respecting someone's time doesn't mean avoiding conversations.

There are times when you absolutely should interrupt the work.

If you see something that appears seriously wrong, if a decision needs to be made before work can continue, or if proceeding could result in expensive rework, speak up.

It's much easier to move a plumbing line before the wall is closed.

It's much easier to move an electrical box before drywall.

It's much easier to correct a tile layout before half the room is installed.

Good construction communication isn't about talking less.

It's about talking at the right time.

A Good Jobsite Is Built on Mutual Respect

The best construction projects usually have something in common: the people involved respect each other.

Trades respect the homeowner's investment.

Homeowners respect the trades' experience and time.

Project managers communicate clearly.

Questions are asked before they become problems.

Changes are documented.

And everyone understands what needs to happen next.

Your relationship with your subtrades can have a surprisingly large impact on your project.

Be organized. Ask good questions. Have information ready. Give people room to work. Listen to their expertise.

And perhaps most importantly, remember that when someone is on your jobsite, their time is part of your project too.

Respect it, and you'll often find that your trades are much more willing to go the extra mile when you really need them.