What is the most important issue facing builders today?
- The availability of skilled labor
- The quality of building materials
- The availability of good building sites
- The ability to build in an environmentally responsible manner
- The increase in bureaucracy that affects the building community
- Other
You will not be able to change your vote.
Replies
Wow, almost one vote each--the trends are leaping right out there.
Ruth, would you consider letting us write the questions to the next several polls???
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!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I sometimes tweak the polls, but I don't dream them up. I'm just the "messenger."
sometimes the questions / answers are hard to relate to subject... almost as if the poll is statistcs manuvering / minipulation for some unknown reason...
offer a write in block under the other - other check block...
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!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
The software doesn't allow us a write-in block below "other," but we are hoping that people who choose the "other" option will explain in a regular post.
this poll seems to demand a "more than one answer applies"...
3 in this case...
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!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Marty's point may have additional depth to it, the original poll posers may not have appreciated.
The "other" choice versus "admin/govt costs" issue may get blurred, as, in some juridictions W/C and bonds/insurance are mandated; in others, not so--which them makes them a "competitive" cost (as in, how does a legit company complete with a fly-by-nighter).
It almost seems as if what is needed is a multi-step poll, like if your choice is X, which of the following is the reason "why?" (also probably not supported by the forum poll s/w <g>).
Just now, lack of skilled labor" is leading the poll. Which seems odd to me. Locally we have no shortage of skilled labor. Labor that can be profitably hired, that's subject to a bit more debate. "Skilled" is a precisely imprecise term, too (at least when applied to new, different--or green--building materials).
I'm still sticking with admin/gov't costs for my pick--if only because those costs never ever seem to decrease at all. Shoot, "helper" labor, I'd have to offer $9-10/hr, and then I'd be saddled with most of $5/hr to pay that, so it's $15 the hour to break even? That's helping.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
I chose lack of skilled labour, not because I find an immediate shortage, but because I look around at a lot of grey hairs and a lot of guys who plan to get out in the next five years, either to retire or to change careers. There is VERY LITTLE intrest amoug the young for this kind of work, and I don't hear good things about most of the immigrant labour pool.so I see this as an issue we are facing - not yet a dire emergency, but facing it seriously.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
FWIW, what you view as a problem, I view as a wonderful set of circumstances. Selfish? Yes. But I gotta admit... at the end of the day... it ain't a hobby. I'm in it to make some money and satisfy a need to be productive at the same time. Ain't nothing wrong with a little job security. :)View Image
Oh, and I'm right there with Piff on this. We're a dying bread.
What is occurring now is a bunch of mishaps and no english speaky's with blue tools "teaching" the next generation of FU's.
It's very sad. VERY few people are truly interested in REALLY learning the trades the way you, me and Piffin did from skilled professional that preceded us.
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
Didn't mean to touch a nerve.... if I did, I apologize Eric.
I'm afraid part of what you and Piff are talking about goes right back to what I agreed with Bill on. Uneducated home buyers. People are getting exactly what they're asking for in many cases... cheap crap. Cheap in quality. And cheap in price. I can frame cheap too.... but I'll have to revamp my crew and equipment habit to do so.... and quality will drop as a result. If there were a good market for truly quality built homes then that's what Pulte and the like would be building. But people don't want that.... at least they don't want to pay for that. They want square footage, a granite counter top, and vinyl on the outside.
They're ordering up stuff a monkey could build.... and in many cases, monkeys are building 'em as a result. You don't need a $75+/hr artisian to install speed base, vinyl siding, and cabinets that are complete right out of the box.
Don't get me wrong.... I'm not happy about that part either.... but it is what it is.View Image
Hey, you don't ever need to apologize for anything that goes on here.
We speak honestlty with our cards face up, right?
And I agree with the rest of your post.
It's tough finding those willing to pay for a difference. I'm lucky enough right now (to some extent) to be working for a company that attracts, or strives to, discerning clients.
It's a mixed blessing as well. I get to do some mid to upper class work, but the people paying for it can sometimes be a handful to deal with.
The magazine I referred you to deals directly with focused business issues on a monthly basis. This month included an expansive article on compensation and benefits on a broad nationwide basis.
To me, Remodeler is the other side of the coin to FHB. I love the Business folder. My sole complaint would be the lack of traffic there. BT does not have many large business's that are willing to participate in this type of forum.
Now go find a trailer and an operator for that Bobcat!
