Women In Construction

Trade Masters

I'm curious, as a contractor, what everyone's position is regarding women in the business.

As a newbee to this forum I/We are old hands in the business.

Terri (my wife) and I have been General Contractors in 4 states (between us) and are now beginning again together in the middle of the country. (US)

Ter has forwarned me of experiences in the past where men simply "refused to take orders from a woman" as well as the expected innuendos. It seems to me that a great tradesman is difficult to come by and male or female I could care less from a business standpoint...BUT, in my experience, a woman will go the extra mile (to prove her abilities I think) to do a job over and above any expectation I have as a contractor.

Being in the "heart of America" I am certain we will revisit these issues again whether or not she signs their paycheck. In our area she is an anomoly as we have NO women in the industry in this region. She should be a model (which makes the issue worse) but instead would rather texture an addition or use a concrete rake.

We have made a business model to weed out most of these issues this time, but I'm curious if any other contractors have had a female who is better than the rest of the crew and how you handled the...(I wanna say a cuss word here) "issues".

Just my intro and glad to be aboard,
Greg

shed-n-deck

I work with my wife, and I wouldn't trade her for the strongest man. She's dedicated to her work, interested in what she does, and makes certain that she does it right. On top of that, she knows better how I work than anyone else, and is an incredible help.

When I had a frame crew, I hired a girl. I paid her $8.00 per hour, but quickly realized she was working circles around the other labor. I did have an issue where I needed to talk to a few of the guys on the crew about gawking and trying to look down her shirt when she bent over, as well as tell her to wear tighter tops. That was the only problem that I had, and that was caused by the males on the crew, by no means was it her.

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Shed

BrianHay

My wife's name is Teri as well. I have worked with several women over the years who were heavy equipment operators and really good ones at that. I got my wife into it a little over four years ago when we met and she loves it. She learned just as fast as any man I have ever taught and better then a lot of them. It seems like with what I do women are almost easier to teach. They pay attention and care more. The majority of men already know so it makes it hard to teach them anything new. It used to take physical strength and endurance to be an operator before electric over hydraulic controls and plush cabs with air ride seats. But with modern iron you can almost operate it with your finger tips. That eliminates that advantage men had over women. To become a really good operator nowadays you just need to be smart.
We are now starting our own excavating business and when it comes time to hire operators I wont hesitate to give a woman a shot at our iron.

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floorinstall

a few years back I landed a job refinishing all the heart pine floors and stair ways in a historic hotel in savanna Georgia. After going through what seemed like every male floor worker in the city I ended up with a crew of 4 women. I had to train all of them but they learned quickly and were willing to help each other out without all the male egos getting in the way. The GC in the job made a comment one morning that it was a a sad inditement of the male workers in savanna geogia when the only body I could get to show-up every day and get the job done was women. We finished the job two and a half months early with no call backs.

taper71

I work with my wife as well. I was really in a bind to get a couple of jobs finished so my wife said that she would help. That was 2 years ago and she has been the best helper I have ever had, and the easiest to train. We have tripled our income since she started. I also have alot of fun when I tell people to go talk to the boss and direct them to my wife. I get some pretty good facial expressions from people.

Stone Mountain

I've worked with my wife for 17 years. I hate it.

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George Z

We have:
six female Painters
Three male Painters

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thom

The only difficulty I've seen with women in construction is the men who want to patronize them. The macho men want to carry the women's heavy stuff instead of doing their own work.

Tmrrptr

We are a Mom & Pop biz. It works out very well.
Have used women in construction for many years.

They do well.
...But they DO look at things, well, differently!!!!!

It's important they have an attitude to deal with the crud they are going to get from idiots on a jobsite. but that's life.
r

j_sims

The Voice Of Truth....

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TEXAS Born, TEXAS Bred, When I Die, I'll be TEXAS Dead

PARA1

If I ever had a female apply for a plumbing position I sure would give her a shot.

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YESTER DAY IS HISTORY, TOMORROW IS A MYSTERY http://paradiseplumbinganddrains.com...bers-dallas-tx

KillerToiletSpider

Years ago, when I was running high rise construction work, I had quite a few female apprentices, a few of them quit because they couldn't handle doing deck work, but most of them came to me and explained that they could not lift a forty pound cast iron fitting poured into a seventy pound piece of cast iron pipe, and I saw their perspective, hell most of them didn't weigh 110 lbs, and moved them to the prefab shop. A couple of those women completed their apprenticeships while working for me, most got out because they couldn't handle the work.

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JumboJack

My buddy has a female cousin that instals base,case and crown.She does good work...

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

Teetorbilt

I've never had a problem with it and have seen all kinds. Most are best at detailed jobs but I've seen a few that can carry 4 wet PT 4 X 4's and I'd like at my back in a bar fight.

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chris n

I saw my first and only female drywall person just last week,job was very nice.

Jen

I think most people are completly open to hiring and trusting competant contractors male or female. I am a female flooring contractor and have only encountered problems a few times. As far a women giving orders I personnally walk gingerly when I first get on a job site I just start out asking all the appropriate questions then determining where to begin. Then get to work! I dont have a problem with my own guys they already know and respect my decisions. I guess to put it short know what your talking about, gain their respect first, try not to let any of our preprogramed female emotions rule our decisions or feel guilty for.

neolitic

Goes for anybody, no matter which side your shirt buttons are on.

BrianHay

Just read your profile Jen. 12 years running your own show in construction eh, Right on! Welcome to Contractor Talk

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747

The only women i have ever met in the construction industry. Was a female union electrician and she was currently assigned to the big water tunnel project in Chicago.

fireguy

I have had women work for me. Most were very good, just had trouble with the physical part of the job. One was different though. After I fired her, we found she was not a she, but a he. No wonder she/he/it had so many problems.

Now I have another woman working part-time. Her former husband who we partner with from time to time has assured me she is a woman. She is hard working, smart and meets people well.