I’m considering a move this fall and want to see what’s going on in or around Boulder, CO. I’ve been doing finish carpentry lately but have also done Timberframe design, cutting and erection. I’m fully competent in AutoCAD and have been doing sub work for an architect here in Nantucket. I’m very serious about my work. I can and have run jobs both big and small, always with great results.
Is there anyone in the area that can give me an idea of the work situation. I’ve heard that the Denver area has been booming for the last few years. Are there builders out there doing good quality work or has this “boom” been taken over by the big boys just churning them out?
Thanks in advance-
Casper
Replies
I've heard that the Denver area has been booming for the last few years. Are there builders out there doing good quality work or has this "boom" been taken over by the big boys just churning them out?
Casper,
We live 20 miles south of Denver, still lot of work around here, but it is slowing down. The Boom has been taken over not by the Big Boys but by the Cheap illegal Mexicain & South American labor force!
Counted 102 help want adds in todays Denver Post under the heading Construction/ Crafts-Skills -Trades.
Theres work, but the Illegals have made it hard to make a living by bring the pay scale down.
Thank you for your insight. I guess carpentry has become one of those jobs "Americans don't want to do" anymore.
Casper
If you would like, E-mail your address & I could put the above adds in the mail for you, my current email address is on my profile page.
After college (2002) I lived in Evergreen, CO for a couple of years until my girlfriend wanted to go back to school. Evergreen sometimes gets labeled as a snootier community, but I had a great experience there despite being much younger than most.
Evergreen is just west of Denver in the foothills. I had a great job while I lived there building foundations all around the foothills. Based on my experiences, many contractors in CO want to pay you as a 1099 guy, but there are some legit guys out there.
Unless you really want to live in Boulder proper, I would suggest looking more into the mountains where your timber framing experience might come into play a bit more. But Boulder always seemed to have quite a few higher-end contractors around. Good luck.
My now-fiancee graduates this spring and hopefully we'll be headed back out that way at the beginning of May.
BTW, make sure you get a ski-rack on your vehicle before you head out there or everyone will know you're not a NATIVE. ;)
Casper, you must be my twin. I'm also 32, finish carp and foreman, fluent in Autocad (I do design work on the side.)
Before I moved back to Maine from Nantucket, I looked pretty seriously at moving to CO. It's a great place to visit, but from what I found the pay and the quality of work were a few steps down from what I was used to on Nantucket.
On the island I subbed to Main St Construction and Nantucket Building Company. I'm sure you're used to the 1099 thing. From what I found, wages in CO were a little more than half of what I was used to. I was looking more in the Breckenridge/Vail/Winterpark area. Maybe pay is better in "the city."
I can probably dig up a lead or two up in the mountains if you're interested.
Good luck,
Mike Maines