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
you must not be a english speaky -- it's a dying "breed", not "bread"
The most important issue facing builders today is where their children are going to live and what kind of world we will leave to their grandchildren. In America, we have an enormous stockpile of poorly built and inefficient housing that will be a burden to our society for generations.
We owe it to ourselves and our descendants to change the quality of the product we deliver to our clients. We must educate ourselves about the science of building. We must stop getting our knowledge only from manufacturers that are trying to sell us a product.
We must make a stand and refuse to continue building homes that are at best designed for a time in which we no longer find ourselves. At the end of our lives, when we judge our accomplishments, our profit motive will take a distant back seat to the courage that we showed in trying to make a difference.
The world learns from us. We show them what's important. When we market stone countertops or huge great rooms or a sunroom, people learn to want those things, often very quickly. If we instead market rock solid and secure durability, conservative efficiency, and the warm fuzzy of providing superior indoor air quality for their family, they will learn to want those things.
Was that one of the choices in the poll?
There is only one planet earth. How many chances do you think we get with her?
I think there's a lot of us who are either fooling ourselves....or quite full of ourselves.
To believe that on the whole, houses today, are less than what they were in the past is nonesense. Or that builders today are any less "craftsman" than they once were is equally absurd.
A house today is what is has always been. A shelter from the elements. Those willing to pay for a better grade do so as they always have. Builders capable of providing such continue to do so as they always have.
One of Grandmas favorite sayings was "They sure don't build em like they used to"....to which, I typically responded, "And thank God for that Grandma."
Oh how they pound, raising the sound, o'er hill and dale, telling their tale, Gaily they ring while people sing songs of good cheer, Christmas is here....
Here is SOCAL its really a combination of 2 pole questions. The first is the skilled labor. They hire a bunch of illegals to keep the price down and be competitive with the guys who use them and most of the training is OJT and when the illegals get trained they want as much money as domestic labor then the contractors have to hire new illegals to compete.
The 2nd is building space. Here the space is limited they are running out of room. So the developers are building ion what they call "in fill" areas. Small areas near train tracks or old closed down industrial buildings they tear down and build on. But they really try to squeeze a lot out of the small spaces available. They will advertise a say 3000 sq ft house ..but its 2 stroy so the home has only 1500 sq ft on the bottom and 1500 sq ft on the top. They try to compensate with "open" floor plans. Those floor plans eliminate walls thus giving the feel of a larger space.
They also are building what they call "work/life" units....small condos and lofts that are multi story with small businesses on the bottom floor facing the street. They are usually built in downtown areas. here we have some being built near the train station and on the main corners in the down town areas.
They go for about 500K.
View Image Official Jeff Buck Memorial Tagline "
As usual, Ray throws down the real truth.
"We must make a stand and refuse to continue building homes that are at best designed for a time in which we no longer find ourselves."here I am
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Yes you are and we have a good many here.There is only one planet earth. How many chances do you think we get with her?
right you are too, twice, but it is a rose with thorns, wonderful to smell and look at, but not to make a bed in.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
>> I don't hear good things about most of the immigrant labour pool. <<
OK - here are some good things:
1) These guys are glad to have a job.
2) They do what you tell them and they truly don't mind.
3) They never complain - even when I have a 2 page punch list. I'm sure that sounds long, but some of this is just me wanting to have things my way :-) They don't seem to mind if I micro manage them...
4) No baditued.... These are good natured people. Most are all Christians and as nearly as I can tell they don't cuss much or drink. So much for the fun... :-) They almost never get mad about something...
5) they don't mind working 10 or 11 hours a day and even 6 days a week - however this can be a drawback. :-) but it's great when you just want to get stuff done.
6) they don't take smoke breaks.
7) they are truly grateful for little things - like when I give out pencils that I get free from the building supply.
8) they don't want to charge me extra for every little thing. Sometimes I actually have to tell them what they need to charge extra for - I know - bad business on my part :-)
9) they don't mind doing something by hand - if there is a dump truck load of dirt to be moved, and there is no bobcat available, it's not a problem.
10) I'm probably gonna take some flack for this, but they do work for less - even the skilled ones...
To be fair, here are some of the drawbacks:
1) ya gotta learn some of their language - Comprende? The language barrier is a constant problem. I typically latch on to the few in the crew who speak some english - these guys are typically the crew leaders anyway - although I will say that they are learning english faster than I am learning Spanish.
2) for certain tasks they require close supervision. If I can make them understand why I want them to do something it really helps.
