Amish builders (Lancaster: insurance, house, unemployment)

[donnaluv]

Hi! We're looking for Amish builders to put an addition on our home. Can anyone give me any information? We moved here to Lancaster County in August, 2009 & I do not know where to look. Thank you in advance for any help

[Honest Bob]

ARE YOU NUTS?

For some stupid reason - people were conned into believing that the Amish are hard workers and honest. When in fact, they are the most crooked people out there.

I hired some Amish people to put a roof on my kitchen. Now mind you the roof was only 12 x 16 and I needed it restructured.

I paid for all the materials - about $1700 and they supplied the labor - $2000

Now if they actually worked and did a good job, I wouldn't have a problem with that. But these people didn't even bring their own ladder. They used my tools. The only tools that they brought were one cordless drill and a chainsaw. They wanted to cut the sheeting for my roof with a chainsaw.

When they showed up - they only forgot 3 things.
Their square
Their level and their common sense.

Right off the bat, half the crew left and 3 people actually did the work.
They showed up 3 days early and waited around for the truck to deliver the materials for 3 hours, they worked from 10 AM to 2 PM and then left and said they would come back the next day and finish the job.
The next day they came back at 8 AM and left at 1 to get lunch, picked up their tools at 2 and demanded to be paid.

The soffit and fascia on the roof were done wrong and the edge of the roof is not square.

I have seen this kind of quality of work - every place they go.

Not to mention that they don't know the first thing about electricity and if you let them build a structure for you - more times then not it will be wrong.

Now you also have to remember that with the uniform building codes - that you can't build anything without a permit and without inspections.

If they pull the bull crap on you that they did on me - nothing is going to pass and you will not get a certificate of occupancy for any structure that they build.

Your best bet is to find a good contractor and investigate his credentials thoroughly.. Ask to see some of their work and ask for references from previous customers and call those customers and ask how good of a job they did and how pleased they were with the work and what problems they had down the road.

The very last people you want to do work for you is the Amish.

[Kayee]

Go with a reputable contractor/builder who has all the insurance requirements.

[lititzman2003]

I sent you a PM with the name of a contractor who just finished our basement and we were very happy with their work.

Good luck.

[ekillians]

I agree. We've hired them. Not always the best results. Get a real contractor thats insured.

[toobusytoday]

Hold on a sec. How can you say that all Amish people are poor workers?? That's like saying that Catholics are bad accountants because a firm you hired to do your taxes screwed up and they happened to be Catholic. The best way to get someone that will do a good job is to get references from people you know and trust. I wouldn't hire someone to do major work in my house without that.

[lititzman2003]

Originally Posted by Little Bevis

ARE YOU NUTS?

For some stupid reason - people were conned into believing that the Amish are hard workers and honest. When in fact, they are the most crooked people out there.

I hired some Amish people to put a roof on my kitchen. Now mind you the roof was only 12 x 16 and I needed it restructured.

I paid for all the materials - about $1700 and they supplied the labor - $2000

Now if they actually worked and did a good job, I wouldn't have a problem with that. But these people didn't even bring their own ladder. They used my tools. The only tools that they brought were one cordless drill and a chainsaw. They wanted to cut the sheeting for my roof with a chainsaw.

When they showed up - they only forgot 3 things.
Their square
Their level and their common sense.

Right off the bat, half the crew left and 3 people actually did the work.
They showed up 3 days early and waited around for the truck to deliver the materials for 3 hours, they worked from 10 AM to 2 PM and then left and said they would come back the next day and finish the job.
The next day they came back at 8 AM and left at 1 to get lunch, picked up their tools at 2 and demanded to be paid.

The soffit and fascia on the roof were done wrong and the edge of the roof is not square.

I have seen this kind of quality of work - every place they go.

Not to mention that they don't know the first thing about electricity and if you let them build a structure for you - more times then not it will be wrong.

Now you also have to remember that with the uniform building codes - that you can't build anything without a permit and without inspections.

If they pull the bull crap on you that they did on me - nothing is going to pass and you will not get a certificate of occupancy for any structure that they build.

Your best bet is to find a good contractor and investigate his credentials thoroughly.. Ask to see some of their work and ask for references from previous customers and call those customers and ask how good of a job they did and how pleased they were with the work and what problems they had down the road.

The very last people you want to do work for you is the Amish.

Sorry you had such a horrible experience. Did you file a complaint with the AG's office?

[PeeAye Native]

Originally Posted by Little Bevis

ARE YOU NUTS?
....
I have seen this kind of quality of work - every place they go.

Not to mention that they don't know the first thing about electricity and if you let them build a structure for you - more times then not it will be wrong.
...

Your best bet is to find a good contractor and investigate his credentials thoroughly.. Ask to see some of their work and ask for references from previous customers and call those customers and ask how good of a job they did and how pleased they were with the work and what problems they had down the road.

The very last people you want to do work for you is the Amish.

I'd question some of this. Not the part about check references, do that. But for example, Amish do not drive automobiles, if they were coming and going as you describe, maybe you got something/someone else?

What they do is pay someone to drive them to and from job sites like this, usually someone with a van who they know. And they factor that into the cost. Someone who deals with the Amish (business to business) once told me anyone can put on a hat and suspenders and say "Amish Made".

On the last point, "The very last people you want to do work for you is the Amish". I'd take Amish made timber-frame structures I've seen in Lancaster County over conventional structures any day. I'm talking about aesthetics, workmanship and life of the structure.

[donnaluv]

Thank you everyone. I have also seen Amish work, just right down the block from us. They are significantly cheaper. There was just a big write up in the newspaper about why this is so. For one, they do not have to pay unemployment or workers comp. I don't think I'm nuts, just keeping our options open. If anyone has used the Amish to build, please let me know.

[girliegirl5]

I realize this thread is a bit dated but figured I would give it a shot anyway.
I am looking to add a second story addition to my home in Worcester, PA and have several estimates from contractors. Would anyone be willing to recommend an amish/mennonite builder? Thank you in advance for any information.