How long should an install take

[Solid Rock Oregon]

I need some advise. First let me give some back ground.
I operate a smaller shop Near bend Oregon. I am giving location because it has some effect on my Problem in that there is usually a half hour to forty five minutes of drive time.
I use two a man team for installation. My installers are taking two to three days to install a typical kitchen. By typical I mean approximately 68 sqf of counter top with one seam.
In the past I had other employees that could easily install a kitchen per day with no customer complaints.
My question is how long should an install take and was I spoiled with my former Employees.

[Dan R.]

we drive 70 miles one way and my 2 guys install 2 kitchens of similar size in one 10 hour day (including travel time and lunch). I think your first crew is more an industry norm than your present crew.

[Andy Ross]

I would anticipate a 5-6 hour install for that size (plus drive time). We've done them in 4 if everything runs smooth (rare)That includes tear out and top polishing seam. 3 days seems really long.

We did one last year- 78 ft, 4 seams (top polished) on the second floor. Ended up being a 6.5 hour install. There was no tear out on that one but it had 4 flippin seams. Ran fairly smooth.

If pieces don't fit correctly, that will kill your install time. If there is any significant onsite fabbing, that will kill your install time. I would start by finding out what is taking up the time and try to speed that up.

[mikedean]

My 2 guys do 2 or 3 kitchens a day. No top polish. Driving is 30-45 between each job. Kitchen avg is 45 sq ft with one seam.

[topshop]

The only time an install takes me more than (1) day is when I install a tile backsplash at the same time and the second day is only for grouting.

I have 1 or 2 guys on the site for about 20 minutes to help carry stone in then the rest is all me. Including set-up and clean-up time if I install a job that size with (1) seam top polished I will be on site at 8:am and be leaving the project by 1:pm with final payment in hand.

I think you need to help your installers on a job and find out what is taking them so long.

[Dan Dauchess]

My two-man teams are scheduled to install 60-100 SF a day.

[Joe Little]

Dude, I would be going balistic if my guys took 3 days to install a 68 s/f kitchen. Then I would tell them:
Don't let the door hit ya, where the good lord split ya

[Curtis R. Marburger]

Dude, I would be going balistic if my guys took 3 days to install a 68 s/f kitchen. Then I would tell them:
Don't let the door hit ya, where the good lord split ya

Yep , examine your process ,

[Solid Rock Oregon]

Thank you for the reply's it confirms my thoughts on the matter. We template with laser and double check with tape measure in the field. there are very few adjustments needed. I think the install team is having a jolly old time stroking the clock. It might be time for some new personal.

[ripleyrockart]

I need some advise. First let me give some back ground.
I operate a smaller shop Near bend Oregon. I am giving location because it has some effect on my Problem in that there is usually a half hour to forty five minutes of drive time.
I use two a man team for installation. My installers are taking two to three days to install a typical kitchen. By typical I mean approximately 68 sqf of counter top with one seam.
In the past I had other employees that could easily install a kitchen per day with no customer complaints.
My question is how long should an install take and was I spoiled with my former Employees.

I subcontracted in South Carolina a few yrs back and it was normal for two guys to install 2, 60-80 sq ft kitches in a 12 hour day. No problems, good luck

[Nick]

2 days to install a non technical job under 4 slabs is nuts unless it is a trip back for full splashes. And we take out time on installs.

[Angel]

5-6 hours tops with drive time for 68 sq ft. unless there are other things to consider such as a tile tear out, upstairs install or multiple seams.

[steven nenzel]

I'm not going to be diplomatic when I say this... you have been swindled. These guys have been hustling you and I can't believe that you could be so unaware. Fire these guys and take control of your business. Sorry to sound rude about it but you need a wake up call. It is you that have allowed this to occur.

Your guys have been on their cell phones playing angry birds, probably going on 2 hour lunch breaks and working for your competitor putting in kitchens on your dime. All doable within this time frame.

[VThartzog]

Maybe pay them by the square foot and see how fast they work. We have two guys that drive two hours each way and only put in a 10 hour day.

