[Leo G]

Price didn't go up. Value of the dollar went down.

 

[smalpierre]

If this is your house or property:
If you are sucking it all out then lay in one layer of R19 paper faced and go 90 to that with another layer of unfaced. That gives you REALLY good insulation and you can put down catwalks and such where you need access. The problem with blow in is that any time anyone goes in there they will compress the insulation and you have to blow more. I just finished mine that way for under 1K and some work. I put in Thermal reflective barrier under the rafters (Florida here) for about 9 cents a foot plus time ( average a few degrees over ambient now). First month I saved almost 30% in utilities and it is too hot and humid to finish some of it.

Yeah, this is my house - I don't deal with insulation in other peoples houses anymore. I was doing energy efficiency upgrades for a while, but I don't touch it anymore. Pretty much all I do is commercial - unless somebody wants to pay me to run data lines and fiber through their house. Or surveillance, I'll do that too. Also in Florida, near West Palm.

The insulation is so nasty - whats left of it ... Ideally I'd do a rewire with new panel, then deal with insulation. Surprisingly my utility bill isn't astronomical. My "joists" are 2x4 members of the truss, so R19 isn't going to be able to be decked over. But if I rewire first, there's not any reason to go up there. Just replaced the A/C, it's right at a year old. Batts though, if they're close in cost, are definitely a better option for me. I hate running the fluff blower, and prepping for it with baffles, and fanfolding around fart fans, can lights and that kinda thing - that sucks even more. It be HOT up there! People see the temperatures on weather.com and think "It's not THAT bad" .. but the solar intensity is so much greater down here, and the humidity intensify that a LOT.

When I re-roof, I'm seriously considering redecking with the OSB that's got radiant barrier on one side. I've installed that foil in customers homes before, it works wonders. Theres spray in too. Easier to apply, but doesn't work as well as the foil.

 

[smalpierre]

I have a rule. When I realize that the customer is going to be a problem I never submit a bid. I will not work for them anyway so why bother. The hardest thing to learn is when to fire a prospect. Learn they are an atty....I will not work for them. I have never had a job go easily when an attorney is involved. Not once. I have had to sue or be sued or even negotiate with them after the fact (one was T&M paid end of week every week with acceptance of work signed every week, still the attorney tried to sue me in the end with everything to code and perfect). I won't do it again knowingly. Not at ANY price.

Amen to that one! Had an attorney in a big fancy expensive house, did some work, took forEVER to get paid. Letters from attorney and everything - it got to that point where suit was about the only option. Another contractor had got burned by her before, and she skated. It was her goal. Nothing wrong with any of the work. That guy did an unimpeachable job. I won't negotiate with terrorists though, I follow the Paulie Castellano school of negotiation: "F you, pay me". Unfortunately, law offices are some of the places that need me most.

 

[smalpierre]

Your government can't spend trillions and trillions and not create inflation. Everything's going up; way up. Don't blame subs, blame the idiots who voted the Democrats into office last year.

It's not so much the spending (they have to extort the money from the economy to "put it back in") as much as the moneyprinters going BRRRRRR!!!!

Price didn't go up. Value of the dollar went down.

What he said!!!

 

[Big Johnson]

Plumbers are the problrn here

It’s from sniffing all the glue. Although my electrical inspector told me that’s also common in his trade.

 

[smalpierre]

It’s from sniffing all the glue. Although my electrical inspector told me that’s also common in his trade.

 

[Big Johnson]

Yeah, this is my house - I don't deal with insulation in other peoples houses anymore. I was doing energy efficiency upgrades for a while, but I don't touch it anymore. Pretty much all I do is commercial - unless somebody wants to pay me to run data lines and fiber through their house. Or surveillance, I'll do that too. Also in Florida, near West Palm.

