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Discussion Forum

Is it easier….

Oak River Mike | Posted in Business on June 5, 2008 02:51am

…is it easier to be a tradesman like say a roofer who only has to manage one specifc aspect of the job or the GC who has to do it all?

I mention this as I had the roofer I know put a roof on my parents house and it was “get in, get done, get out”  Pretty straigtforward and simple.  I am jealous of that kind of work.

Yet with the GC you can get muddled down in so many small aspects that turn into headaches.  Even the estimating side of the roofer is easier as he can give you a price right then and there while the big picture side cannot.

Now I just use roofing as one example but I am thinking maybe the other trades are like that as well?

Thoughts?


Edited 6/5/2008 7:52 am ET by Oak River Mike

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  1. jjwalters | Jun 05, 2008 03:35pm | #1

    It is no doubt easier in the sense that you have less mental challenge to deal with........but you are limited.

    I chose carpentry because of the vast field it provides.......

    a longer, never ending learning curve, but not as boring......

    .plus it's easier to find work in bad times cause you wear so many hats.

    Being a GC has always been a royal PITA to me, but at times a nice switch off when you get older.

  2. Bowz | Jun 05, 2008 03:52pm | #2

    Thoughts?

    Easier, perhaps. But I would see similar downfalls to each. How many roofers make it to the level of Hazlett? And how many GC's make it to the level of Piffin, Mike Smith, or Sonny?

    Problem with being a single trade is you end up pricing on a commodity level. Problem as a GC is convincing yourself, and the customer how much you need to charge for the service you provide co-ordinating a bunch of commodity prices, whether you do them or you sub them.

    I think those above, and a few others, have mastered the service/commodity ratio, and the ability to produce it, whether as a single trade or as a GC. 

    Bowz

  3. User avater
    Ted W. | Jun 05, 2008 03:55pm | #3

    The irony is that the simple roofer often makes a lot more because of the streamlined process. What's more, said roofer can hire others to do most, if not all, of the heavy labor.

    I'm in the wrong end of this business. :(

    --------------------------------------------------------

    Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.net
    See some of my work at TedsCarpentry.com

  4. Jim_Allen | Jun 05, 2008 08:54pm | #4

    Some trades are much better suited to be "one man bands", which sometimes results in a very easy business. A roofer is a good example because often they might do a roof in a neighborhood, then get five or more roofs on that same block.

    An electrician might do a small job in a neighborhood and have such small exposure that he'd get nothing. So, he has to put on his marketing hat and drum up leads.

    Easier is relative. I'm currently GCing and I find it to be gruesomely hard. It's not my talent. I'm out of sync with my talent, so I say it's hard. For me, contracting a 5000 custom frame job was easy.

    I am diligently working on making my GC business "easy". It will happen.

    Bob's next test date: 12/10/07

  5. DanT | Jun 05, 2008 09:54pm | #5

    I think the answer is yes.  We do a good job with bathrooms.  If we were in a bigger area (36k town, 50k county) that is all we would do.  It allows streamlined approach, you can shop your materials and have your folks trained professionally all because of the limited scope.  The only issues would be code changes and new products.  DanT

    1. Oak River Mike | Jun 05, 2008 10:00pm | #6

      Yeah, I have thought along these same lines with other specifc niches like counter tops or such.  Just do one thing and well and it would streamline.  Just never found that niche for my area.

    2. Oak River Mike | Jun 05, 2008 10:08pm | #7

      DanT,

      And I have to add there is something attractive about being in an area with the numbers you quoted.  Small town living might be kind of nice.  I am in a 340k town and 1.2 mil county.  Little bit crowded.

  6. MarkMc | Jun 05, 2008 10:10pm | #8

    Define GC

    If your a Carpenter, get a large project and you sub out the roofing, gutters, etc; well, your engaged in providing the services of a GC. And speaking from my own experience, it is a PITA. Why? A General Contractor is a full time profession.  

    It wasn't until I made my trade secondary to my role as a GC that I was able to provide the focus required to serve your client.

    In other words, I had to hang-up my tool belt.

    Don't get me wrong, I still strap it on, but only when it's fun and I can afford to use the time in that way. I only have so many hours...........so does it pay for me to walk a top-plate setting trusses or is my business, my client and my other trade partners better served by me hiring a good Carpenter @ above scale and get my fanny back to the office, returning calls, bidding, running down invoices?

    In reality, a GC is a business person. The product provided is a predictable outcome completed with impressive service. And that's an all day job.

     

  7. MSA1 | Jun 05, 2008 11:16pm | #9

    Depends on what you mean by easier. I'd rather point at a roof then roof it. When I GC there is alot of responsibility but I think it pays off.

  8. segundo | Jun 05, 2008 11:38pm | #10

    have you ever considered bidding on government projects? i know the government likes to do business with small contractors, they will help you get started etc.

    i know some people that are government contractors are idiots, and that if it weren't for government contracts they would quickly be out of business.

    typically to get started you will be a specialty contractor, in other words the govt won't look for a small contractor to GC several buildings being built, but you might get in as the painter, roofer, window and door installer, etc. once you have done it for awhile and build up your bond capacity with several successful govt jobs then you may be able to GC govt contracts.

    in some areas small govt contracts can be very lucrative frinstance in california where prevailing wage is over $50 per hour on some crafts you have to bid and pay prevailing wage rates to the help. if its just a 2-3 man operation you are one of the ppl making over $50 per hour plus a percentage of all the associated costs of the job as a profit. (govt contracts specify that the contractor make a profit).

    so if you hire your brother in law and nephew and get them to kick back pretty good money. 

    i forget the website, but there are free websites (don't pay just yet) where you can find out what jobs are up for bid. 

  9. renosteinke | Jun 05, 2008 11:47pm | #11

    If you want to be in construction, but have absolutely no trade skills, cannot be bothered to show up on time, or at all, have questionable ethics, and can't stand the thought of dirt getting on your clothes, become a GC. (Just kidding!)

    More seriously, look at it this way: the trades are the orchestra, and the GC is the conductor. It's all about where your own talents lay. A lot of guys do well in the trades, in part, because they lack people skills, enjoy an 'alternative; appearance, and like leaving work at, well, work. Such types probably would not do well as a GC.

  10. Hazlett | Jun 06, 2008 02:06pm | #12

    oak river mike-------
    it is definitely simpler---and potentially more lucrative---but i doubt it is easier

    pricing is simpler because i deal with a limited number of materials and can keep up to date pricing in my head

    and- i can do a large volume of lucrative work with lower skilled employees---compared to say Stan Foster

    but you are exchanging one set of headaches for another ----------untill a few days ago I have been working from 5:00 Am untill approx.7-8:00 pm.
    even assinging the most demanding physical tasks to younger men---it's still incredidbly physically taxing-----and to keep men working--you have to "push theenvelope" a bit---in ways that expose you to physical and financial risk that say, framing carpenters do not face

    gotta run,
    stephen

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