[burnit]

Hi, I just found this site while searching on MSN for Lamarite Slates, seen a few folks I know from another Forum, hi guys/gal.
My name is Mike Gabbitas, I own and run a "Waterproofing Contracting" company in the Wellington Region of New Zealand, along with my partner of 15 years. I have been working in construction for 34 years.
We mainly do Torchdown Roofing, PVC trafficable Deck/Balcony membranes, Asphalt shingles, below ground self-adhesive and torched Tanking, and some waterproofing and UV coatings.

For 18 years till 1998 I worked in the Mastic Asphalt trade, roofing, flooring and tanking, from manufacturing, to laying and management. We still dabble a little in BSS Mastic Asphalt today, but it is a dying craft. In the 1980's I worked in the BUR trade in Ontario, Canada for 5 years on and off.

From what I have read in the last hour, this looks like a good Forum, quite a mixture of trades :Thumbs:

BTW I have a digital camera, so expect lots of photos of roofs from NZ
Heres a couple we are working on currently
Re Roof on Apartment Block (torchdown)
http://img95.exs.cx/img95/1342/dscf0012size9009dt.jpg
New Roof on Apartment Building Gut Out and Renovation(torchdown)
http://img100.exs.cx/img100/4936/dscf00219001ja.jpg
New Roof on Renovation (rubber)
http://img88.exs.cx/img88/2073/rubber9hl.jpg

Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting
http://www.imageshack.us

 

[Cole]

Welcome!!!!

 

[Glasshousebltr]

Welcome from south central Illinois.

Had a friend from NZ, Carry Small, You know him?:cheesygri

Bob

 

[Nathan]

From what I have read in the last hour, this looks like a good Forum, quite a mixture of trades :Thumbs:

Welcome to the board, glad you found us!

The mix of trades is what makes ContractorTalk.com stand out. I think were all stronger by learning from each other.

 

[Teetorbilt]

Welcome! I almost moved to NZ 30 yrs. ago but some tragic events prevented it. Is Wellington on the North or South island?

 

[burnit]

LOL , Bob, 1 out of 4 million? , Nope, never met Carry, doesn't ring a bell. There are 40 Small's in our White Pages telephone book, local area Pop. 300,000.
It can be a Small world out there though , I met up with a guy in Egypt back in 1981 at Ain Surkna, on the Red Sea Coast, who previously lived 3 doors down from us back home, (1 out of 4 million ) we just happened to cross paths, crazy world, never seen him since then though. Back then there were no tourists, except us silly individual backpacking kiwis on the same local bus with the live chickens and dust storms. LOL

 

[Glasshousebltr]

Worked with a radio DJ in 81, who lost his radio job. We both lived and worked in Roanoke Va. I was at a bar called the Brew Barrell in Jacksonvile Fla. in 85 and the maggot walked in the door. It was kinda strange to say the least.

Bob

 

[burnit]

Teetorbilt, we are at the bottom end of the North Island, we can see the South Island from our beach here, but it is a long way away, 2-3 hours by ship.
Too bad you never came over 30 years ago, similar type of weather as Florida, but we get 3/5 days a week of wind here in Wellington, it is our abilities to deal with the conditions that keep us ahead of the visitors from out of town.
Actually, Auckland further up north from us is more like Miami/Dade/Broward Counties, 4 seasons in one day, "showers" is the usual weather forecast, rains almost every day at 3pm.
I moved to Wellington to get outta there.
Today Auck. had a hail storm, we had 50mph winds, no rain, we dried the washing on the line ready for next weeks roofing work, who knows whats happening up there in my old home town :Thumbs: