Another Renovation Carpentry Trap

Honestly, it is mind blowing how some IDs can come up with so many different ways to trick people.

Carpentry is primarily quoted based on its length.

The main metric used is per feet (ft), or what carpenters call “per foot run”.

So if you want to do a 6 feet wardrobe, you will be charged 6 feet x pfr unit rate (okay la not that simple but generally this is the principle).

The thing is, you tell me, how long is 1 ft? 30cm right?

This is a mathematical truth btw, not an opinion, you can give it a quick google search.

Watch our tiktok channel if you lazy to read.

But apparently, when reviewing quotations for our homeowners recently, we realised that, wow, 1 foot suddenly can shrink to 26cm.

This one not magic show you know? Where did my 4cm go?!

In fact, one of our ID actually shared that there is a rising trend for this “trick”.

The Trap

Let’s see if you can spot what this ID did:

When you divide the length given for the carpentry for the various line items, you find that one side shows 1ft = 30cm, but other line items were at 26cm?!

Where did the 4cm go?! That’s a 13% shrinkage, while paying the same unit rates.

In short, you are paying more and getting less.

Now, could it be that the ID was just being precise and that it is merely rounding? (carpenters will round to the nearest 0.5 feet).

Unlikely, because (1) you can see the other parts of the quote (2) there were 2 other quotes (3) this homeowner merely requested for quote and did not meet the ID. - it’s extremely unlikely to come out with something so precise.

Btw this is not from any of our ID firms ok.

The More Common Traps

Common carpentry traps are like playing with the design, materials, length given.

But the “beauty” of this “trap” is that it is easily missed by homeowners - i mean who the hell plays with the conversion rate?!

There’s a reason why this industry is as such and this is why we review quotations for homeowners?!

The Bigger Problem

This isn’t just about homeowners getting short-changed.

This is doing a disservice to all the good, honest IDs and contractors, who try their best for homeowners.

TLDR

1 foot = 30cm

Carpentry is charged per foot run.

Shrinking the foot run is just a scam.

Make sure you check the math.

If you are looking to shortlist reliable IDs/contractors for your reno, feel free to enquire here, or check out our blog for other important tips!!