Florida Family Business Needs Advice

wrappersdelight

Hi out there- this is my first post, I was so happy I found this forum-my family's business is teetering on the edge of oblivion and any advice from people in the industry would be so welcome. Our company installs housewrap(Tyvek)commercially in the Central and Southern regions of Florida. Six months ago we had 4 employees + 2 owners working in the field installing full time-we had plenty of work, having contracts with 3 major builders-but all the work fell off suddenly as the housing market was being saturated with record foreclosures,and mortgages are harder to attain-all of the builders we work for have stopped building with the exception of one that has 1 start per week-not enough to sustain a business.We have had to let all of our employee's go, and sell some equipment to keep going, but we are running out of options. We pursue all the leads we can to try and get other builders to no avail-my family has put to much time,money,sweat,and tears into this company to let it go without a fight, and we know we are the best at what we do- does anyone know any builders currently building in the Central Florida region? Or maybe another trade/direction in the commercial construction industry we should pursue?? HELP!

Patrick

I always thought the framers did that when they had their brackets up or at least thats the way its done here. Why dont you expand your range of services? Start doing siding or window installs

Ted W

I gotta agree with Patrick. Speciallizing in a specific field is efficient, but not very flexible. You should look into other fields and expand your horizions. You're probably well set up for siding, with the scaffolding and all.

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Carpentry and Woodworking - Chicago / North Shore - Ted's Carpentry

"I don't know everything but at least I think I do, and that's what really matters."

apkole

From the outside looking in . . . .

As tight as you are tied into new construction, one of two options come to mind:

Option one would be to relocate to an area of the country that has the level of new construction happening that will sustain your niche. This would be the quickest way to continue doing what you are good at, and at least have some cashflow for the short term.

Option two would be to find another niche, and that would be outside of the new residential construction market. Of course this may take time and capital which you may not have.

Everything I've heard or read indicates that residential new construction activity will continue to fall of for the foreseeable future. But then, I'm just a roofer . . . what do I know.

plazaman

Not to knock on you ... but i never heard of a such a service before. Usually the frames or who ever finishes the outside does the house wrap.

You need to expand your services. Like others suggested, try windows & siding.

FL housing market is very tough.

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Westchester Remodeling Contractor
Hartsdale Remodeling Contractor
Ardsley Remodeling Contractor

theartisan

I am with everyone else, when i ran a new construction framing crew we did the tyvex, trim & soffit, exterior doors, windows and asphalt paper

you might find a couple of framing crews to sub off of, but i dont think its likely. the only things I ever saw subbed off were paper, exterior trim, and stairs (framers are a special breed )

siding or insulation would be easy for you to transition into.

If you can get out of new construction you would likely make more $ IMHO depending on your skills

good luck

Patrick

WHHHHHHHHHYYYY OH WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY Do they let framers put up soffits and wrap rakes and Facias?? I do mainly remods but when i get a new construction gig and the framers already did their thing up there it usually looks aweful you can spot them two years later cause all the rake trim blew off cause there was only 1 nail in it. Im doing a new house next month and I have to REMOVE 500' of vinyl soffit, aluminum rake & facia cause it was so poorly done by the framers

wrappersdelight

Patrick, Ted W.,Apkole, and Plazaman- thanks a-lot for your responses- you have given me a-lot to think about. I will post back in a little while with updates- Deanne

theartisan

Well it might be the framers in your area :-p

We never installed vinyl/aluminum, and we never put just one nail in anything

Susan Betz

It's terrible. It's painful for me to hear this sort of thing. The suggestion to add specialties is a good one. There are so many companies going out of business around here that those that can stay standing will be stronger in the long run.

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Fences of Distinction, Ocala, FL
http://www.fencesofdistinction.com