A client in Mill Woods insisted on a specific vinyl plank and now I'm torn on sticking to specs versus pushing back on bad choices.

I was installing a grey wood-look plank in a basement with almost no natural light, and the finished room felt like a concrete bunker, which has me debating if our job is just to install what's bought or to warn people about design flaws that hurt resale.

3 comments

3 Comments

miles_grant352mo ago

Man, you gotta speak up. That's part of the job, saving people from their own bad ideas that they'll hate later. A quick warning shows you care more than just getting paid.

the_val2mo ago

Yeah, that's a good point from @miles_grant35. It's tough to say something in the moment, but you're right... it's the kind thing to do.

tarab541mo ago

And how do you even find the right words for that without coming across as a know-it-all or a busybody? I've been in situations where I saw a coworker headed for a mistake, and my gut said to say something, but I worried about overstepping or making them defensive. It's one thing to save someone from a bad idea, but it's another to do it without making them feel stupid or like you're questioning their whole judgment. I guess the real skill is in the delivery, not just the fact that you spoke up. What's worked for you in the past when you had to give that kind of warning to someone who seemed really sure of themselves?