Lot was 325k 5 years ago. 475k now.

 

Thinking about going back to that same place in October. It was a great location to stay at.

 

I might point out the negative of a design but definitely would never go round and round with a client. They aren't stupid, as long as they know my concern and are still okay with it. The job goes forward.


Mike.
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I might point out the negative of a design but definitely would never go round and round with a client. They aren't stupid, as long as they know my concern and are still okay with it. The job goes forward.


Mike.
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Her- paint the cabinets bright purple and green

Me....

Her....

me - we don't often see that , do you have a picture or source? Want samples?

her- no paint them purple and green. Do you think it will look good?

me - not my style, a bit loud

Her- I like loud

Me - if you like it I love it. Zeke - paint them cabinets purple and green. Gonna look great, can't wait to see it

 

There's a bad ass shop carpenter named Bruce in Dripping Springs I've used for 145 an hour to build items - He built that conference table for the granite showroom I remodeled a few years ago with no fasteners. He actually built a little model out of popsicle stick type material to show us how it would work. He charges for everything, including telling me that I'm a ****ing red neck and a terrible designer and the idea sucks and I should do what he wants to do, which is always eclectic and a little too much of a statement lol

When he dropped a corner piece off at a remodel last time I used him he wouldn't even look at me because I tossed his idea - its not what she wants Bruce. Lol, I'm a CUSTOM builder Bruce, that means whatever THEY want.

I've met Rob. Rob and Bruce could go bowling

 

I think what the honest to God's difference between a lot of us is how are businesses are different. My clients and I aren't a project here and a project their, I am in constant ongoing conversations with them. Very very rare for me to do a project for other then the same 7 or 8 people. I am not a salesman, just highly specialized in a highly niche market where demand outpaces supply. Ultimately, I will give in to one of their dumbass ideas but it will and has to be remembered that this one is on them if it looks ****ty.

They have to believe that I really really care what it comes out like. 98% of people wouldn't think of working with me, but I am only targeting 1%...

 

I think what the honest to God's difference between a lot of us is how are businesses are different. My clients and I aren't a project here and a project their, I am in constant ongoing conversations with them. Very very rare for me to do a project for other then the same 7 or 8 people. I am not a salesman, just highly specialized in a highly niche market where demand outpaces supply. Ultimately, I will give in to one of their dumbass ideas but it will and has to be remembered that this one is on them if it looks ****ty.

They have to believe that I really really care what it comes out like. 98% of people wouldn't think of working with me, but I am only targeting 1%...

Good to have that as long as they don't disappear on you.

I'm starting to run circles in the clients I have. Don't need a lot of new ones anymore.

 

Artists have the luxury of being eccentrics..

Everyone had their strengths, I play to people's strengths and hire to my weaknesses. Bruce can hyper focus and completely self involve into one piece or project and become fanatical. Awesome 👌 I can sell that and get 20% for the big fella 👍

On the other hand between 530 this morning and 9 tonight I will talk to 8 subs, 5 or 6 clients, my office, lead carpenters, assistant etc... and deliver a skid steer, concrete stamps and form release to another site, put bricks in a rebar grid for a pour and organize the next 4 weeks on a gut remodel with more than a dozen structural repairs. Two of the client conversations are contentious, one is fighting with their designer and each other, the other is about to get hit for 28k on steel increase, a third their 14k garage door came in with broken glass. In between I sitting here waiting on my engineer to ok my structural repair "suggestions" so I can get the boys dancing on that, I'll probably argue with Easy a few times too

No sweat at all, and I'll be on site at 230 tomorrow morning on 5 hrs of sleep. Bruce would be dead of ulcers in two weeks. He's the type that if the gas pump says receipt with cashier he leaves because he's so introverted.

My favorite Bruce story is the QB one I've told here. When I recruited him (he hates builders) I sold him on becoming part of the team. Later when he was doing a built in that had a drive shaft as a hinge to hide a room we started arguing about the face frame style size he changed on his own from our shop drawings and he finally said hey I thought this was a team!! Let's work together!

I said it is a team Bruce, my team. I'm the QB, run the plays I call.... luckily he didn't leave because my brother was in Mexico and I couldn't of finished it with out calling Austin DB lol

 

Artists have the luxury of being eccentrics..

Everyone had their strengths, I play to people's strengths and hire to my weaknesses. Bruce can hyper focus and completely self involve into one piece or project and become fanatical. Awesome 👌 I can sell that and get 20% for the big fella 👍

On the other hand between 530 this morning and 9 tonight I will talk to 8 subs, 5 or 6 clients, my office, lead carpenters, assistant etc... and deliver a skid steer, concrete stamps and form release to another site, put bricks in a rebar grid for a pour and organize the next 4 weeks on a gut remodel with more than a dozen structural repairs. Two of the client conversations are contentious, one is fighting with their designer and each other, the other is about to get hit for 28k on steel increase, a third their 14k garage door came in with broken glass. In between I sitting here waiting on my engineer to ok my structural repair "suggestions" so I can get the boys dancing on that, I'll probably argue with Easy a few times too

No sweat at all, and I'll be on site at 230 tomorrow morning on 5 hrs of sleep. Bruce would be dead of ulcers in two weeks. He's the type that if the gas pump says receipt with cashier he leaves because he's so introverted.

My favorite Bruce story is the QB one I've told here. When I recruited him (he hates builders) I sold him on becoming part of the team. Later when he was doing a built in that had a drive shaft as a hinge to hide a room we started arguing about the face frame style size he changed on his own from our shop drawings and he finally said hey I thought this was a team!! Let's work together!

I said it is a team Bruce, my team. I'm the QB, run the plays I call.... luckily he didn't leave because my brother was in Mexico and I couldn't of finished it with out calling Austin DB lol

Is Bruce's parents from Ohio?

I'm okay with however someone wants to speak to me as long as it isn't talking down to me. You struck me as a manager of people. I'm sure you would know what situations I would be beneficial and which ones I wouldn't. It's what good managers do best.

Ultimately these are long standing clients and my first response to someone new is, "let's just figure out how we do together on this one." That is after I've given them a bill to just see how they were with paying for an initial consultation fee. No contractor is usually willing to pay a consultation fee and I don't blame them but it is nice when you can have a guy selling that for you.

I'm willing to bet Bruce is pretty appreciative and just doesn't voice it a whole lot.

 

Got this ready to pour. 👍

Gotta wait ten days to get the sub, pump, and trucks to all line up. 🙄 At least I was smart enough to schedule a progress payment when slab was ready. 🤣

 

Very neat rebar. Cover and alignment makes me happy.

 

Got the shed roofs done on this. Waiting for drivit to get done so can do the soffit and Fascia. Got roof plans for next one being framed now. Standing seam on the complete roof. Using a crinkle finished panel, really like it. Not a glossy finish.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

Nice work. Helluva view.

 

FML. A fat guy could hang from this super ceiling sandwich. I know.

 

High action day so far. Got on site before midnight to monitor rain fall to assess if it was safe to pour at 3. Questionable but kept the reservation for first pour and said hold at 160 yards, 3 trucks and then 15 minute intervals.

Yesterday I built berms in front of both foundations to keep water out of the slab if we had a major down pour, 50% chance, radar bounced around all day

Anyway - pump driver didn't want to pull all the way forward, too muddy. I berated him for being soft (he's been my normal pump operator for more than decade) and said if he wanted he could sit in my truck with his binky and catch a rest and I'd pull it forward. No go... until I pulled the clip out. A couple c notes got him a little braver and he pulled up.

Jimmy the truck boss for the concrete company stacked three as requested (they are the best in the area imo) and pulled up on site himself at 3:55. We shook hands, I reiterated 15 minute intervals. It's two slabs, deep beams, a wall etc we aren't booking it today.

He said we have a nother pour at 7 am. I said couldn't care less about the other pour jimmy.... we will get you out of here asap, we have 13 finishers. But be patient.

start running pump over the beams footings and wall. We pour garage slab and most of the footings but switch gears to the other slab to let the concrete set up in wall so we wouldn't blow it.

This whole time we are getting pissed on, not hard rain, but steady... off and on. Sites a dumpster fire of soupy mud, if you are a 2 wheel drive guy you getting stuck today.

I turn around and see 3 trucks stacked and got tight around the mouth. Hey Jimmy, do you need a watch my man? 15 mins hoss... he said I ordered 4.... I shake my head but we keep on getting on. I turn around and it six (6) trucks at just before 7. That's how you get a hot mix. I snapped the pic below and without raising my voice in front of the his men or mine told him most colorfully that he'd be taking 20 yards back if it was hot by the time it hit the hopper, and sent a guy guy keep an eye on the drivers not to add a bunch of water.

Jimmy said we batched for the other pour and it canceled last minute, I rerouted two trucks, same mix. I said your other being a p**** isn't my concern. 😆

We dump the mud as quick as possible in footings and beams, vibrator going right behind. By the time I get to my last truck it wasn't reject hot but it was hot. I told Jimmy I told you damnit this chit is burning my hand

He shakes his head and stalks off.

My homeowner has been dreaming of this since they got married 30 years ago, they were there and the guy talked to the truck boss and said I said he was one of the best in the business (which I did say and he normally is) and he told him likewise, you don't see many builders on a pour anymore.

After it was placed mostly stood looking helplessly while they do the finishing (I suck at it) while being pissed on and often covering

Finally doing stamps. It's getting a slow cure for sure with 80 degrees and a nice mist....

I imagine we'll be out of here by 6-730

 

I imagine we'll be out of here by 6-730

It's 6:37 right now.

Man... That was a helluva day for you. Hope it all turned out well.

Basketball sized balls!!

I've heard of singing in the rain, but pouring in the rain bites.

 

 

Everyone around the world speaks the language of Benjamin.
I wish the politicians didn't understand it though.

 

I was like Santa clause yesterday if my beard was white. Broke this morning, going to have to make a cash run to the safe lol

Bottle was for the clients, they have gone through the ringer waiting for this pour.

Besides pump driver I gave the kid thst did the stamps 100, the two old slab men who did a lot of the hard core finishing and one independent finisher 100 each (this isn't customary. I'll explain the dynamic of pours here later) and I scrounge a 50 for each of everyone else. Wasn't expecting that, but 15 hours in the rain and mud they deserved it. My best friend just built him a house down the road and loaned me 300, I ran out of cash.

I also ordered a taco truck out to the site, with the drivers that were there, pump operator and owners I'd say probably 175 bucks.

Ramen noodles for dinner I expect lol

Got home and my have a had a plate in the oven. Ate that, poured four fingers of rare breed and lit a cigar, fell asleep in my chair on the porch with a half a glass and a lit cigar. Wife somehow got me inside I don't remember, and she was washing linens when I left... I didn't take a shower until this morning lol. I can't believe she didn't leave my rank ass outside. Longest sleep in years, 11 hours

 

Had a slab get a good drizzle on it last year while I was finishing it.

Makes it real tough to get it right.

Cant imagine trying to do a stamped slab while it’s raining. 😳👍

 

It was just the porches. Rest is tile

 

You're something else, man.

 

I had this little wall set to pour yesterday.
I've been having trouble scheduling concrete since I'm a small guy and there is a huge amount of commercial and road projects. I'm lucky to get a short load.

The plant could get me worked in this morning or at 2 yesterday, took the 2 pm yesterday.

Sum ***** if a huge thunderstorm didn't show up about 3 minutes after the concrete truck, and dumped on us.

Waited out the storm, was at commitment level, I ain't sending back $900 worth of product to buy it again the next day.

Rain let off and we got it done.

 

One of the young finishers said in some unintelligible gen z lingo basically- how did you

I had this little wall set to pour yesterday.
I've been having trouble scheduling concrete since I'm a small guy and there is a huge amount of commercial and road projects. I'm lucky to get a short load.

The plant could get me worked in this morning or at 2 yesterday, took the 2 pm yesterday.

Sum * if a huge thunderstorm didn't show up about 3 minutes after the concrete truck, and dumped on us.

Waited out the storm, was at commitment level, I ain't sending back $900 worth of product to buy it again the next day.

Rain let off and we got it done.

View attachment 513729 View attachment 513730

Hell yeah

 

What a miserable, muckety mess. Nice looking set up.

The ends justify the means, but a partly cloudy 65* day would have done nicely instead.

No stress at all...

How about that guy with his 160 yards in the rain all day? Go big or go home.

 

Let us not forget I cancelled twice for rain, higher chances than today

It didn't rain those days

One of my guys said you should of just poured

Then today man you should of cancelled 😆

 

Another guy who brought me a skid steer at 4 this morning (one of my favorite people) in case I needed to pull trucks or the pump put laughed when I said the builder who canceled IN the rain was a p**** after I bailed 2 days with no rain

Domt bring up the past dude

 

You Live or Die on the concrete pour.

I've done it in thunderstorms and snow storms...once it's on the truck, I own it, we move forward!

 

100%

 

City is ripping up a bunch of road to separate storm water from waste water. So the large GC doing all the utilities asked me to trench out this rat slab for the new tie in. Raining like all get out all damn day. I heard someone say an inch an hour at times. IDK. Lots of rain. The city was pumping one million gallons per minute out of the treatment plant from all the storm water.

Anyway, couldnt start the work until 12:00pm because it’s a mental health clinic and we can’t be making noise during sessions etc. Whatever. Anyway, we find this blue rock from hell, and I didnt have a rock drill (and by this time the rental yards are done for the weekend). I know, I know. Next time I’ll have one on stand by, maybe even a pneumatic splitter if I can find one. I don’t know what I was thinking.

This particular rock had no grain. It would just make heat and turn to powder when you try to break it. We spent hours alternating between a 60lb breaker, slab saw, and an electric drill with rock bits. Finally got that b*tch in the back of the truck. Wasnt even that big but it felt like freakin bedrock the whole time we were hitting it.

 

What would we do with out pump trucks anymore. Concrete work is one thing I try to stay far away fro anymore, young mans game.

 

When I started my foundation guy would pour the whole thing without a pump. Then slowly they wanted to use a pump for everything. Now I can’t even get a garage floor poured without paying for a pump. I see guys using pumps to do dinky driveways now too.

 

Just got my foundation in at my own house, 14 yards. My foundation guy was able to do it without a pump on a tight lot. Saved me $3,800 as pump trucks are $1,900 a half day here. My foundation guy is a friend and he gave me concrete at his price $120 a yard as apposed to $185.

 

You treat the people right who treat you right.

I know an awful lot of people who wouldn't give a tip to someone that went over and above the call of duty... if you held a gun to their head.

A lot of times a customer will ask that I be there if they are having appliances or a granite top delivered and installed or whatever.

I always tell them to have some cash on hand. If they are schlocks, they get a thank you.

If they paid attention...they get the cash.

 

TikTok - Make Your Day

vm.tiktok.com

From my lead guy. I don't have a tik to wife showed me on her phone. Lol

 

I’ve received one $5 tip my whole life. Some old lady I was redoing her landscaping when I was 19. I was shocked and rejected it but she insisted. I think I was making $7-$8/hr.

In jr. high my brother had a paper route I’d help him with, he got Christmas gifts from some subscribers but he figured those were his because it was his route. Not really tips. There was maybe 10-20 people who gave them and they were usually about $5. When I turned 21 and went to the bar with friends I really didn‘t get the concept of tipping. I said: doesn’t their employer pay them?

 

I’ve received one $5 tip my whole life. Some old lady I was redoing her landscaping when I was 19. I was shocked and rejected it but she insisted. I think I was making $7-$8/hr.

In jr. high my brother had a paper route I’d help him with, he got Christmas gifts from some subscribers but he figured those were his because it was his route. Not really tips. There was maybe 10-20 people who gave them and they were usually about $5. When I turned 21 and went to the bar with friends I really didn‘t get the concept of tipping. I said: doesn’t their employer pay them?

My old man is similar.

My brother and I have always been big tippers. Bar tabs I leave 50% usually, dinner 25-40% usually. 20% if it's lack luster. If I eat a breakfast tacos or something for 5 bucks but I sit down to eat and it's served I leave 5 bucks.

I rarely make happy hour anymore, maybe 6 times a year. When I do go I have slap a lot of backs and shake a lot of hands, 5 minutes atleast. No matter which bartender (one of three) they time my ice cold Shiner and frozen glass just as I'm sitting down so I don't wait and it's ice cold. That's not an exaggeration, brother gets same treatment. They know if I'm still sitting after two beers bring water, 2s my limit without talking.

If I come in for lunch and jts Thursday they get my smoked pork chop rolling while I'm shaking hands, if it's Tuesday, pulled pork tacos. Any other day rueban, no fries. Iced tea

Grease keeps things running smooth and gets preferential treatment. That makes money

 

Just gave a 700.00 tip yesterday after the rehearsal dinner. Then I shoved a hundy in the shirt pocket of the assistant manager of the restaurant.


Mike.
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