5 pet peeves to be wary of when hiring a tech contractor.

Hall Craft Inc., a southern California custom builder which takes on about 20 projects a year, is led by Rich Hall. An easygoing, very experienced contractor, Hall has gotten the process of partnering technology and construction down to a predictable science. And in fact, he has advice for those frustrated on both sides of the fence.

Hall has a very high bar that all subcontractors must exceed in order to be included on his regular crew and to get the recommendations from his busy firm. When looking at subcontractors, Hall Craft looks for character and high integrity first. Then comes the laundry list of reliability, dependability, quality, craftsmanship, communication disciplines and the ability to finish strong. Pet peeves? There are several things that get him going.

Here is a list of Hall's subcontractor pet peeves:

1. Cutting Corners

Hall describes corner-cutting as taking the low road and under executing, and he says subcontractors frequently do this. He believes that looking over subcontractors' shoulders is a standard part of the process. Subs who make decisions that might benefit themselves often will make other systems on the project more difficult, less efficient and more costly for the builder.

2. Showing Up Out of Sequence

This will lead to problems and finger pointing, according to Hall. It is the subcontractor's job to stay current with the general on scheduling.

3. Creating a Mess, Leaving a Mess

"A clean job site is a happy job site," says Hall. The last thing the builder needs is to worry about cleaning up burrito wrappers.

4. Electricians Who Think They're General Contractors

Hall says it's important to make sure they communicate well and understand how their contribution helps complete the big picture, adding, "Why can't those in the electrical community clean up the debris left over when they trim out the finish?"

5. Not Taking Responsibility for Screw-ups

Finger pointing and blame are not productive. Re-pulling a set of cables once in a while is just part of the deal, according to Hall. He emphasizes that for all subcontractors, at some point in time someone on the team is going to drop a screwdriver or cut into some plumbing, and urges them to come clean. Most of time these will be handled with out cost penalties. While it's important for builders to be aware of the potential negative when choosing a technology partner, there are also the positives to consider. Hall provides his wishlist of characteristics in technology subcontractors:

• The install manager and electronic designer request meetings early in the construction cycle. They ask good questions, and link up on scheduling.
• They are understanding and flexible. This could be with timing, reworking the wire schedule, and on-site turf changes. For instance, with sight lines for HVAC exhaust and returns vs. in wall-in ceiling invisible loudspeakers.
• It's ideal when integrators communicate user client change orders, even when they do not directly affect other subs.
• Subcontractors should get early documentation of the needs from others working on the jobs. Electricians need to know load requirements, alarm contractors might have the telephony contract and the A/V integrator has the data gig ... a very common situation.

Hall Craft has determined that the following sequence in the building process is the best flow for ensuring a successful experience. All this happens post framing:

1. Plumbing—it is much easier to work cable around a 10-foot section of pipe vs. visa versa.
2. Mechanicals, including the HVAC equipment and all the related duct work.
3. Electrical, including getting the load center and all the AC wire and lighting cans into the structure.
4. Structured wire and electronic entertainment and automation wiring.
5. Insulation.
6. Sheet rock/finish.
7. Flooring.
8. Electrical trim out and finish.
9. Electronic trim out and finish.

Frank White heads Custom Metrics, which does consulting for manufacturers in the integration market. He can be contacted at frank@custommetrics.com.

Finding a certifiable subcontractor

Builders may or may not have time to interview their subcontractors and check out their referrals. Builders who are familiar with CEDIA certification can check integrators' certification as a shortcut. CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design and Installer Association) is an international trade association of companies that specialize in designing and installing electronic systems for the home. Builders should make sure their technology subcontracts have at least one of the following credentials to ensure success:

CEDIA Installer One Certification
This credential is a basic certification that builders and integrators should insist on. To pass this it generally takes a least one year of experience and most of the curriculum involves basic construction issues along with NEC, and OSHA engagements.

CEDIA Installer Two Certification
The Installer Two exam is built around job-site management, project management, and team lead. The Installer Two has about three to four years of experience.

CEDIA Designer
This difficult credential is the residential technology equivalent to an engineering degree in the residential technology disciplines.

Manufacturer Factory Certification
Many of the equipment vendors require specialized training and testing in their brand of equipment. Many offer highly complex components that are not offered through the electronic retail chains.