This how things get outta hand when SOMEONE can’t measure right..and NO it was NOT me. It was actually the steel supplier that screwed up.
I figgured it as being right from them, till we got it up and something just didn’t look right, I was supposed to be 8” from the outside of block..well you’ll see.
Bolted forks on the JD bucket and up we went
Used the sand pile under the tarp for just a little more “UP” than the bucket could reach
Now we are closer..almost there..and I sight the side to side distance and SOMETHING just ain’t right..
After all the re measuring, checking order sheets, head scratching,finger pointing, name calling and general cussin..let’s just cut it and quit bitchin.
See? NOW it fits..LOL
That was a fun morning, now the real work begins, getting all that wrapped in Cypress and a new roof deck, and reinstall the 75′ of raised panel parapet walls..whew..
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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You checked out on that Mexican smoky wrench?
Can trim a gnat's gnut with one.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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LOLI've heard of a Mexican backhoe but never a Mexican Smokey Wrench.+++Spring Break = Summer Broke
Hell on a crack pipe..lolSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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Your basic problem is the color of the equipment you use. :)
It beat lifting it by Manuel Labor tho.
Wadda I know, I'm a wood worker. Steel ain't no fun..that sucker was 1400lbs 8x8 thick web 27' long. Then it was 25' long (G).
Went pretty smooth, luckily, after the trimming.
Still need to lower the 28 joists and stucco cieling down and replace those 5 rotted ones with LVL. This is one overbuilt mofo.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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Is that a level along for the ride, last photo? Man, you guys really are a precise bunch...
Actually it was, magnets are my friend, I figured the loader could carry the extra weight..saved me from toting it up the scaffold..gotta work smart, not hard. LOL
The old beam pocket under the jacked up joists was TIGHT, and the loader wasn't too smooth hydraulically. One smack into the new corners could hve got ugly, the forks were only 4" longer than the beam was wide..and the corners are concrete and rebar filled, so the beam would have helicopted..thats how I finally jiggled it in.
This is the long term place I told ya about, all the windows and doors rebuild, all the exterior trim being rehabbed. I got a few more yrs. there if i don't find my senses and quit there. Hell, it's almost year already since I started.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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D,Looks like a good project.Nothing wrong with a long term job that has all of the equipment you need and the owner lets you work at your own pace.You may have mentioned before, but how long a commute?
Have you talked to Hogan about the Cypress?Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood
It's a 40 mile trip each way, about half interstate..so it works out 45-50 mins ea.way. I charge road time one way for 40 miles and over, so it helps w/fuel exp. and van repairs, wear and tear.
I have not contacted Hogan, but did locate a Co. called TinyTimbers, in Indiana, as I get closer to the woodworking aspect, I'll begin ernest shopping.
My own pace..well, yes and no, these are some of the most challanging folks to work with I have ever met, See You had enough sense to walk away, but I got to feeling sorry for them ( no other contracter would deal with them) and stuck it out this far. What they call a loss leader in retail, is whatthey are to me, I am charging new and some previous customers MUCH more, but this job has a long term "fill in the holes" between other work..and they too, don't have any hurry, so I can come and go, they come and go..it is working ok so far.
The biggest hurdle I have there is I am doing 99% of it solo, and I can't take on help, with it being so intermittent, and I don't want to have the "help" on some other jobs, I don't need a FT guy ( or my wife) , just an extra pr. hands now and again, the HO's here are kinda helpful, but more often add to the confusion.
Anyway, I am there as long as I choose to be..I have no less than 5 other jobs going on right now, getting spread a bit too thin for my likes, but I hate turning down lucrative work, and with my pricing strategy, I though I'd lose more bids, but not so..seems I am in demand...so far.LOLSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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Duane-- You ever filled a small balloon with oxy-act., tyed off a fuse to it and lit it up, "caution wear ear plugs " boy I tell ya what a blow! fun things boilermakers do to each other .
small balloon with oxy-act
Trash bags make more noise.
Enuff to have the police around looking for whatever.....
