What do you do for winter work? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

E&Jinc. · 11-09-2008, 01:58 PM

I'm a young sub contractor and working out in the cold and snow all the time sucks. So I'm trying to come up with different ways to do things in the winter. What do you guys do?

**genecarp** · 11-09-2008, 02:09 PM

Work out in the cold and snow, unless there is something available inside. Do what you must.

Home Serve · 11-09-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E&Jinc.

I'm a young sub contractor and working out in the cold and snow all the time sucks. So I'm trying to come up with different ways to do things in the winter. What do you guys do?

Where do you live? If you don't like the cold when you are young it won't get any better as the years go by.
We are in Central MO.
We put back some $$ thru the spring summer and mostly try to keep our head above water when winter gets here by doing odds and ends as much as possible. We try save any indoor work for then obviously. We mostly do exterior remodeling but as winter comes we do whatever. Very few days to be able much siding and such in Jan-Feb. Can do soffit/fascia with alum. We get out and work in the cold, better than staying at home!
Dave C

E&Jinc. · 11-09-2008, 02:24 PM

My hometown is actually in Fulton if you know where that is. I moved to Montana because I like the terrain and snowboarding. Would you want any help this December for about a month?

MarkNoV · 11-09-2008, 02:30 PM

Charge enough to take winter off, plow, get a seasonal job at a winter resort.

Mark

threaderman · 11-09-2008, 03:05 PM

I enjoy attic re-pipes in the winter more,that's for sure.Working in cold rain is the worst.
On really cold days the best place to be is in a hole, out of the wind,then it's not so bad.
I really enjoy plumbing any time [as long as I'm getting paid],usually the initial drive to the job is the eye opener.
We have cold-weather glues and such which aid in our work too,you guys probably aren't as fortunate.

LocalSoljah · 11-09-2008, 04:49 PM

If I have to I will tromp in the cold, but I try to schedule inside work for the winter if possible.

bmoore · 11-09-2008, 04:56 PM

yeah its getting cold here in tampa fl... its like 65 to 70 so i think i might stay indoors until it warms up

MarkNoV · 11-09-2008, 05:24 PM

Ericson:

Is that Bozeman like in Big Sky?

Please, tell me more. We usually ski/board at Jay Peak, Vermont, but I would like to come out to Montana with my boys and try a real mountain.

You are one lucky guy.

Mark

E&Jinc. · 11-09-2008, 08:22 PM

If you want to try a real mountain, I would go to Colorado! The hills in Montana around the Bozeman area don't seem as steep.Try a place called Winter Park, Colorado. Its pretty cheap and not a whole lot of people know its there's because its a small town, but yet its a huge resort. You can stay at the YMCA that sleeps 6 people for like 90 dollars a night. Get more bang for your buck. And look for weekend passes and things like that on the internet. That's what my father has always done and does it great.

cleveman · 11-10-2008, 12:03 AM

winter is for inside work, or warm outside work.

inside work can take a long time if you make your own cabinets and do your own trim. I used to make my own baseboard and window casing, and it can take a long time to trim out a home. If you want to build your own doors and door jacks, again this means a lot of work. This is in addition to laying wood floors, or tile. Of course before this is all done, you have to put in your electrical, plumbing, hvac, and paint.

the outside work I enjoy most is cutting and splitting firewood because it makes you warm. this isn't some money maker, just something which needs to be done. there are fence rows to clear and burn up as well, and the ground gets plenty hard in the winter.

so you can see how nov, dec, jan, feb, and march can pass quickly. You can also spend some time drawing plans, maintaining tools, maybe building a few pieces of furniture.

don't forget about going on vacation for as long as you can afford it, and during the coldest part of the winter (late january/early february). it will do you good to start drinking just before christmas and continue until after the new year arrives.

davitk · 11-10-2008, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E&Jinc.

My hometown is actually in Fulton if you know where that is. I moved to Montana because I like the terrain and snowboarding. Would you want any help this December for about a month?

I spent some time framing houses in Steamboat Springs, Colorado during the summer and delivering pizzas in the winter. Mud season is a two or three month period in the spring when there isn't much to do, can't help you there.

Oh, and if you want extreme skiing in Colorado try Berthoud Pass

will575 · 11-20-2008, 01:28 PM

I'd try to get inside remodels etc in the winter

Renegade 1 LI · 11-23-2008, 10:40 PM

Don't take this the wrong way but we just dress warmer & keep going unless the weather gets so bad it's not possible. we just keep going around the weather, most public works contracts don't allow for weather problems in the schedule. Oh I do think about how I complained about it being too hot & can't wait for it to cool off, what was I thinking!

davitk · 11-24-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renegade 1 LI

Don't take this the wrong way but we just dress warmer & keep going unless the weather gets so bad it's not possible. we just keep going around the weather, most public works contracts don't allow for weather problems in the schedule. Oh I do think about how I complained about it being too hot & can't wait for it to cool off, what was I thinking!

Suck it up and be a man

Indoor work in February, yeah right.

Ten Fingers · 11-27-2008, 08:41 PM

You can work in the winter, but if your fingers are froze, and your nail guns are froze, and your aircompressor is froze, and your work is covered with snow, you'll be working hard and suffering and not getting much done.

bert0168 · 11-27-2008, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davitk

Suck it up and be a man

Indoor work in February, yeah right.

**joasis** · 11-27-2008, 08:53 PM

30 and above, we work...any colder, it is a day off...rare in Oklahoma to long periods of really cold weather, but we do line up inside work, as much as possible. If you have any new homes to build, bad weather is a great time to be in the shop building all your framed openings....kind of a pain to haul them to a job site, but it is a time saver. We have built short interior walls as well...stairs, pony walls...just to stay out of the cold.

AtlRemodeling · 11-28-2008, 06:39 AM

It is not a great problem here in Hotlanta. We get a few cool snaps but it stays fairly warm most of the winter. We still try to schedule indoor work during the winter months but if is outside, add a few layers, crank up the heaters and off you go.

MALCO.New.York · 11-28-2008, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtlRemodeling

It is not a great problem here in Hotlanta. We get a few cool snaps but it stays fairly warm most of the winter. We still try to schedule indoor work during the winter months but if is outside, add a few layers, crank up the heaters and off you go.

Yeah but when it DOES snow, the entire City grinds to a halt over 2 inches of the stuff!!

If they forecast snow, every Bread and Milk aisle wil be empty within two hours. NO JOKE!

When I lived there it would make me laugh my arse off.

Atlanta can get a fair amount of "Black Ice"!