3) The lunch time conversation is limited. I often don't get their jokes.
4) They listen to "funny" music.
5) they don't really tell you "what's up". Today I rushed to site to meet them at 07:30 and called to say to I'd be 30 minutes late - the guy said "OK" That was it - he shows up at 9:30 and his guys show at 11:00. Two Saturdays ago, I was prepared to "go the distance" then all of a sudden at 2:00 PM, they start rolling up the hoses and cords.
BTW - some of these guys are legal and some are not. I don't ask. All I know is the subcontractor I hire has a real tax id # and insurance. It's the same as with any other crew though... The crewleader sets the quality standard, and the workers follow. Things are changing quickly though, and these guys understand more and more each day that "we" aren't gonna put up with cr@p.
I must have been an immigrant when i was younger. All those good points describned me.And look where it go tme!
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Matt
I guess I'll be the first to jump in on your comments!
So are you saying that only the Spanish speaking people are worth a damn and the rest of us are worthless?
I always fail to see the point being made when someone gets on this "these guys are hard working, want the job, bla bla bla.........." Thats true about a lot of people, personally I know quite a few of them and most of them are not Hispanic/Latino/Mexican!
I'd like to take you down to Texas, I can show you quite a few of these guys that you refer to who do not fit the sterotype that you painted.
I've always found good in every color, same with the bad, its just the way it is, human nature!
Doug
I think your trying to put words in my mouth...
Granted, I haven't been to Texas in 25 or 30 years so I don't know what is going on down there.
You are right though, there are good and bad apples that come in any color.
OTOH, on my last (comercial) project, I had roughly 5 acres of "yard" that had to be raked out by hand to golfcourse smooth so sod could be laid in most areas, and seed/straw in the others. Using a power rake on a skid steer just wasn't practicle because of the rocks. There were roughly 700 trees and shrubs to plant. This all needed to happen within a 3 week period. It was summer so the temps were 90+ every day with high humidity. Who do you think did it? Not me! And, I'll guess you would not have been a good cantidate for that job either...
And, I'll guess you would not have been a good cantidate for that job either...
Probably not at my age but when I was younger I baled a lot of hay when the conditions were equally as bad as those. Worked road construction inthe same conditions. Have you ever been to Iowa on a July or August day when the temps hit 95(dont ask the temp inside the barn) and the humidity is higher, its no fun either! I also sat out on a tractor when the temps were 20 below and did what had to be done, I wasnt alone, saw a lot of others do it too. This crap that the "Mexicans" are the only ones that we can get to do the job because the white kid is spoiled, worthless, ....... is tiring, also in my opinion untrue.
Your stereotyping of a race is what caught my attention, not trying to put words in your mouth but it looks to me at least, that your saying just as I hear others say, "those guys are just here for a job, their hard working .........."
Their also here for the same reasons as a lot of others are, to steal, take advantage of, sell drugs,......... just as in every other race on this planet, bar none.
Granted we are seeing a lot more Mexicans/Latinos/Hispanics in the more labor intense jobs but just like you and I, I'm guessing they'd prefer a less physical job to one that requires more skill base then back base!
Doug
You are absolutely correct. I did sterotype latinos. And that was it. I mentined no other groups.
Here is the bottom line: I don't care if someone is black, white, brown, yellow, blue or green. I hire the best crew for the job - regardless of who is on it. The best being a combination of price and performance = value.
Edited 12/14/2006 6:45 am ET by Matt
Looking at your profile I'm surprized you would be hiring people to get your labor done for you. Or is that not the case?
I dont get the question???
I dont have anything in my profile that has anything to do with my work.
Like others on here, I change the profile every so often just for the hell of it.
I think its quite obvious what I do, been around here for 6-8 years and have posted on it numerous times so..........
Matt, I know that you didnt mention any other groups, but it was your sterotyping of the Latinos/Hispanics that got me, it was just that, stereotyping, not a true indication of the truth! I'm not suggesting that your telling a lie, just that your core sample isnt large enough to make a blanket statement.
Do your really feel that what you said about the Latino/Hispanic workers is factual throughout the country? If so then why are we (as a country) having so many problems with them, its certainly not jelousy towards hard working men and women, and its not racism towards a different color of skin, although that can be a factor in some cases, I doubt its a consenses.
I'm not trying to single you out and I have no intention of beating this dog to death, it's just that your comemnt on the Mexican/Latino/Hispanic worker was in my opinion a stereotyping of a certain group and I posted on it, thats all. Just like the stereotyping of women drivers isnt accurate, neither is this one.
Doug
Hispanics are here in huge numbers for one simple reason: The economy back home sucks. Their choices are either jump the border, or let your kids starve.
When you have something like 15% of the population of Mexico here, of course they won't all be the best and brightest. We probably get a disproportionately large share of those, and because it's illegal, we probably also get a disproportionately large number of criminals. But it's completely uncontrolled, so we really don't know.
The long term right answer is to improve the economy of Mexico and her neighbors to the point that the incentive to cross the border is negligible, just as it is with Canada. The hard part is getting there from here. Germany and Japan took two or three decades to get from the utter devastation of WWII to normal first world economies. Mexico and Latin America can make that same journey, and it's in our best interests to help them along the way.
So, how to do that? For a start, how about offering two legal paths North? One would be the current route to permanent immigration and citizenship, left as-is for those who want it. The new thing would be a Commuter Worker program.
Those who are really just here for the money would be able to work legally as Commuter Workers. Using the new biometric finger scan thing that the British have for their airports, once you register as a Commuter Worker, you can cross the border any time in either direction just by putting your thumb on the scanner. The one requirement I'd suggest is a minimum of two weeks per year back in the home country. The idea is that these folks retain their citizenship and ties to family and friends back there, and as many do now, they bring money back into the home country's economy.
Commuter Workers would compete with Americans, but on a level playing field. They'd be subject to almost all the same labor law as citizens -- minimum wage, OSHA, etc.
One place where we'd need to do something different is unemployment insurance. It makes no sense to guarantee them that they'll find work. But the same amount of money that would be paid to fund that should be put into some kind of economic development program for their home country. There may be other things like that, and exactly what to do with the money all needs to be worked out.
We should take a look at the Marshall Plan and see what worked back then. The key is getting the entrepreneurial small biz thing going down South of the border. Like I say, this is a start, not a complete plan. But at least it's not as dumb an idea as trying to build a big fence to keep people out.
-- J.S.
John
Your post is well thought out and makes a lot of sense!
Commuter Workers would compete with Americans, but on a level playing field. They'd be subject to almost all the same labor law as citizens -- minimum wage, OSHA, etc.
I feel that that is the biggest step right there, a level playing field, its all anybody should be able to ask for.
But at least it's not as dumb an idea as trying to build a big fence to keep people out.
Amen! I think the idea of the fence is nothing more then politicians pandering to the public.
Doug
What becomes of these polls? Just curious.View Image
BillBrennen said exactly what I thought. I think because of so many of these home shows on TV the potential customer gets a false sense of what it takes to do things. In a half hour show we see Steve Thomas or Bob Villa, or whoever it is now, flowing from one trade to the next and each one has about a 5 minute segment where things are just going great and we see at the end of 30 minutes that things fit perfectly or "that's pretty good" as Norm would say.
The homeowner flicks off the TV, looks around, looks at their spouse and says "How hard could it be?..."Everything is subjective. I don't watch the HG shows anymore, they too have gotten cheaper and crappier appealing to a lower common denominator.I believe there are many bad houses being built today, but there are also many good ones too. In some ways it hasn't changed at all...maybe there's more bad than good simply because of population and cost. People always want something more for less $$. Money is always the underlying factor.
ROAR!
damn, am I fat!
Ruth,
I voted "Other" for "The education of the buying public."
IMERC's suggestion has merit and should be considered.
Bill
Bill, upon further reflection, I think I have to agree whole-heartedly with your choice.View Image
Thanks, Brian.The way I see it, the provider of excellence (in any field) cannot compete unless there is a market of people both able to recognize it and willing to pay for it.Bill
Exactly!!
Hey all
There should have been an "all of the above vote"
I wonder how many of us/you are builders; BUILDERS that responded to the thread.
I don't know that any of the posters in this thread are BUILDERS in the tue meaning of the term.
I do remodeling.
Brian does framing.
Bill Hartman is and inspector or engineer or consultant or something.
I don't think we have many true builders here as you would find in BUILDER magazine.
I don't think the question was phrased correctly or is suitable here.
Just my 2 cents.
[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
I hear ya Eric.... but....
The question asked "what is the most important issue facing builders today?"
and not "what is the most important issue facing you, as a builder today?".
I don't consider myself to be a builder, just a carpenter. But I do still feel qualified to offer my opinion considering I spend more of my waking hours dealing with the building industry than I do my wife. FWIW, I didn't interpret the question as a personal one... meaning what is my most important issue... but rather I interpreted it exactly as it were written.
Just my two cents dude.View Image
Yeah, we all have an opinion.
I'm just being crabby. I read alot and I really don't feel the question is well qualified. That's MY opinion.
I think there are more important issues that face BT's collectively.
To me a builder is Pulte or Toll Bros, or just a guy like you or me that builds SPEC Houses.
As far as I'm concerned they may as well asked us what is the biggest problem facing the US auto industry.
How does it affect us?
Let's get zoned in and specific.
If you don't now, get a free subscription to Remodeler. You can Google it. It's a HW publication I believe.
Lots of really good business information in that magazine. I think it's my favorite.
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
I consider myself pretty close... Actually, my boss is the builder. He has been to my current building site once (that I'm aware of) since I started building. And yes, he did get out of his truck for a few minutes. :-) I also believe that I have built a few houses that he has never laid eyes on.
My boss has spent 30 mins on the house I have been builoding for four months, and we aren't drywalled yet!Friends help you move.
Real friends help you move bodies!
Builders dont read Carpentry rags...
they read business publications..."Dogs don't follow an emotional leader. They follow the dominant leader. We are the only species that follows an unstable leader. "
Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, in an interview in National Geographic Magazine
"Builders don't read Carpentry rags...they read business publications..." Wrong in my opinion... Business People read Business mags, Builders read carpenters mags (Or whatever trade journals fit their trade).
Many a good business man has made a fortune out of home building, but never learned how to build, they rely on the actual " builder" to do the actual work.
The Builder is the one who actually physically does the work, The businessman pushes the paper.Sometimes they are in fact the same person, but not often in my experience.
To use the words interchangeably irks me as does the constant use of the word "Custom" to describe repetitive designs sold by "Builders". Custom by definition means tailored for the client.
I consider myself a builder, and readily admit to being a lousy businessman, but I can't take money with me in the end, and my trade/craft has provided for me and my family.
Had a old painter yrs ago tell myself and some friends that we "custom home builders " were in it not for the money , but for the challenges and ego satisfaction. The older I get the more I think he was right.
Perhaps ones location helps define the word. But around here, a "builder" never has to lift a tool. Plenty of builders doing nothing but pushing papers.
The guy doing the physical building, would be the carpenter.....who may have his own company and work as a subcontractor for the builder. Heck.....he may even be the contractor who does all of the work for the builder. And many contractors don't do any heavy lifting. They are hired by the builders to hire the guys doing the work.
Happy
Holidays
Now I beg to differ............the guy that gets out of the Land Rover to check on the 1.4 mill custom he is having built............I dont consider him a builder.
He is not building anything other than his personall wealth (and perhaps the resentment of those actually doing the work!)
He is a contractor.
He has contracted with others, perhaps including a builder to create this structure.
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
If he purchases land and contracts the building of structures....he is a builder. Regardless of what you may choose to call him.
Happy
Holidays
Ur right![email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
I cannot count the number of clients that I have heard say "When I built my house.... "
Mis-stated IMHO, shoud be "When I paid to have my house built..."
Edited 12/13/2006 7:01 pm ET by dovetail97128
I get tied up in semantics at times. I deplore ambigous terms.
I still say if ya ain't swingin' the hammer, ya ain't a builder![email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
BUILDER Magazine would probably disagree with you
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
& ur right too!!
That's one magazine I will not be renewing. Do you get it free as a professional?
On the other hand, REMODELER is in my opinion a really good read. If everyone who is even thinking of going into business would read a years woth of that they'd be so much better off.[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
No, it is mostly a waste of time for me. The articles that intrest me there are repeated in remo - such as business and time management stuf.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Good for you!!!
But I think your kind are exceptions rather than the rule.
Hands on builders (GCs not remodelers or carpentry specialists) are facing stiff competition from paper contractors.
Managing a home building co. is a full time job and guys who get dirty are a small minority.
I'm NOT saying it doesn't work, just that is seems the industry is being overrun with mass McMansion builders.
"Dogs don't follow an emotional leader. They follow the dominant leader. We are the only species that follows an unstable leader. "
Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, in an interview in National Geographic Magazine
My favorite replies to those who ask me: "How much a sq. ft do you charge?"
