Importing - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Boogga · 03-15-2007, 12:02 AM

Does anyone import building materials or building products from China?

MKamis · 03-15-2007, 06:31 AM

I have seen oak plywood made in china. They must think we use it for sheathing over here, because you sure as hell wouldn't try to make something nice out of it! It looked horrible.

Boogga · 03-16-2007, 01:29 AM

How often do you see "Made in China"? Very very often.

woodchuck2 · 03-26-2008, 05:24 PM

Why would we want to import building materials? Our economy is bad enough. In my eyes we should stop foriegn trade and get the value of our dollar back. How often did we inport back in the 40's and 50's? Tha value of our dollar was much better then as well as our economy. We started foriegn trade and everything has gone down hill since. Some foriegn materials are better quality but you will still pay for it in the end. I would rather spend the money here at home and help support my neighbor.

**genecarp** · 03-26-2008, 06:10 PM

yes i do, stone from china

TaitINC · 03-26-2008, 06:10 PM

woodchuck-

i couldn't agree more. I was in an accounting class for builders a couple of weeks ago. the teacher said by 2010 china will be shipping prefabbed house over here. it is already in the works, and the houses start at a standard 2500 sq ft home for $10,000. then what happens to our trade? we put the prefabbed houses together? next thing you know you will have imported labor!

spencer

Magnettica · 03-26-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaitINC

woodchuck-

i couldn't agree more. I was in an accounting class for builders a couple of weeks ago. the teacher said by 2010 china will be shipping prefabbed house over here. it is already in the works, and the houses start at a standard 2500 sq ft home for $10,000. then what happens to our trade? we put the prefabbed houses together? next thing you know you will have imported labor!

spencer

We already do, pablo!

cleveman · 03-26-2008, 09:35 PM

I've seen those opium smoking bastards hanging around here!

They are out to rape our jobs and take our women.

I've heard that they come in containerized to build homes. In a 40' container they have an excavator and all the building materials to build a home. The appliances (LG) and everything else is inside. I guess they even send along a couple of cars for the new homeowners. The workers are also in there of course.

They'll build a new 2500 square foot home for $10,000, and that is turnkey, including the cars in the garage.

The first workers were straight out of Mongolia and they thought the light fixtures were holes in the roof to let in light. They were drinking from the toilets and wasting in the sinks. That was a bloody mess.

Don't be fooled, these guys drink diesel fuel and they are set to take over the world.

Our only hope is to get a job in Dubai, where we can make a years' wages in a month.

Michaeljp86 · 03-26-2008, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaitINC

woodchuck-

i couldn't agree more. I was in an accounting class for builders a couple of weeks ago. the teacher said by 2010 china will be shipping prefabbed house over here. it is already in the works, and the houses start at a standard 2500 sq ft home for $10,000. then what happens to our trade? we put the prefabbed houses together? next thing you know you will have imported labor!

spencer

It will never happen, the U.S. will be a 3rd world country by then or under the control of china.

Maybe not by 2010 but the way things are going I would say the next 60 years,

StonednVA · 03-28-2008, 01:12 AM

I looked at doing a granite install for a developer that brought in granite from china. It was a simple kitchen design which is good for getting knocked out quickly and making good money. The problems I forsee are:
-I went to look at the granite in the warehouse for the 50 units. It is a doctored black. It is dyed to look like black granite but is really crap. The chinese blacks are notorious for this. When I explained the problem to the guy he still wants to put it in. I am afraid he will be looking to blame me down the road when the granite turns gray and splotchy. The guy is a young guy whose father-in-law owns the development co. This chinese import thing is obviously his deal. He has brought in hardwood flooring cabinets and granite from china.
Anyone in their right mind would not install this granite. I have even presented him with documents from our trade assc. on the problems with the doctored stone. He will have to replace it down the road.
The granite is scheduled to be installed in a month. He does not want to take the hit on having to reorder, tell his father-in-law that the granite is screwed-up, and have to push the schedule back.
How should I approach the situation? I would love to do the work but have a problem with putting in something that will turn into a disaster down the road.

Any suggestions are appreciated.
And yes you can get decent looking granite for 10-15 dollars a sq. ft. already fabricated ready to be installed on multi-unit projects from china. Just the raw material costs that much in America. I don't see how they do it over there.

Milhaus · 03-28-2008, 01:30 AM

I've got a 7 year-old little sweetheart for a daughter. She says to me the other day, "Dad, I want to go to China someday." I say, "Why?" She says, "Because everything is made there."

Completely caught me by surprise. I laughed for quite a while. It's so simple to kids.

mark