I try to get down to my workshop by 9am, I have coffee breaks 11am, 3.30pm, 5.30 pm. Lunch is 1 til 2pm, and I usually finish up around 7pm. If I need to go on a sales call usually that will be around 8pm.
Weekends I might have a morning off, maybe an afternoon, but I get some work done Saturday and Sunday.
As my efficiency invreases maybe I’ll do less hours, or maybe I’ll make more money
How’s about you guys?
John
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Replies
earlier to start and less breaks that are shorter quit latter...
goof off on Saturdays and sleep in on Sundays..
gotta make time fer fishing at any cost...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Usally on the job between 8-8:30 ...... work until 12:30 -1 and take an hour lunch..... wrap it up about 5:30 or 6....... if I complete something slightly before that I uasally call it a day from 4 on. Always hate starting a new project that late in the day, I actually get more done faster if I leave it and start in the morning. Work most Saturdays and about one Sunday every couple of months or so.
Saturdays are no set hours. If I sleep a little later and have an extra cup of joe I don't beat myself up over it. Only day I don't set the alarm but work anyway.
Gives me a feeling of an easier day once a week.
I'm a self employed carpenter/cabinet maker.
Edited 1/17/2005 4:56 pm ET by jaxstraw
8-5 m-f
I work from home-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It is so, because Piffin tells me it is."
I leave the house at 7:30. Get breakfast & coffee to go eat on way. I start between 8 - 8:30 depending on the home owner. I break for lunch at 11:30 to beat the rush. I don't bring my lunch that often! Take 45 - 1 hr eat,read the paper ( need to keep up on the pat's & red sox ) I usually go for a coffee in the afternoon finish up at 5:00, home by 5:30 Sat. I sometimes work a full day but lately i'm trying 9 - 1, or I use that time to meet with clients etc. I work alone so I try not to be to hard on myself! Sun. mornings I pay bills drink coffee put together game plan for up comming week, drink coffee, watch the pats win! So with some office work here and there it's not bad, ie. I can still have a life. All Things Wood!
Stephen Prunier Carpentry
This time of year we wrap up a little earlier due to the daylight thing.... M-F onsite at 7am and wrap up around 4:30 or 5:00. Late spring and summer we'll go until 6 or 6:30 a lot of the time. We work most Saturdays, although it is usually optional for the guys unless it's crunch time on a particular project. We usually start on Saturdays at 8 and wrap up whenever I've had enough. Rarely do I work on a Sunday..... Sundays are for football and family.
I usually spend about an hour or so each evening doing paperwork of some sort. We take a 1/2 hour break at 11am this time of year.... that's usually it. Breaks as needed in the heat though. And then I usually spend an hour or two on Sunday mornings (before my wife gets up) fixing tools, changing oil, stocking the trailer, etc.
Other than that.... my time is mine! LOL.
In the shop by 7:15. Load the trucks for the day or head to the supply houses at 7:45. On the job by 8-8:15. Help works till 3:30-4 5 days a week. I work usually till 2-3 and then do sales calls usually around 5 to 7. We take breaks as needed and usually go to lunch once a week together. Saturdays are quotes/paperwork days till about 10 and fool around with stuff in the shop till noon. Then off for the day and Sunday is my day. I usually hang out and get my schedule for the week down. DanT
Usually start about 8/8:30 after the homowners leave. No breaks, no lunch (but don't get between me and the plate at dinner), quit when done, usually 530/6. Will work full saturdays if necessary and sunday's if real necessary. Bookwork is done in the early a.m.
Self employed remodeler.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
John,
Here we start work at 6:00am, one 10 minute break at 9:00am, 1/2 hour for lunch at 11:45am,...and call it quits at 2:30. Still gives one plenty of time for all the other stuff.
WSJ
Most days I start at 8-8.30. Have breakfast before I leave get coffee on the way.
Mostly I dont stop until 5.30 or so, look at new jobs on the way home.