Time for new employees big guy...

[Solid Rock Oregon]

I'm not going to be diplomatic when I say this... you have been swindled. These guys have been hustling you and I can't believe that you could be so unaware. Fire these guys and take control of your business. Sorry to sound rude about it but you need a wake up call. It is you that have allowed this to occur.

Your guys have been on their cell phones playing angry birds, probably going on 2 hour lunch breaks and working for your competitor putting in kitchens on your dime. All doable within this time frame.

Steve
I think your right on. The buck stops with me and I have been letting it go for to long. New installer on the way!

[Jeff H.]

2 to 3 days

[Randy Gallion]

I template with a proliner and everything fits like a glove. It doesn't really matter how big the job is. Our installs take 4-6 hours plus driving time. Your guys must be working 1.5 hours a day. That should have been stopped the first day. You need to go on all installs and find out what's going on. I've had characters like that working for me. Sleeping on the clock taking two hour lunch breaks charging for days they were not even there on their cell phone etc. There's alot of them out there weed out the bad ones keep the good ones.

[Darryl Miller]

It is a good policy to spot check your installers anyway. Just pop in on a job and see how things are going. You also need to visit jobs every now and then after they are gone just to make sure the quality is what you expect. Even the best installers will sometimes get lazy or take a shortcut if they have a heavy install schedule.

[dsyverson]

Another option is If they are using your vehicle or trailer, install a GPS tracker on it.

If they are using their own truck, install one on the A-frame.

You currently are getting screwed royally, no way that should take anywhere near that long.

[Solid Rock Oregon]

Amazing
I spent Monday morning meeting individually with the installers Asking the question if they wanted to continue working for me and reminding them about how long an install should take and what the standards should be. I also shared some your responses with them. After that sent them out for an install. 5 hours later they were done.
Don't get me wrong they do very good work but they have gotten soft or lazy this year and I let it go too long.
This was a good reality check!

We will see how long it or they last.

Thanks for all the response.
Mike

[Boru]

Mike,
I couldnt believe what i was reading. You are a patient man. I would have fired their asses if i caught them slacking by even a couple of hours. They represent your business, what must your customers have been thinking? Do yourself a favour and replace them. There are tons of good guys out there and plenty more willing to learn. Old habits die hard, the only person standing to lose is you. Clear them out !!!!!!!!!!!

[dan k.]

It's very rare that we have an install go beyond 4 hours with a kitchen that size. That would include backsplashes, outlet cutouts, 2 seams, and even a cooktop cutout. We send two skilled mechanics. If we sent 1 mechanic and 1 semi skilled helper, I would expect no higher than 5 hours, ever.

[EID GRANITE]

I don't know how you can make a profit when it takes that long . My 2 man crew installs 2 to 3 kitchens a day with those being 60 sq average in a normal work day . Some days they will do a whole house with kitchen a few baths wet bar etc then do a average kitchen after. I think somebodys milking the clock or the shops sending them out with bad work that don't fit and there's to much fab work going on onsite.

[TheShineKing]

Wow.

Im still waiting for Ashton Kutcher to reply to this thread to tell us we've been PUNK'd.

I can install a kitchen that size in 6-8 hours(with seams top polished) and I've only done installations very few times since Im mainly a fabricator.

[signaturecountertops]

I template with a proliner and everything fits like a glove. It doesn't really matter how big the job is. Our installs take 4-6 hours plus driving time. Your guys must be working 1.5 hours a day. That should have been stopped the first day. You need to go on all installs and find out what's going on. I've had characters like that working for me. Sleeping on the clock taking two hour lunch breaks charging for days they were not even there on their cell phone etc. There's alot of them out there weed out the bad ones keep the good ones.

Lots of good points here. You definitely need to spend some time on a few different types of installs with you team. There is a major disconnect some where and I would make figuring out where my new hobby if it were my company. My lead installer and (1) $8 an hour gopher average 100-140 sq ft in a 8-10hr day depending upon drive time. Our average install is located 30 mins one way from our shop.