I’m an experienced (a-retentive), lead carpenter for all stages of high-end residential construction although my strengths and interests are in quality woodwork and trim. There have been no complaints about the opportunities or projects we’ve worked on to this point. The dilemma that I see coming along in a few years is the pay ceiling for carpenters who want to keep working with their hands. Are other carpenters at this level feeling the pressure to work less with wood and more with management and what are you doing about it?
Like many experienced carpenters I tried the GC route and loved the money, hated the stress level, and happily returned to working for wages. As a working lead carp with a good crew I only spend a fraction of each day providing guidance and direction to others and mostly make sawdust like everyone else. Fortunately, interaction with clients at this level is limited to the more enjoyable aspects of matching our work to their preferences. Further, we aren’t building on tight budgets so our creativity and quality are emphasized and productivity is rarely questioned. Pinch me. …almost.
Unfortunately, I’m topped out financially for this region ($50k/no bennys/average cost of living) and will have to go into a construction management position (a 4×4 mobile air conditioned desk?) with a larger custom home builder to get benefits, company truck, vested retirement, etc. (a recent invitation was to put my hat in for just that and $65k). Do any of you find working as a sub for a small number of established builders is a happy in-between?
It would also be great to hear from anyone in the rocky mountain states working on big summer/resort homes.
Cheers, Don
Replies
Oh don....I feel your pain!
Trouble is most GC types don't really care who does the work....sometimes whether it's good or not doesn't matter either.
I'd get a new book written by a guy on Marthas Vinyard----The company we keep. By John Abrams.
Thier solution was to have the people own the company. Move to Montana and work for Big Timberworks....they work the same way. Very VERY high quality stuff.
I would take the money you were offered. That'e 15K more, plus benefits. Think of it in a ten year period. A hundred and fifty grand plus.
Absolutely, it's a happy way to go. Specialize and get known as a high end guy, do impecable work and it'll be your oyster.
What you have described is a carbon copy of what I have gone through. Right now I keep it small, it's just me, but I fit in with crews of others if they want me to. I get paid well because I call the shots there are several wealthy areas around here (that helps). No job or career is the perfect one, but right now this suits me fine. Building up a clientel is key.
I'm maxxed out at $17/hr. My employer won't relinquish the reins even though I've bailed out numerous situations over the last three years when noone else was around or would stand up and take responsibility. I wish I had that offer, it wouldn't take long for me to make up my mind.
Dustin W.
What area are you working in. That wage sounds low, but it varies greatly depending on where you are.
I don't know about your situation. Your area, the kind of clients you serve, how many years experience you have, your range of ability, the availability of work, the kind of work you're willing to do and the kind of work you want to do...all these are a factor. $17 per hour sounds low and the boss doesn't want to give a raise especially when you keep stepping up to the plate seems like he's playing you for a bit of a chump. Seems like there's not much incentive to stay, unless it's a depressed area and you really have no choice. If that's the case, and you want to make more $$, then maybe give serious thought to relocating.
Have you ever been on your own? If not and you think you might want to, then start small, overhead low, ask questions etc etc., then just do it.
Don,
In our society there is a finite level of work at the high end of the scale. To max out your income possibilities you need to capture as much of that work as possible. The terrible thing is there is never a lack of clients willing to pay less for what they perceive as the same thing.. Thus the number of "high end clients is finite and going to be further limited by cost pressures..
We are lucky with the currant building boom that there seems to be a steady amount of clients who have made money either in the past stock market boom or the recent realestate boom.. Like all things booms have their cycles.. don't expect the currant boom to last indefinitely. It simply can't! People are spending more than a practical amount on homes right now because it seems to them as that is the way to wealth. Once the market catches up with reality (or should I say reality catches up with the market),.... construction will take another one of it's down cycles..
I was around the last time that occurred and former high end carpenters were reduced to building pole barns to pay bills while those lower on the scale were reduced worse..
Many construction people simply got out of the business..
Now to be specific about your case, Look at the cycle and try to decide if we are at it's peak, or past it's peak or the peak has yet to come.. If we are in the growth phase then it's perfect timing to move up (always assuming you are a good match for the management requirements) If you think we are near the peak or past the peak then perhaps your next move should be defensive