Construction Labor

[M R Dux]

Last time I was in south Florida, if you spoke English you weren't working in residential building trades. My F-I-L flipped a bunch of houses and the language barrier drove him out.

[doggone]

I have worked in the HVAC and plumbing,pipe fitting,controls sector for 40 years.I grew up in a Mom & Pop plumbing and heating business,and moved on to work as an installer,service tech and manager for some larger companies,worked as an estimator bidding and designing large commercial jobs. Having been so exposed to the different trades and having at times needed labor for major projects.It occurred to me after a time the construction industry as a whole is a little different than a lot of jobs because it requires you to know something and do something physical.You must also be able to work outdoors in the worst of weather,and to be mobile and take your show on the road. Having to think and perform in an office or "controlled environment" with a familiar routine is one thing.Having to think hard and work hard when the it's blowing snow at 20 degrees, or in the blazing sun at 100 degrees in a place you have never been in your life is quite another.

It just takes a certain kind of person.And even those who are pretty good at it will decide its too tough and work their way out of it a lot of times. The new housing side was always the least profitable sector in all the companies I worked for. And the guys who did the new houses usually got paid the least.

[huntinslabs]

Last time I was in south Florida, if you spoke English you weren't working in residential building trades. My F-I-L flipped a bunch of houses and the language barrier drove him out.

That is correct in south Florida ( lil Cuba)

[huntinslabs]

I have worked in the HVAC and plumbing,pipe fitting,controls sector for 40 years.I grew up in a Mom & Pop plumbing and heating business,and moved on to work as an installer,service tech and manager for some larger companies,worked as an estimator bidding and designing large commercial jobs. Having been so exposed to the different trades and having at times needed labor for major projects.It occurred to me after a time the construction industry as a whole is a little different than a lot of jobs because it requires you to know something and do something physical.You must also be able to work outdoors in the worst of weather,and to be mobile and take your show on the road. Having to think and perform in an office or "controlled environment" with a familiar routine is one thing.Having to think hard and work hard when the it's blowing snow at 20 degrees, or in the blazing sun at 100 degrees in a place you have never been in your life is quite another.

It just takes a certain kind of person.And even those who are pretty good at it will decide its too tough and work their way out of it a lot of times. The new housing side was always the least profitable sector in all the companies I worked for. And the guys who did the new houses usually got paid the least.

This is spot on except the very last sentence. Our residential division is far more profitable than the commercial/industrial division. And our residential electricians on average make more per year than the commercial guys. Even with the swingshift and night shift rates.

[RetiredRR]

After we learned our home had sold, we started looking at new homes, pre-owned homes and decided quickly to find a contractor that used American men that
were good at what they did and had pride in their workmanship. Yes, the cabinet maker is retired but still enjoys working at his pace. We hired him. Our long
time air conditioner man will install our heat and air in our new home. The contractor is young and rearing to go with having built his own home and several for
others. We checked them out and liked his workmanship. His attention to detail and ability to adjust to changes in stride was my kind of man to work with.
His suggestions were well received by both my wife and I and we feel comfortable with his ability to build what we wanted. He will not employ non English speaking
people on his jobs. For a young man he is qualified to do his own inspections and installations of electricity and plumbing. He is accustomed to working from sketches
made on the kitchen table and was very receptive to my plans I had drawn up on the computer. I feel comfortable and he wants to use our home as a reference for
others to see his workmanship. I won't say I have the most critical eye, but I know enough to recognize when something ain't right. I do ask questions when I see
something that I'm leary about. I have friends that will be watching the process that have retired from the building business. We watched and videoed our current home
being built and are ready for the challenge. We know what to expect.
We will be camped out next to our home being built and will be watching over the inventory while the work progresses. Win win for us.

[huntinslabs]

Sounds like you found a great contractor RR. I hope your home is a place of dreams. We get several applicants every week that dont speak a word of english. I talk to them in the interview until their eyes glass over. Then I go and get our bi lingual dispatcher and have her ask them how
If hired he planned to communicate with the english speaking project managers if he cant make it through the interview. They know then their goose is cooked.

[Cray]

My B I L is a contractor. He had 13 crews of Mexicans because he could not get anyone that wanted to work. When the recession hit most went home and have not come back. He has 4 crews now and does what he can with them. Can't find any Americans that want to work. He has taught himself to speak Spanish so he can keep his business going. All his guys are documented and pay taxes and SSI.

[huntinslabs]

I refuse to learn another language to speak to someone working here. Should be the opposite. If I decided to move to another country I would not expect them to learn my language to communicate with me.

[Redge]

I refuse to learn another language to speak to someone working here. Should be the opposite. If I decided to move to another country I would not expect them to learn my language to communicate with me.

X 2!!!!!

[Special K]

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for the idea of immigration and the ole' romantic notion that "America is the land of the free and home of the brave" and all of that... and "give us your tired and huddled masses"... I really do get all of that and I try to embrace it... we all do... but this whole assimilation thing is one that definitely needs some clarification and much more oversight on the parts of the empty suits in Washington, as well as with US Department of Homeland Security.

I mean really!!! Again, in San Bernardino California a family of immigrants successfully migrated to the area; took jobs with a government supported or sponsored entity; made friends and acquaintances in and around that environment, which was comprised largely of people who were themselves in need of specialized care, including all of its associates; were able to stock pile weapons, (including weapons of mass destruction) and simply wait until some special event took place (a Christmas party in this case) that brought a sum certain of people closely together; and then they politely excused themselves from among "so called" friends and co workers (who suspected nothing); only to return fully adorned with body armor and sporting automatic weapons; at which point they went about their real agenda of killing as many people as possible in what can only be called a merciless massacre of innocent people NO MATTER HOW YOU TRY TO SPIN IT.

I MEAN REALLY!!! Does anyone really think the Syrian refugees will perhaps be any better at providing Construction Labor (or anything else) than what some of the other undocumented immigrants have been to the economy and to the country as a whole??? I don't see it or get any of it. I KNOW: LET'S OUTLAW GUNS!!! REALLY!!!