The insulation is so nasty - whats left of it ... Ideally I'd do a rewire with new panel, then deal with insulation. Surprisingly my utility bill isn't astronomical. My "joists" are 2x4 members of the truss, so R19 isn't going to be able to be decked over. But if I rewire first, there's not any reason to go up there. Just replaced the A/C, it's right at a year old. Batts though, if they're close in cost, are definitely a better option for me. I hate running the fluff blower, and prepping for it with baffles, and fanfolding around fart fans, can lights and that kinda thing - that sucks even more. It be HOT up there! People see the temperatures on weather.com and think "It's not THAT bad" .. but the solar intensity is so much greater down here, and the humidity intensify that a LOT.

When I re-roof, I'm seriously considering redecking with the OSB that's got radiant barrier on one side. I've installed that foil in customers homes before, it works wonders. Theres spray in too. Easier to apply, but doesn't work as well as the foil.

My insulation guy can blow in 2000 sq ft of R49 cellulose in an hour for under $1/ft.

 

[smalpierre]

My insulation guy can blow in 2000 sq ft of R49 cellulose in an hour for under $1/ft.

It's not just the blowing it in though, I kinda want to air seal everything, especially if I'm blowing it in. Some fanfold, foam gun, box around can lights, fart fans, foam up holes in plates ... but still - a buck / foot and 1 hr is outstanding! He wouldn't happen to be in WPB would he???

 

[Tom M]

Trade partners is a good way to view work associates.

I started with guys my own age then switch to older guys that were more reliable, experienced and consistent now they have been retiring here and there so replacements are tough. It's takes a few jobs to get to see how Each other operate.

 

[Tom M]

Its not uncommon for plumbers and electricians to work with another guy/company to handle a rush. I know a few plumber no longer interested in doing remodel work. They dont like being tied up when service calls come in. Like us or me, I'll have ten things going on at once or Im idle waiting on a variety of unplanned crap.

Because residential flows so poorly so guys stick to new work only. Its cheaper but easier work.

 

[kfreed]

You asked for a bid and got one. Can't blame the guy for trying. Plywood was $100 a sheet last month. Everyone is trying to figure out the price that the market will bear right now. And the old dogs remember that when things are really good you shouldn't get too excited; they'll get bad again. So right now is the time to do the gettin'.

Goldenview didn't like my prices last month. Told me he'd get back to me later. Came back a week later and the time was sold at the rate I quoted. Next year I might be calling him asking if he needs some work done and he can beat down my price then.

If you got the gear and the men this summer its time to get paid.

It's called price gouging. Since not a lot of work was going on last year, people put off home improvement projects. Trump then screwed up our trade agreements and materials acquisition became an issue. Once vaccines came out, people were feeling better and everybody got busy again, but the backlog has grown, so now it's a free for all. We'll remember who was doing the gouging when the bubble bursts again and the whining resumes. We see you. Since the window is closing again due to a new COVID variant and the man-children among us are refusing to get vaccinated, we'll be back at square one. If the backlog is too great, just be honest and tell people you're swamped and can't do it. Using this as an excuse to gouge other working people just like yourselves makes for bad business and enemies for life. The arrogance on top of that isn't endearing either. Personally compiling lists of decent guys making good pay, doing great work, and keeping them in my contacts. They've got our business for life. The get rich quick bros will be standing out in the cold sooner rather than later.

 

[kfreed]

I've told this here before but there is a framer here I used to work with that I sub to sometimes and I got a bid from him a few years ago and it was some crazy price, he's always high but especially that day. I said Damn man are you mad at me?? Lol

Je said I'm trying to feel bad during you here but you could always do it yourself if you didn't forget how.

He knew I needed it done and couldn't do it and priced it like that, and he got it lol

He wouldn't be getting it from me. Fairness is a two-way street. Ultimately, these creeps are gouging single-family homeowners, many of whom aren't exatly yanking bills off the money tree. It's especially galling when we're out in support of labor (because we are alos labor, but in different industries) only to end up with spit on our faces. What goes around, comes around. Be decent or be gone.

 

[kfreed]

Man power, staffing, volume etc... I'd love to do all the foundations, framing, cornice, decks, trim and cabinets for our builds but can't get em all

I would like to meet the one guy on the planet who built an entire house by himself. No, not the outhouse, an actual modern home. The so-called jacks of all trades here in the comments are suspect, to say the least.