Is to ask them how much a pound does a car cost.
Or how much an ounce do you pay for dinner when you eat out?
or for the Woman.. "How much does a dress (or Diamond) cost?"
You would be amazed at the looks I get when it sinks in that costs are all about what you order.
Course I seem to be enjoying a lot of vacation time .. ;-)
you are right, off course, in the strict sense of the term. I don not call myself a builder, but a remodelor/ renovator, but everyone who knows me calls me a builder. Accurate language is often not used in these surveys leading me to assume the results are not very accurate or valuable as IMERC pointed out so well.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
You are quite the diplomat Paul.
As the poll was directed toward professionals ( at least I believed so) I assumed that the difference in terminology of the ensuing proffesions would be taken for granted.
Had it said Builder/Remodeler, or Builder/ Contractor; I believe it would cover all here.
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
I feel like a big problem in the industry that I see is what I call the "HGTV buyer" syndrome.
With all the shows on tv geared toward DIY and makeovers, I feel the general public is "dumbed down" in a way and is expecting a $10,000 bathroom makeover for a $2000 budget. It works for small things like accessories, but the homeowner isn't prepared for the costs associated with, say...replacing the floor and wall tile in their existing bathroom. They just see the old tile being peeled off and new tile put back on in as little as a day. Not seen in the out of square walls, new cement board backer, time allowed for tile and grout to set.
This is just one instance, but you could make it work for a host of different scenarios.
it's ok to think you're as old as you once were...just so long as you don't try to prove it...
http://www.cobrajem.com
I find its not so much the skilled part but the caring part.
Ruth,
To me that part of this trade is long gone and in part due to all the fast this and fast that in our society. To actually feel the work in your soul is something that rarely to never gets spoken about when learning what it is to be a tradesperson/craftsman.
The two go hand in hand. This is true about anything as far as I'm concerned.
When I hire someone to work for me I start them off by explaining whats important to me beyond the skill to hit a nail with a hammer. Thats the very least of it IMHO. Once you deciede that building is something you want to do you should ask yourself why...just like in doing anything.
Too many kids go into construction because there's usually plenty of summer jobs to go around, then they see they can actually make money at it but they never think about it beyond that. They never see it as art...just as a way to make money.Then ego gets involved. How fast they can frame, how many squares they can put up in a day...
To me, if you love what you do and really do it well the rest will automatically follow. It shouldn't really work the other way arond.but sadly enough it does.
When I walk through the city and see the thousands of bricks in the real old buildings I can see thousands of families that those bricks fed,,,by the craftsman of old that laid them. When I look at the buildings that are newer and newer I just don't see that kind of caring anymore. Maybe its just me, but thats how it appears to me.
Even the few cobblestone streets that are still left..I donno...seems like progress and technology has its downfall.
BE well
Namaste'
andy...
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Other: The public's / clients's adjustment in rising cost.
Other:
All the formerly excellent building periodicals are turning into DIY how-to rags
"Dogs don't follow an emotional leader. They follow the dominant leader. We are the only species that follows an unstable leader. "
Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, in an interview in National Geographic Magazine
I have a question, or maybe it's a statement I don't know which. The city of San Jose wants and screams about the need for affordable housing. Yet, when you apply for a building permit, they won't talk to you, much less consider the application, unless the builder plunks down $26,000 for the permit to build. Then, they've got their own taxes that must be paid, hook up fees out the wazoo for sewer etc. and, God forbid, should you have the idea of building say 3 homes you've got to dedicate land for open space. Once the homes are built, each time you sell a unit you've got 3 1/3 % of the total going to the state for withholding and another 6 % for real estate fees.
Where is the money for the person who actually builds the houses? Why would anyone in their right mind ever consider building low income housing?
How can local agencies expect there to be low income housing when the fees paid to local agencies are in the stratosphere before breaking ground on the building itself. The up front money demand by the city is beyond what the low income "buyer" can afford to pay and the house is just an idea on paper which is already beyond the reach of most low income buyers.
Someone asked and you never answered...
These polls are being posted, and the results are being recorded for a reason... what exactly is this info being used for?
Enquiring minds wanna know.....
they are using the FREE data acquired to fill up a little more space in the mag with "non-substance"
DIY types want to know this stuff.
next months poll: What end of the nail do YOU hit ???"Dogs don't follow an emotional leader. They follow the dominant leader. We are the only species that follows an unstable leader. "
Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, in an interview in National Geographic Magazine