Need some help - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

mikesquires · 01-03-2006, 03:38 PM

I'm not a contractor and I hope your not mad but I can't find anyones opinnion an this is kinda my last attempt, I'm just up an coming I need to know if its a good idea financially to get into a building trade such as Plumbing,masonry,carpentry,roofing framing. I'm looking at taking a course that is 51 weeks long that involves all of these trades. The course is quite a bit of money $12,000 an from what I'm seeing its not worth it. I make $15 an hr now in a factory so would I be making that much more after completion of this course? generally speaking that is. Any pointers would be a great help I'm confused an any mistakes i can avoid would be greattt.. thanks

**Cole** · 01-03-2006, 03:45 PM

$12k for a course, thats insane.

Why not just go work for one of the trades you mentioned?

BTW- Please fill in your location.

jmic · 01-03-2006, 04:03 PM

Mike,
In Ct. here we have state technical schools where kids can go to for high school and also go through all the different trades , carpentry, plumbing, electric, machineshop, auto mechanics, electronics, drafting, auto body, you get my drift. After the first year they pick what they want to go into. They do offer a post graduate courses at night for those who are already out of school, Question is do they have similar programs where you are from. Inexpensive, (cheap) I wouldn't pay $12,000 Or try to land a job with a reputable contractor and sort of let him take you under his wing, pay might not be the greatest, but the education is priceless and won't cost you anything( you'll even get a paycheck! Just be up front with the guy and let him no you want to learn the trade. Unfortunatly not enough young people are not getting into the trades these days and hence we get our Gringo buddies here to make a quick buck, save it, or send it back home. The area I'm in is definately short of good people in the trades, although it's a real expensive area to live in. Chapter II, LOL. good luck. You'll get lots of good advise from people here, I think!
Joe

**Cole** · 01-03-2006, 04:08 PM

I couldnt agree more with Joe.

Its the same here.

RYANINMICHIGAN · 01-03-2006, 04:11 PM

I don't know where you are from but here in Michigan you can make close to 15$ a hour as a laborer and learn at the same time.

Tom R · 01-03-2006, 04:22 PM

Yeah, - - I completely agree with these guys, - - keep the 12 large and latch on to a 'reputable' contractor, - - just being willing, eager, and on time will put you ahead of a lot of others right out the gate. Doing what you're told is great, - - but being able to figure out what he's going to tell you next is even better.

**Cole** · 01-03-2006, 04:23 PM

Basically, if you want to make "the good money" you will need to start your own company.

But dont jump into the deep end right away, work for someone and gain some experience.

ron schenker · 01-03-2006, 05:27 PM

About a year ago I changed careers, wanted to learn all the trades like you. I took a few basic night courses that were either free or very reasonable. I was also lucky enough to have a good friend who was a flooring contractor.I started to work with him for 15 bucks/hr.and being eager to learn I caught on quickly.Within a few months I was doing some of the easier jobs alone. Along the way, customers would ask for other tradework to be done and now we do everything from drywall to hanging doors, to installing bathroom exhaust vents. The best thing you can do is read as much as you can about the trades, get some recent books at the library, and sign up for some night classes at your local high schools. Above all, love what you do

**Cole** · 01-03-2006, 05:37 PM

And to add to Ron's post, just stick around and read some old posts here.

You will learn a lot.

Pearce Services · 01-03-2006, 06:06 PM

That's a wide range of trades.

DO you have a preference for any of the trades you mentioned. If pride of your work is rewarding to you go for some of the more "finished" trades. Most guys in the finish end of things do this work because they truely love what they do. If making money is what your after, then go for Plumbing, but be forewarned, I do not know any plumbers that enjoy what they do.

Good luck

A+Carpenter · 01-04-2006, 09:15 AM

TOM R . I saw you used to term 12 large . LOL thats funny . Are you in the mob brother?

Mike Finley · 01-04-2006, 09:58 AM

$12,000 for a education is nothing. I'm assuming of course they really teach you something worth while. If you come out of that trade school with actual skill and knowledge in Plumbing,masonry,carpentry,roofing framing you will be worth more than a laborer that's for sure!

It really all depends on the school. If the school really does a good job $12,000 is a small price to pay and will come back to you 1000 fold over the course of your career. If the school is good you will come out knowing at least 'the right' way to do a lot of things instead of a lot of a little which is what you will learn doing it school of hard knocks. You will be instantly employable.

The #1 problem facing the construction industry is the lack of qualified help available for hire. A pool of talent that have spent 1 year learning the ropes in plumbing, masonary, carpernty and framing would be invaluable.

shopdust · 01-04-2006, 02:44 PM

As I'm just a bit older than some of the folks here I'm going to put in my two cents.
If I were in your position, I would only go with HVAC With a bit of training in electrical and plumbing. That flood of guys from the Southern Hemisphere isn't going to stop ... Latin America is too Corrupt to ever change, so workers know they don't have a chance.
Also look to starting your own company so throw in a few business courses to the extent that you can do your own taxes. Good luck!

IHI · 01-04-2006, 09:28 PM

Staying consistant with above suggestions, save the money and work/get paid to learn if you want/can stick to one trade which I would recommend anyways. Different personalities need different things, I need to do something different all the time hence the "general contractor" role, but it's a catch 22 also-ALOT more investment tools wise to cover the broad spectrum of jobs, and it's a never ending updating process with the tools you start out with to stay profficent and profitable, dont even care to think abou thte ten of thousands spent to date for tools for all the jobs.

Another thing to consider, if you can pick and stick with one trade and be the best at it, work will naturally flow your direction from many different general contractors, you'll have only one trade to buy tools for so it saves money in the long run until you start expanding capabilites of your specialized trade. But the biggest thing, depending on your local building code, even though you might have the knowledge to perform masonary, framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC....unless your licsenced/bonded and have meet the creditentials, you CANNOT perform the electrical, plumbing, HVAC. In our area getting licsenced to do those trades would wrap up half you lifetime for apprenticeship and ALOT of time/money spent in school and testing along with annual testing to keep them so it's not practical and possibly not possible to obtain all those unless you were grandfathered in before all these rules were put to paper-and in your case you wont be grandfathered in.

Alot to take in, but looking at all the guys working/subbing for me I've always kicked myself in the azz for not specializing in one trade and opening up profit margins and lessening headaches

Tom R · 01-04-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamMeider

TOM R . I saw you used to term 12 large . LOL thats funny . Are you in the mob brother?

No, no, - - not in the (mob?), - - 'round here we just call it 'connected'.

**Teetorbilt** · 01-04-2006, 10:02 PM

Here, you can spend $2500 and get a garranteed GC license no matter how long it takes you to get it. From there, you can rubber stamp small projects and make a small fortune from your desk. Happens all of the time.