Joe H
Upside down pop cans work too.!Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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i would not reccomend that, combining oxygen and actylene under pressure may cause explosion without ignition.
heard in a safety class about a guy who had a little cutting project at home and decided to combine the two in a small portable propane type container. when it exploded not only did it kill him but it also blew the roll up doors out, like they were a balloon.
you may not get enough to kill yourself in a balloon, but if you get the proportions just right you might be able to ring your bell real good.
How do you arrange such a long, multi-project project? T&M, individual contracts for each phase, or?
Thanks"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
About 50/50 T&M and contract. With these particular folks.
My Time is also variable as to my "hat" I am wearing, lets just say consulting/planning is xx per hour, carpentry is YY per, and high risk ( roofing, life threating work) is ZZ per hour.
I can't justify charging the same rate for sittin on a stool heat gunning paint off of trim on saw horses in the shade, listening to tunes, drinking cold sweet tea....as I would teathered to a roof and wearing a 3 pt harness, 30-40 feet off the ground.
Kinda like that tool belt is $$, that toolbelt is $$$, and THAT tool belt is $$$$. LOL This guy and wife want EVERYTHING T&M and really are sticklers for absolute BEST, I mean 70 dollar hinges for casement windows , that may never open, being 3rd floor attic dormers..that kinda wonky people. They dont CARE how long it takes, just tell them how much per hour you want, and they try to whittle that down..cat and mouse games.
Alot of the window /door restorations I bring back to the shop here at home, I either tell em its gonna be 800.00 per or "I have X amt of hours at X rate" I make it work out about the same either way..I can do that, being as I pretty much count on a total rebuild and know how long it takes me to do it..I have done so many it's old hat.
Now on a total different long term job I have, they want either way of pricing, such as that bookcase I recently made and installed, I just bid that fairly, and keep them happy, they have yrs worth of other work already lined up for me, mostly restorations as well..old trim, shutters falling off, rot repair, and tons of window rebuilds. Then thier family and kids see whats being done and THEY call, it snoballs. I installed a simple handrail in two hours one day, and walked away 500.00 ahead..but those are rare.(G)
Probably breaking some unwritten rule of engagement, but my customers become friends for long time, I still keep in touch with some from 8 yrs ago when I go back and visit NC, and phone calls/emails..I like it that way. Good friends are good to have.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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That's an interesting way to pricing. I've often thought about that, charging a varible rate depending on what it is I'm doing, but I still charge a flat rate regardless of what I'm doing. Though sometimes I wonder if I might be overpricing myself out of a job. This year in particular there have been a number of jobs I wanted, but didn't get. I keep busy, so I guess that's what matters most.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
One thing I have found, it is very hard and for me, uncomfortable even, to try a price increase on/with this type of long term deal.
I mean my CODB ( cost of doing biz) and COL is going up, so I need to boost where I began when I started last yr. These folks are adamant about NOT WANTING to pay more, so, I show up less, and let them realize they need me, more than I need them.
A short letter emailed to every customer expalining a COL/CODB increase of 10% from where they are currently is in the works, and these folks may, just may hit the roof..s'ok by me, I am the only one who knows how all this goes back together, and it is highly doubtful they can locate someone willing to work for them on thier terms, and if they DO find that someone, he/she will either be way more expensive than I am ( if that is possible) or vastly naive in tackleing such a nightmare for less.
Livin on the edge brother, on the edge. Good for you if you are losing a few, I'm TRYING to.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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I've got the same kinda deal on my old Victorian, for the lady who bought it. I worked PT from July until the snow got too deep last year. She gives me a list, i get it done. She called last week, decided to go ahead with some projects we spoke about last year, since she's decided not to sell the house and go bigger for now. I was kinda hoping to work on my OWN place this year....ah, well. I'm going to have to raise my price 10% to cover increased driving costs, since i don't charge for that time as you do. Gonna be working some longer hours, too.
I wish I had more work closer to the shack here, but the $$$ is up in horse country, a vast difference between there and here in population and number of homes that are being maintained well or restored.
