Future?

T. D. G.

What do you folks think is in this deck markets future?
Does the economy look like it going to get better soon?
my dad went through the the crash of "29" and before that the fall of Russia in 1917. He's not optimistic.

__________________
Dream as if you will live forever; live as if you will die tomorrow"

John Hyatt

She's gong to be mean and lean. Only diferance between now and 29>> The goverment keeps printing money and shovling it down the rat holes.<<

The Patry is defentley over. Us deckbuilding guys have had a real good 15 year or so run but I am thinking that alone is no longer going to pay the Bills. J.

mike stanislaw

Good question. on the bright side it all gets better, by Obama and Bush having unprecedented cooperation, between both their teams and coming up with a tough but fair fix, and it works by restoring confidence in the economy.
then on the dark side jim morrison's predection comes ture.

MartyCD

I think you Pros keep going out there and doing what you do well, delivering high levels of craftsmanship and customer service, you'll be just fine. We're seeing deck inquiries go up in total volume. And we're also seeing deck inquiries go up in the top ten list relative to other remodeling options. Nothing creates opportunity like a crisis. Materials costs are going to get better, good help is more available, perhaps lesser competitors decide to exit the business. People gotta live somewhere right? Deck is the cheapest way to add usable square footage.
Marty

hailey

I agree with Marty.The worse the economy "seemed" to get this year...the more calls I got to estimate decks.Of course some didn't sell, but many did.I know it is scary,but I think it may pick up even more than anyone expects in the spring.I try to keep a positive attitude anyway,but I think that's even more important now.The media does a good eneough job of fueling the fears.I'm not unrealistic...just trying to move forward.

Mike Finley

This isn't the 1st recession the United States has gone through. By summer you guys will be wondering what you ever were worried about.

deckman22

Survival of the fittest, the weak will fold shop & move on to something else. Times like these when folks aren't buying new homes they fix up the ones they have so there will be opportunities in that market.

__________________
Deckman
www.alscustomdecks.com

TimelessQuality

That guitar riff has been going through my head for some time....'this is the end...'

__________________
-Steve

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." ~ Albert Einstein

rbsremodeling

I agree with Mike. While I think it will be slow going out the gate next year. I think March onward it will be nice. I am hoping alot of the scabs are gone by then and smooth sailing the rest of the year.

Did everyone learn their lessons in 08??

__________________

John Hyatt

Mrs Susan good bye rules after the kiss in the morning right before she gets in the ride to go to work>>>>> Dont Panic, Dont get Hurt, Think things Tru, Remember who Loves you. <<<<


Words to live by, However, and I am normaly a close encounter kinda guy probley the milatary and growing up in Midland Texas, This is not your normal Sh((T !!!! going on. I am total up for postive head thing but I tell you mon the area we are in now is in a Panic and coming on Fast.

Those deck leads stories are nice to hear would love to stumble on a few. Come the Spring......Sure I am up for that. J.

redwood

Unfortunately, I am with Johnmon on his thinking. I haven't had a call in about 2 mos. About the same time as 3 large jobs were put on the back burner.

__________________
Mark
Los Gatos, CA
www.creative-redwood-designs.com

Stone Mountain

We did about 1/2 what I usually do for October/November. However, I have several jobs, including a $100,000 commerical job and a$150,000 builder's job lined up for March.
all the economists are saying that the 2nd quarter next year is when things will start to get better. Perfect for me, as that's when my season starts.
In the meantime, my loan for snowplow equipment is paid off this month, the lease was up on one truck, which we aren't replacing, and another lease is up in May, so our total monthly payment will be down by $2300.00. That will certainly help the balance of payments.

__________________
Residential Deck Specialist: Vist our Website
www.fenceanddeck.ca

Mike Finley

Would you spend some big money on stuff you don't need right now if every other day you're being pounded by the media about the world coming to an end?

The good news is those peoples decks are still aging every day and those without a deck are still without a deck every day. That work is still there it is just on hold for now. Everybody should have changed their marketing a couple of months ago, if you haven't already, it's probably too late, you might as well buy a case of Wd40 to keep the rust off the tools.

T. D. G.

llllll

__________________
Dream as if you will live forever; live as if you will die tomorrow"

T. D. G.

I'm in your camp john too many bad things are lining up. Its just been two many years these so called leaders have been picking on our dead carcuses. Now they exspect us to to spend How much to save who's buddies? I'm tried of supporting organizations that have my elected leaders in there pocket.

__________________
Dream as if you will live forever; live as if you will die tomorrow"

mike stanislaw

As of Today things got better. For another politician got caught with their greedy naked hand deep into our cookie jar. The Media can't change the facts the gov. of Ill. is a crook, and any one who touched him will get burned in the fire. the bigger the better. I don't even care if they are notguilty burn them all. After all this economy would be in good shape if it wasn't for the politicians screwing with it for there par shall reasons.

John Hyatt

It hardley matters at this point who killed who. The sh(tt is in the fan.


On the reflective side us DeckBuilders are a good bunch. Over the years I have met a bunch of Tradesmen like me. Independent,high skills in a lot of areas, finding this nitch that workes for us and the Wallet. We Made the industry what is has come to be puting a lot of composite people/ ss screw makers, joist hanger guys, too many to even think of on the map without Us nothing would have happened.

So its over for a while...Man we had a good run at it..and the skills/business know how are still there. I am thinking its just time to get into a few other things as well as deckbuilding, defentley time to cut back. Couple of things the JohnMon has done>> cancled the shop dumpster $90 a mo,cut the libality from $ 60,000 to $8,000 labor saving around $1200 this renewal, Ride the Harley in the cold to the shop and every place else not the 3/4 chevy work truck, Susan takes the Tahoe and sells her ride, dont go to lunch for me thats 9-12$ a day, Bid the total Sh))t out of everything in site I have come up with a Bikers Cabanit thing sold a couple all ready looking to market it local like to Tulsa/Okc area mabey branch out later. And Last but not Least drink really good stuff on a regular basis some of the best ideas come after a few high quality shots!!!! Go Get Em Boys J.

T. D. G.

now your talking john mon. so many great things have come about by drinking or being high, and lets not forget about our wonderful easy going smoking population. Bell was drunk when he spilled the acid on what we all call the phone now. If it wasn't for drunks the north would have lost that civil war, that's a biggie, the rockin roll industry wouldn't be the same. and how could we ever forget the only man that saw the future. Morrison said once while being interviewed "Jim why do you drink?" Morrison wasted no time by replying “Being drunk is a good disguise. I drink so I can talk to assholes.

__________________
Dream as if you will live forever; live as if you will die tomorrow"

joasis

The coming economy is going to be tough, and competitive....be better then the rest. Another point is this: People will be reluctant to travel....and the possibility of the unrest globally has many wanting to stay home...safe and secure. Like after 9/11, "nesting" and home improvement were making sales records for HD and Lowes....same thing is coming, and most consumers are not DIY'ers. Being a contractor in the lean times may mean cutting back, but if you are good, you should be OK, barring a financial collapse...and then it wouldn't matter.

__________________

neolitic

Jon Mon,
I'm stone cold sober.
I read, understood and agreed with
every bit of your three paragraph post.




It's definitely time for me to seek therapy!

__________________
Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)