Running Out Of Time - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

BMAN · 08-30-2007, 04:25 PM

ANYONE EVER BEEN HERE BEFORE?

We have about 40 working days left in the exterior season up here. We still have about twenty five exterior jobs to do ranging from 1.5 to 7days each, you do the math I figure I need about twice as much time as I have to get this done. anyone ever try labor ready? I have tried a few adds for help wanted but man the learning curve on some of these people is to long. Anyone good enough to hire seems to have their own business already.

Steve Richards · 08-30-2007, 05:08 PM

Congratulations..Having too much work is always better than the opposite!

I'd contact my clients and see if any were willing to wait until Spring.

**slickshift** · 08-30-2007, 05:09 PM

Hey, you never know
I was working outside in December last year
Manor Hall and Duration are good until 35*

**framerman** · 08-30-2007, 05:13 PM

Labor Ready?

Oh man, around here they are almost without a doubt alcoholics, ex cons, or just trying to appease the state for an unemployment check.

Wait....that describes most of the construction industry! LOL.

Where you at? Alaska? You have a labor shortage for your business that's for sure. Do you have some type of contract, or clause in your contract about weather? If not, I'd suggest looking into one.

Have you checked at the paint shops? When I go into these places, there's always a ton of business cards on the wall.

MarvinWilleyJr · 08-30-2007, 06:04 PM

LABOR READY!!!!!!

You'd be better off picking up a couple of those guys you see hold signs.....saying homeless, need food, will work, etc.....than going thru Labor Ready. Atleast around here anyway. Labor Ready I think is good for sweepers and clean up crews. Not for painting.....they are the last stop on the way to the bums you see sleeping on the streets!

POOLMANinCT · 08-30-2007, 06:54 PM

don't expect anything more than hands & feet...

THINKPAINTING · 08-30-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMAN

ANYONE EVER BEEN HERE BEFORE?

We have about 40 working days left in the exterior season up here. We still have about twenty five exterior jobs to do ranging from 1.5 to 7days each, you do the math I figure I need about twice as much time as I have to get this done. anyone ever try labor ready? I have tried a few adds for help wanted but man the learning curve on some of these people is to long. Anyone good enough to hire seems to have their own business already.

Try contacting a halfway house for recovering addicts, or ex cons. We have great luck here, as they are trying to get back on there feet, and most are from the trades.

As with anything in our industry you will have to weed out the bums.

I grabbed a 47 yr old ex con with 20 yrs of painting experince, he was a very good worker and most of all a Painter. We pick him up at 7am, and drop him off after 4, they even provide his lunch....

Labor Ready...

**slickshift** · 08-30-2007, 07:19 PM

Hey now....I've had some good ones from Labor ready

...OK some bad ones too

Just don't leave your wallet in the truck

MarvinWilleyJr · 08-30-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickshift

Hey now....I've had some good ones from Labor ready

...OK some bad ones too

Just don't leave your wallet in the truck

.......or any equipment out!

HUDSONVALLEYEXT · 08-30-2007, 08:26 PM

We are counting down they days to here in NY. Everything is going to go dry like last year

**ProWallGuy** · 08-30-2007, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMAN

We have about 40 working days left in the exterior season up here. We still have about twenty five exterior jobs to do ranging from 1.5 to 7days each, you do the math I figure I need about twice as much time as I have to get this done.

Did the weather play a big part here, or did you just way overbook yourself?

Runamuk · 08-31-2007, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMAN

ANYONE EVER BEEN HERE BEFORE?

We have about 40 working days left in the exterior season up here. We still have about twenty five exterior jobs to do ranging from 1.5 to 7days each, you do the math I figure I need about twice as much time as I have to get this done. anyone ever try labor ready? I have tried a few adds for help wanted but man the learning curve on some of these people is to long. Anyone good enough to hire seems to have their own business already.

Where are you at? I may be able to help.

Rick

BMAN · 08-31-2007, 06:02 AM

Lots of reasons, none of which is weather this year. I over booked for sure, but some of it was labor drama as usual. Taking steps to avoid this in the future.

Frankawitz · 08-31-2007, 06:52 AM

Hey Bman just was wondering you say you have all these exterior paint jobs, have you thought about drying time for paint to cure?

most paints take a full 60 to 72 days to cure what do you think will happen next Spring?

I stop paint outside at Labor Day just cause the paint won't cure intil December and here in Michigan the weather can change and that paint good for 35 degrees. What about the night time temps when it goes down to 20 or 10 degrees at night does the paint still work or does it freeze like most water base products?

I would start calling people and telling them I'll see you next year. or unless your warranty gives you enough money to come back and repaint in the Spring. Good luck

Mandrake · 08-31-2007, 01:32 PM

Not sure where you are located but there are a lot of painters looking for work due to the dip in housing starts.

Check craigslists for potential subcontractors. You'll give up most of your margin but if they are good you will have little, if any, management issues.

Not sure about Labor Ready where you are but I once ran a facility that used LR. The staff refered to them as warm cadavers. One of them came to me after lunch and said he decided to quit. Next day we noticed a laptop missing....funny that he was cleaning offices just prior to his sudden departure.

BMAN · 08-31-2007, 04:21 PM

Frankawitz the side of my can says apply down to 35 degrees as long as it will stay that way for 24 hours after application. We paint till the the first week of November and have never had an issue. I tour my houses every year and anytime I see an issue within two years I usually call them and say we are coming to do warranty work. If you can top that for service then I take my hat off to you.
You don't get over booked by doing bad work.

welovepainting · 08-31-2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMAN

the side of my can says apply down to 35 degrees as long as it will stay that way for 24 hours after application. We paint till the the first week of November and have never had an issue. I tour my houses every year and anytime I see an issue within two years I usually call them and say we are coming to do warranty work. If you can top that for service then I take my hat off to you.
You don't get over booked by doing bad work.

Totally agree BMAN... our deadline is anywhere form 10-31 to 11-26 for exteriors. As long as its dry and no colder than 45 degrees for 24 hours than we paint. Now oil primer can be a problem we thin it out well so it penetrates better and dries faster in colder conditions. We warranty our work for 3 years and we have a 45 year reputaion with 14 painters and 2 subs so the quality is deffinitly there. Our busiest time for exteriors is aug-nov crunch time... and our work last many many more years than our compition. We rarely spot prime 9 times out of 10 we oil prime complete and latex top coat.

Da Vinci · 09-01-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by framerman

Labor Ready?

Oh man, around here they are almost without a doubt alcoholics, ex cons, or just trying to appease the state for an unemployment check.

Wait....that describes most of the construction industry! LOL.

Yeah, haven't you ever heard that saying " Where ever you find 4 painters, you find a fifth."..

Bay Area Painting Company