Dont work Saturdays unless in a jam, never work Sundays. Working even part of a Saturday seems to screw the weekend somehow so I avoid it. Bookwork etc is done at night.
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
John,
Usually start at 7:00. Later if outside in the winter. Cold & dark. If I take a lunch, it is usually at 11:30 or 12. About a half hour, sometimes more, if someone else is onsite to talk to. Wrap up at 3:30 usuallly. Sometimes earlier, if I skipped lunch. Get kind of shaky ,without food for too long.
I try to beat the kids home from school every day.
From 3:30 on is book work, and checking with suppliers and subs, make sure the homework gets done, and piano gets practiced . Cook diner while doing that, so we can eat when the wife gets home. Usually have supper late. Like after 8:00.
Throw in coaching soccer for two seasons in summer. Where does the time go.
I try not to work weekends. But occasionally I'll work a saturday, if running behind. I usually meet with customer on saturdays. Seems they're more relaxed and can focus better. Sunday is the day I work on the house, or the shop. Unless it's winter, then everything on the weekends revolves around skiing. It's my one addiction!
I try hard to get 35-40 hours on site every week, since I'm a one man show. Then the rest of the business stuff after hours.
No wonder we feel like we're running on fumes alot of the time. What a great business to be in!!
Brudoggie
Edited 1/17/2005 6:49 pm ET by BRUDOGGIE
generally 8 to 4.
sometimes earlier ... sometimes later ...
I take about an hour for lunch ...
used to work as an employee where the hours were 7:30 to 4 ....
30 min for lunch that usually ended up being 45min to an hour ...
now ... I work like the rest of the world ...
just an hour earlier.
9 to 5 is just 8 hrs ... most real people working real jobs get a "lunch hour" ...
so I decided a coupla years ago to pretend I was a real person ...
when I sub ... I tell them the same "averages" ... 8 to 4 ...
but some days end up being 6 hrs ... some 10.
I work as few Sat's as possible ... and almost never a Sun ...
work is over rated ....
I'd rather get in and get it done quick!
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
Start around 7ish, leave the garage at 7:30. then it's an hour(+-) depending on traffic and stops for materials before we get to work.
No breaks till lunch, anywhere from 10 min to 30 minutes or more.
Try to start wrapping things up around 2:30-3:00 and hit the road home before all the yahoos do.
Did I say I hate traffic?
I had a bit of a rough bump some years ago, and took Saturdays out, also to be with my kids. Don't mind working a Sat now and then. Try to keep my hours reasonable.
Was a time though when I took all I could get, nights till 9 or 10, Sats. 1/2 day Sunday. Was nice to be young and run with the Bulls!!
EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
It depends on the weather, and road time involved.I try to be in the van NLT o800..and on the way..this time of year (like today, was 0830..and 6 degrees outside) A lot of my recentjobs are an hour+ oneway..depends on traffic.I almost always take lunch along, about 20 mins to wolf two sammiches and a soda. At or near 1200.Start to pack up 1600/1615 depending on where I am and time of year, and how tired or complete I am. I try to miss traffic on the way home so on the road 1630-1645 latestToday was a lost cause..drove an hour there and the other guys who were on the roof last , last week did not tarp it..so this AM it was snow and ice on cedar and copper..no walking it.I save Weekends for my house , unless it was a real short week and something HAS to be done..Now, that's all for when I am doing sub work fro someone else.When I am in my shop..14 -16 hrs days are common.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Watch out for the edges, it's really fast out there...
Try to leave a little early,stop at Micky Ds for my usual.Get to job,still dark. Eat my biscuit, get out and start a fire.Stand around fire til help gets there[7:00]. Stand around fire and BS with crew til 7:30sh, get tools out. Warm back up at fire. Do some actual work. Stoke fire back up for lunch[12:00],go back to work around 1:00. Get tools up around 3:45, warming hands up around any glowing embers left...it's cold here. Really we work 4, 8 1/2hr days and 6 on Friday .
I didn't do it....the buck does NOT stop here.
I clock in at 5:30 clock out at dark. someday three, four times a month clock n at 2 am till dark. winter five days aweek, march to november six to seven days a week. Today it was five thirty to five thirty. Lunch is in the truck from job to job if raining Hooters. 60 hours a week, slow week.
All that fire time ..it's a wonder ya still have wood for the house {G}
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Watch out for the edges, it's really fast out there...
Bankers hours here.... ever since they put out the 24hr. ATM machines its rough on a guy!
But really, from sun-up to sun-down. First on the site, last to leave! Love this time of the year cause of the short days. Usually do Saturdays from May thru Dec. Sundays only if there throwing large $$$ in my direction (Cash only!)
I try to leave the house by 8, but I usually leave by nine or ten. We take a coffee break in the morning at about 10 so my goal is to get there by coffee. I hit the goal about 50%. Lunch arrives rather quickly at about 12/30 or 1. We pack it up and head for home about 4.30, sometimes 4.
The fire(s) never go out and lately I have resurrected my love affair with hot soup for lunch!
And no, I don't get anywhere as much done each day as I used to....but I'm not losing any sleep over it...
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
I talked to a brick layer the other day Ive known most of my life . Hes 71 yrs young. He was laying brick on a small home with one helper. He took lunch and I was visiting with him. He told me he used to have to have 250 dollars a day. He says now he gets a 100 and heads for the house. Id never heard it put that way. I guess Im going to be looking into some of that and it wont bother me either. <G>
Tim Mooney
Damn- there are a lot of early risers here. But I never was a morning person, even with large amounts of caffeine.
I try to get to the job by 8:15-8:30. I'll break anywhere from 11:30 to 1 for lunch, depending on when might be a good time with how the work is going. I'll take between 30-45 mins. for lunch usually.
I usually quit about 4:30, maybe a little later if I can get a little more done that will make things easier the next day.
Most of the time I'm working within a 20-30 min. drive, so I'm home around 5 or shortly after.
Saturdays are usually left for running errands and maintenance; its rare for me to actually go to a customer's house on a Sat.
I've been an early riser for years,even week-ends. Habit I guess,never use a alarm clock. Every morning I'll pop-up around 4:00 ish ,walk Fido,watch a little news or sportscenter,make lunch then head out around 6:00.
I didn't do it....the buck does NOT stop here.
that's the problem...
having lunch before breakfast..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Damn- there are a lot of early risers here.
I used to be for a long time...........till my second marriage!! That warm body next to me makes it some damn hard to get up!!
EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
hard to believe you said that..
don't let the DW see that post...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
viagra?
just trying to help ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
and IMERC......................bastids..........
I said get up, not get IT up............viagra, sheesh, no need for that, I'm frustrated enough,
Why did God do that...........the hormone thing with women, you know late 40's-50's.........
Just wait Buck you youngin you...............it's a comin!
EricI Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
why do ya think I married an older chick!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
sure you take the Viagra and she won't cooperate and it's our fault...
see how ya are..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
you post like ya do and the ya got a tag with a first sentence like it is ....
heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!
yur the one holdin' the door an laying out the welcome mat...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Tim, thats about how I feel about it.
I spent two decades putting a lot of internal pressure on myself to be ultra productive. At some point in time, I realized that it was time to let someone else carry that burden. Now, I float in and out and do whatever and if the guys get it done great...if they don't...oh well, it'll be there tomorrow for me.
I could pound hard and make more money, but there really isn't a lot of money to be made if your pounding. YOu can make a lot more money thinking and creating alternate streams of income.
Just cruising along...
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
my Dad taught me from day one ...
sometimes ya just gotta know when it's not working and go home.
hit it hard tomorrow and be twice as productive.
sometimes we'd "wrap it up" at 10 am!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
Try to get to a site by 8:00 am (lots of travel time in my area).
Stop whenever I finish, or come to a good stopping point. Usually late evening, or late night.
