[Spike7]

Why on gods green earth is construction your passion? Ive been in this business for 29 years i have three plates 12 screws and a wire in my arm my back constantly aches and I'm still not rich.

man , i so agree .
its been a fair living , but not as i planned

 

[NHCremodeling]

If I was young and single with nothing to tie me down, I would jump in my car and get out to north dakota.

But then, I'm a sucker for a "boom". I love to be in an area that is jumping with activity.

Go down to walmart, buy some camping equipment, and take a ride out there. Summer is just starting, you can live in a tent for a few months until you can work out a permanent living arrangement.

 

[Walty]

If I was young and single with nothing to tie me down, I would jump in my car and get out to north dakota.

But then, I'm a sucker for a "boom". I love to be in an area that is jumping with activity.

Go down to walmart, buy some camping equipment, and take a ride out there. Summer is just starting, you can live in a tent for a few months until you can work out a permanent living arrangement.

I live in ND. The economy is kicking full blast and no sign of slowing down. However, coming from out of state is a gamble. We see a lot of people come and go. Winter is tough and finding housing is even tougher. I know guys that have been hunting for housing for over a year. Find housing first, and then a job. Camp sites are all full, cities are cracking down on campers on streets, so a tent probably won't do any good. Construction side is hiring, but don't expect more than $15/hr for no experience (sorry, a degree is not experience). Oil side is hiring, but they won't consider anyone without experience.

Kind of a boon and a bust out here.

 

[NHCremodeling]

I live in ND. The economy is kicking full blast and no sign of slowing down. However, coming from out of state is a gamble. We see a lot of people come and go. Winter is tough and finding housing is even tougher. I know guys that have been hunting for housing for over a year. Find housing first, and then a job. Camp sites are all full, cities are cracking down on campers on streets, so a tent probably won't do any good. Construction side is hiring, but don't expect more than $15/hr for no experience (sorry, a degree is not experience). Oil side is hiring, but they won't consider anyone without experience.

Kind of a boon and a bust out here.

I hear what you're saying, but I would still give it a go. Prospects out there are better than anywhere else in the country. He's young, he can handle the no-housing problem at that age.

There's always ways around those problems. If he's a decent looking guy, he can try to shack up with a lonely local honey! :devil:

 

[Walty]

I hear what you're saying, but I would still give it a go. Prospects out there are better than anywhere else in the country. He's young, he can handle the no-housing problem at that age.

There's always ways around those problems. If he's a decent looking guy, he can try to shack up with a lonely local honey! :devil:

Hope I didn't come across as discouraging, just make sure if anyone's thinking about it to at least do some research before jumping in the car.

As far as honey's... we have some Damn good looking girls in the college cities. As far as oil country, yikes, most of them I wouldn't let my dog sleep with...

 

[Jaws]

Sounds like builders would do well in ND.

 

[Calidecks]

Sounds like builders would do well in ND.

Yep, we should all get together go build those hinges that they need

 

[Calidecks]

Yep, we should all get together go build those hinges that they need

Damn spell check it meant to say homes not hinges

 

[Walty]

Sounds like builders would do well in ND.

They have issued 10,646 contractor licenses this year. A jump of 41% since last year. Real easy to get a license. Show proof of liability insurance, fill out a form with your experience, get form notorized, and pay fee.

 

[Calidecks]

They have issued 10,646 contractor licenses this year. A jump of 41% since last year. Real easy to get a license. Show proof of liability insurance, fill out a form with your experience, get form notorized, and pay fee.

Wow no test? Here in Cali we take a 2-1/2 hour test on the law and a 2-1/2 hour test on a the trades (a percentage of most trades) then we get fingerprinted they go to department of justice and the FBI. We have to show 4 years of trade experience at journey level. We also have to get another contractor to vouch for us. They really make us jump through hoops. That test is no walk in the park either.

 

[Walty]

Wow no test? Here in Cali we take a 2-1/2 hour test on the law and a 2-1/2 hour test on a the trades (a percentage of most trades) then we get fingerprinted they go to department of justice and the FBI. We have to show 4 years of trade experience at journey level. We also have to get another contractor to vouch for us. They really make us jump through hoops. That test is no walk in the park either.

No test except plumbers and electrical. They supposedly do random criminal checks, but I doubt that is happening cause they are so backlogged. I got mine in January, before the rush. Mailed the app in, 3 days later my license was in the mailbox.

 

[Spike7]

Wow no test? Here in Cali we take a 2-1/2 hour test on the law and a 2-1/2 hour test on a the trades (a percentage of most trades) then we get fingerprinted they go to department of justice and the FBI. We have to show 4 years of trade experience at journey level. We also have to get another contractor to vouch for us. They really make us jump through hoops. That test is no walk in the park either.

for south florida , it was a full weekend .
2 -4 hour tests on day , and a 6 or 7 hour test the next.


i`m not exagerating at all

it covered , construction business , osha lein laws., steel , lumber drywall , structural, the south florida building code book. you had to learn about "AIA contracts , some engineering ,wind calculations . ( thicker than a phone book , no lie),grueling
i failed the first time.
i actually took a course for it , that took me 6 months to complete .

each person taking a test , had their own 6 foot table , so they could stretch out the $600 worth of test books we had to look through.
i stood most of the test so i could bounce around , and get to each book

one test showed a 3 story steel stair-well to scale , and you had to caluclate the exact weight.

they would give you quotes from the building code book , and you had to know the chapter , and article numbers.

way over-kill




its a shame , like all of us agree down here, about 80% of the contents of the tests are thing s you will never really use.

 

[Jaws]

for south florida , it was a full weekend .
2 -4 hour tests on day , and a 6 or 7 hour test the next.


i`m not exagerating at all

it covered , construction business , osha lein laws., steel , lumber drywall , structural, the south florida building code book. you had to learn about "AIA contracts , some engineering ,wind calculations . ( thicker than a phone book , no lie),grueling
i failed the first time.
i actually took a course for it , that took me 6 months to complete .

each person taking a test , had their own 6 foot table , so they could stretch out the $600 worth of test books we had to look through.
i stood most of the test so i could bounce around , and get to each book

one test showed a 3 story steel stair-well to scale , and you had to caluclate the exact weight.

they would give you quotes from the building code book , and you had to know the chapter , and article numbers.

way over-kill




its a shame , like all of us agree down here, about 80% of the contents of the tests are thing s you will never really use.

Our Board meetings for Texas Association of Builders are tommorow, Friday and Saturday here in my area. Hopefully we will be voting on lobbying for licensing for GCs. I'm for it, but only if they have a barrier of entry, meaning a hard test. Otherwise its just another tax.