 

[kfreed]

I get you on why waste the time aspect and we all need to vent, but like @sparehair said it's not always time to bring in the hay. Free market trade rules is get all they'll pay for it, hoss. The reality is he probably gets one in 5 of those jobs and is making great money

I personally haven't jacked my labor prices up, and on cost plus builds am still at 20% mark up. We all have our line and I know where mine is for cost vs what value I bring

You clearly missed the meaning of "free market." In the long run, the consumers you're trying to fleece will have the last word, as in NO. You see, a free market includes the people you're scamming. Fair wages, fair dealing, fair price or compete yourself right out of the market. THAT'S how he free market works.

 

[Tom M]

Trump tried to bring manufacturing back to the US so we wouldn't have shortages out of national security.

Provide a middle class job, support your own consumption and manufacture more responsible than the worst climate violators on the planet.....letting them do it all is irresponsible if that what worries some of you.
This is a manufacturer effort to slow down our consumption back to Obama's 1% economy. Because we consume and pollute too much.
Yes a little pain in the beginning was going to happen for the long term gain.

 

[kfreed]

You asked for a bid and got one. Can't blame the guy for trying. Plywood was $100 a sheet last month. Everyone is trying to figure out the price that the market will bear right now. And the old dogs remember that when things are really good you shouldn't get too excited; they'll get bad again. So right now is the time to do the gettin'.

Goldenview didn't like my prices last month. Told me he'd get back to me later. Came back a week later and the time was sold at the rate I quoted. Next year I might be calling him asking if he needs some work done and he can beat down my price then.

If you got the gear and the men this summer its time to get paid.

You mean trying to figure out the highest number you can pull out of your rear end before you get the boot. If you just charge for materials up front and acquire as needed and then calculate labor, insurance, fees, overhead, etc. there's no guess work involved. The BS is extremely heavy on this site. We can all check our own materials costs, you know. Ya'll are out of control. Reel it in.

 

[Tom M]

Part of the socialist plan is too force companies to pay more so the government paying people more than working is causing shortages in production in all industries.

It's demoralizing to the hard workers left picking up the slack not milking it
Of course it's more demoralizing if your in an industry like our where they suddenly don't care about a virus or suppressed wages with importing millions of cheap labor alternates to high taxes homeowners.

 

[kfreed]

Part of the socialist plan is too force companies to pay more so the government paying people more than working is causing shortages in production in all industries.

It's demoralizing to the hard workers left picking up the slack not milking it
Of course it's more demoralizing if your in an industry like our where they suddenly don't care about a virus or suppressed wages with importing millions of cheap labor alternates to high taxes homeowners.

There's no "socialist plan." Bernie and crew got booted. Your BS just fuels them, so knock it off. The remainders are looking at Dem primaries. By the way, we're out here defending labor while you spit in our faces. Dear leader Trump has always been a mob-connected goon and has never paid a contractor in his entire hoity toity life, hence the piles of lawauits. Get a grip. Then he lets a pandemic go unchecked and tells you to go ahead and drink bleach. You can stop with the whining. The crews here in Colorado are getting $50-$70 hourly in labor alone. Keep your crackpot theories to yourself.

 

[kfreed]

Price didn't go up. Value of the dollar went down.

Um no. Trump screwed up our trade agreements and let a pandemic go unchecked. Maybe stop intalling the lazy, entitled spawn of right-wing industry heirs. Every chance they get these days, they wreck the economy and drive up the deficit. You can set your watch by it.

 

[Tom M]

I can see you're not very bright making the country independent of communist Nations that can control our production in life is not screwing up.

It's also pretty clear you're not very bright if you think Bernie Sanders got booted because the green New deal is the infrastructure Bill and everything that has come with it open borders you.
As usual the corrupt media and lying Democrats use race and false propaganda to influence people into thinking they wouldn't get the green New deal that they would be moderate.