Work Saturday and Sunday usually.
Some of my old clients have been calling me lately, but I turn down all of the large jobs. I don't have the trucks, vans, or equipment that I used to have.
But hey, it pays the bills. If things don't get better soon as far as employment goes, I will probably have to go back into the remodeling business. James DuHamel
He who dies with the most toys.... Still dies!
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?" MARK 8:36
http://www.godsfreemusic.com
wake up at 9 am...roll out around 10 ish...get there around 11...get tools out...pound a few nails....break at 11.45....back to work at 1.15....break at 2....pick up tools at 3.30...leave at 3.32....bitch because i ain't making no money and cant' get any hours...
...oh wait...this was my last crew...and the reason I'm now solo...
In the house at 8 - 8.30....out at 4.30-5...usually 45 to an hour for lunch when it works out...
some Saturdays..but not much..that is kid day and they tend to get pissed and whine when i go to work...
Don't work Sundays...even God had a day of rest...so that works for me too
"knowledge without experience is just information." Mark Twain
Judging by my customers calling habits they think I work 24 hours a day 7 days a week... and have nothing to do tomorrow.
"Judging by my customers calling habits they think I work 24 hours a day 7 days a week... and have nothing to do tomorrow."
That was funny .
Tim Mooney
not to the callers and customers..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Gosh, ...,. yall make me feel bad . I aint tellin now.
Tim Mooney
Get to the office around a quarter to seven. Do paper work get briefed on what's going on today. Get my paper work and either load equipment or if I'm lucky it was loaded the day before. Drive to the job, Sometimes it's an hour, sometimes it's four hours. Take an hour for lunch unless we're in a real hurry, then back to the shop. That can be anywhere from five in the afternoon to the wee hours of the morning. We're usualy on OT by Thursday. When it's busy Wed.. I took Friday before last off and still had 55 hours in.
It's starting to really suck.
Who Dares Wins.
normal hours of work?what's work?it wears me out deciding how to spend my day.retirement is a b!tch
bobl Volo, non valeo
Baloney detecter
Start callin subs or pickin up material about 5:30 or 6:00. Hit the job at 7:30, go to about 4:30 or 5:00. Meet with clients or prospects 1 or 2 nights a week, work the books, take offs, proposals, etc 2 or 3 nights, while keeping a trained and jaundice eye here on you scoundrels. Work most Sat mornings.
Usually i'm on the job from 8/8:30 till 5/5:30. If I have lunch it lasts as long as it takes to eat.
Saturdays are more relaxed. Start about 9, try to be done by 2 or 3. The only way I work sundays is if its a real emergency.
We work from 7-2:15, no breaks or lunch. I pay til 3. Once you get used to it, it sure saves on the drive home and you still have a lot of day left for other things. GW
I've worked that 7 to 3 on occasion ...
sure does feel like having a whole 'nother day left.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
At my shop we pull 4 /10's... I start with paperwork etc at breakfast @6 am, finish that up and have coffee and check msg boards until about 6:45, then downstairs to meet the boys... I set out gear etc and they arrive around 7, I give the plan of the day and we hit the truck and are off to the job(s), work from 7:30 - @10, short break ( smoke them if you got them), mostly chit chat...... lunch is 1/2 hr at @12, another break around 3 - 4, start rolling up at 5:45, out of there at 6.... now if we finish a stage after 4 we will roll up and head out early
fridays are for client care and more paperwork, I also schedule sales visits for friday if possiable, we sometimes work on saturdays but clients understand the overtime situation so it rarely happens, sundays can be damn expensive.
james
up at 5:30 out of house by 630 at shop by 7, dink around , I mean work, go to job site, un lock toolsetc. meet guys, work till 430 with guys, back to office till 7
saturday work 9-5. sunday, after church till 4 or so, meet clients when ti fits their schedule
have a life, whats that
one of these day sit will pay off
actually Willie Nelson sang it best
Live the life I love and I love the life I live
nothing better for me then pounding nails, different job site( office) regularly and a feeling of acomplishemnt every day
The good and the bad thing aboutthis job I'm doing now is I don't have to travel far but I don't get to get away from the job and go home like my help does cause I'm working on my own home.
Start around 8 8:30 and finish up around 5:30.
45 min for lunch on the average and a few five minute breaks.
In the summer the hours are longer.
Be well worn
####
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
8 to 5 M-F. I work later if I need to but I like to be there when the kids come home. I work about every other saturday. If I dont work on saturday I try to get something business related done, go for materials, load the trailor, change my tool stock. I hate running around monday morning getting set up for the week
I do take time between jobs to work on my own house. When I do its 8 to 5 as usual
Didn't know you guys all started so late. Right now I'm coming in at roughly 6:00 and staying until 3:00 or so. Not really supposed to be getting any OT, but am getting a little.Generally stop at the health club on the way home to see if there are any college girls are there working out. (-:During the summer is an entirely diferent story. I'm generally at work at 5:30 or so. If things are going well I can sometimes get out of here by 3:30. But when things are REALLY hot, I may be here until 5pm. Sometimes I have to come back for problems, and have been here after 8pm at times. Saturdays almost always find me here. I'll still come in at 5:30, and try to get in a few hours and get out to doing something more interesting. It's generally quieter and easier to get something done.Don't generally do Sundays unless it's just more convenient to work Sunday instead of Saturday. After work during most of the year generally finds me running off to work side jobs or do some farming. Doesn't leave a lot of time for screwing around. (-:
Be alert - the world needs more lerts.
Get to work at 6am .Take break at 9am to 9:20am . Take lunch at 11:55 to 12:30 . Finnish up at 3:30pm . Go home work in the shop till 6:00 . Then dinner and play with the kids . The last part is the most important .
Mike - Foxboro , Mass .
we work 7 to 3:30.... M-F... 1/2 hr for lunch at noon ( turns into 3/4 )
if things are going well , we can a lot done between 7 & 12....
i bring coffee around 9am
after the guys leave i go back to the office until about 6 - 6: 30
Saturday mornings... & sometimes Sunday afternoons
but i can also blow it all off and just disappear .... make sure the guys have what they need while i'm gone..
with our typical remodeling and additions, there is a lot of wandering around , dazed & confused.. i try to take care of that part so the guys can actually get something done....Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike, you actually bring your guys coffee? That's really nice. I've never worked for anyone who would spring for coffee more than once in a blue moon.
My brother, who I work with, and I take turns buying coffee most days. We used to work with another guy who would always accept our coffee, but never spring for it himself. Such a little thing, but shows that you care about your guys.
I work 7:30 or so to 5:00 or so. Often till 6 or 6:30, occasionally later than that if it's crunch time (or I'm overextended!) 45 min to 1 hr for lunch and errands. Evenings usually do some designing, estimating, work on my portfolio, or get stuck here! I like to consider Breaktime "ongoing education" so I don't feel too guilty.
Day job: 8-5 M-F with an hour for lunch
Night job 'muddling: 1-5 nights M-F around 6-9, then 10AM-ish to whenever on Saturday. Sunday is usually family type stuff.
I don't currently have a project house, so I'm just puttering. Gotta find a project house. The $$ is evaporating.
Start at 7:00, work until 11:00 when we get a 15-20 minute break and they we roll up at 2:45. We still get paid for 8 hrs, because we eliminated our lunch break. Home by 3:30. I am a union residential framer. We are losing days left and right here in chicago because of this weather.
Depends on what I am doing. As i get older I try to do things smarter. Summer time I like to work 6am-3pm to allow time to look at jobs in early evening or to prepare for the next day.
Winter time I semi hibernate and go run the family business (auto body shop) Then its 8am until whenever, tonite it will be around 10pm. Not all the time but customers don't like to wait too long. Fridays I will take off early to take the family out.