After 3 yrs of copper work and gutters, I began to lose sense of my true love and now I get to open up anew, and thankfully some of these jobs were from work I had done with Grant, and the folks ( one I just started Wed.) call me years later to handle something he and his guys don't do. Yet another job I was checking on Monday, was one of the first roofs I had done for Grant, the roof was fine, it was a tree guy recommended me for other tasks.
I'm hitting a stride that is as good as I could ask for, I hope it continues. Expansion pains are not far off, I really need a shop size increase in the worst way, doing a temp outdoor tented porch deal this weekend..arrggh.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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<<Expansion pains are not far off>>There are a lot worser problems! At the height of my woodworking business, i had four employees at a time in an 18x40 shop. It worked bec they were mostly PT and i worked 80 hours/week, so they were seldom all there at the same time.Re your reluctance to raise rates with customers you've already worked for: I don't want to charge top dollar bec i like the leeway to ponder the best solutions instead of the fastest ones, and she's willing to trade an inability to pressure me for an eventual good job done at the price we agreed on. I don't get pressured and she doesn't get any nasty surprises, is our compromise. As long as i'm upfront with her about my hourly wage this season, there won't be any problem. She's a business woman herself and although she negotiates very well, she's also very honest and so am i so we've always gotten on extremely well, starting with the time we signed a contract for her buying the house from me over margaritas. Neither one of us needs the other - it's just about perfect and an excellent mental outlook from which to base negotiations over one's compensation.
"I don't get pressured and she doesn't get any nasty surprises, is our compromise. "
That's pretty much how this one is, they are so far, very happy, and I am doin OK with the rate for now. Being as I have a lot of freedom , they follow my advice almost without question. And the real beauty is I never had any issue with an invoice being scrutinized or held up, or checks being NSF.
And with the state of uncertainty of our general economy, a bird in the hand and all that..helps too. I know that next winter, I am gonna be inside and warm if I so choose.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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I know that next winter, I am gonna be inside and warm if I so choose.
Pretty much all i require. That and popcorn. ;^)
Ok, yer hired (G).Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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Can my employee come? LOL...
My 15 y.o. who blew me off for the last two weekends called and wants to work this weekend; he must have burned through the $200 i paid him. I said no, i don't work outdoors when it's 40* and raining. Next weekend? No, he has graduation. OK, the weekend after? Well maybe...he'll get back with me. Kids...
sure..the more the merrier. lol
Been one of the most pleasant springs here this year, in the past few yrs it seemed to go from "Brrrrrrr, to Damm, it's HOT" overnight, this yr has been actually spring like for a few weeks now. If thats climate change, I'm cool widdat.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
New book alert; Eckhart Tolle "A new earth"
A must read.
All the fruiting trees here are like Doud's, just stuffed with blossoms. Even my little guys are putting on a show this year. I have a few bees - they look so funny in their little down jackets - doing some pollinating, but there are these moths that descend precisely at sundown all over the flowers, all at once. Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the moths of pollen!
Same here. Blossoms are over ,mostly. First hay cutting happening..atchoo!, Atchoo!
I know the lush and verdant is temporary, we'll be in the hazy hot and humid soon enough. As I like to say, "it's not the heat, it's the stupidity".
I got two weeks of coasting along pace, then back to fullspeed ahead..gonna savor it, and toil on MY house some.
BTW, the kids are a HOOT..Malo and Flan are sporting leather Bling, Ivory and Antney got colors red for black Antney, and Black for Ivory..dey likes dere collas. Antney goes to Pa 6/6 Looks like I an keeping Ivory and Carly too..it'll be 4 for here. Leash lessons and potty training is well under way. They camp inside if it rains.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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New book alert; Eckhart Tolle "A new earth"
A must read.
I'm not at all looking forward to work on the Victorian this year now i'm so fired up about the Miller casa these days. I've turned down some other work, but it's hard to say No to working on my old house.
I'm also afraid of what will happen if i don't do it...she might get her idiot SIL to screw it up again. 2x2s Piffen-screwed to the turned Vic posts was his idea of porch railings. She'd backed into one of them with a PU unloading a couch...bless the makers of Bondo.