Replies

1. 
   Piffin | May 04, 2003 06:48am | #1

   I've got a brother and a bil working in S Car, in diff cities. They both stay bust though things have slowed down some. It is a business friendly state and lots of yopurnger people moving there.

   But it also attracts a lot of the newer immigrant labor competing for work and keeping prices meager. You'll have to be able to differentiate yourself. Stand out somehow.

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   srvfan | May 04, 2003 07:15pm | #2

     Yeah I have heard that before.  When my mother moved there last year she said that pretty much all the workers were latino.  I haven't seen to many siding crews that were latino though. 

     I looked on the states web site about the licensing requirements and they were a joke.  Seems like all you need to do is pay some money.  Hey what's new? 

       Does anyone know what the going rate per square for siding is in the Carolinas & Georgia?

2. 
   FastEddie1 | May 04, 2003 07:31pm | #3

   I've got a brother and a bil working in S Car, in diff cities  Where?  I have relates in SC.Do it right, or do it twice.

1. 
   Piffin | May 04, 2003 07:54pm | #4

   Bro in Anderson, near Clemson.

   BIL in Charlestown, well, Goose Creek or Goose River just inland from there.

   The two are four hundred miles apart.

   I do hear that the Latinos are good workers and mostly on mud work liker sheetrock finishing and laying block or stucco.

   Don't anybody take this as negative comments from me. I think we need immigration - the legal kind..

   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   FastEddie1 | May 04, 2003 08:53pm | #5

   Interesting.  It's actually Charleston, that's the modern spelling.  Charlestown is the original spelling, back when it was created in 1670, and there's a historic display set up on what is supposed to be the original landing site, now called Charlestown Landing, on the Ashley River.  Goose Creek is probably what you're referring to, it's across the Cooper River.  Back when ther navy base was operational, there were a lot of ships in and out, lots of Trident subs.  The old bridge over the Cooper was a very, very high two lane affair that scared the **** out of us young-uns especially when going over at night after a few beers.  The bridge was built high enough so navy ships could pass under without a drawbridge...and that's high!

   Do it right, or do it twice.

1. 
   Piffin | May 04, 2003 08:57pm | #6

   I remember that bridge. Seemed like something from Disney world's space exhibit.

   Now I know why daughter's hospital was called Trident.

   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   ProBozo | May 04, 2003 09:21pm | #7

   I think the residential remo market is starting to take off.  More of the kitchen/bath/retrim type work, or add a door or window, basement finish/remodel stuff.  Some small additions going on, most single room, something like a den, or master bath/master bedroom, or a laundry room on older house.  Most additions under 500 sq average would be my guess. 

   New construction across much of the carolinas I have observed seems to be either high end - 400k, or low end starter houses about 1200-1500 sqft, around 95 to 120k$ dollars.  See few new subdiv's targeting in the 175 to 250k$ range.

1. 
   Piffin | May 04, 2003 09:27pm | #8

   Am I right that there seems to be a lot of young adults there just starting families?.

   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   YesMaam27577 | May 05, 2003 02:59am | #9

   Yes, there are a lot of young families. And I agree that there seems to be a gap in the price range of new homes.  Not a lot in the "middle" as noted. (I'm just a bit southeast of Raleigh)

   As for the latino/hispanic labor, many of the employers that I know actually prefer hiring them. Like most of us old geezers were when we were young, the latinos actually want to work hard, learn a lot, do the job right, and earn their keep. All that, and they work cheap too.

   Makes it difficult for a lot of "traditional" job seekers to compete. (But I think that Ross Perot warned us about that).

   As for the remodeling market, it has softened a bit this past year, as has the housing market in general.

   Vast projects should not be founded on half vast ideas.

1. 
   Snort | May 10, 2003 05:35pm | #10

   Residential construction here in Chapel Hill is in the doldrums, both remodeling and new stuff.

   NC has the fastest growing Hispanic population in the country. Lots of Hispanic construction crews, including siding, roofing, and framing. Appear to be very hard workers, but , seem to work to a different quality level.

   NC has also lost more jobs from companies moving south, than any other state.

   Still, beach 3 hrs, mountains 3 hrs, nice place to live. EliphIno!

1. 
   ClayF1 | May 22, 2003 01:44am | #12

   I've got a brother over in Raleigh and he's saying that they are starting to see their work sputter, where they usually are humming along. Apparently he still keeps himself in enough side work that he stays fairly busy though.  I guess he said about 85% of their buisness is doing renovations now. 

   I figure all those tract homes put up ten years ago should be ready to start falling apart any day now though. Could always rebuild those.

   My BIL down in Wilmington seems to be staying pretty busy though. He does HVAC. Wilmington is a great area if you want to be by the beach.

   If you do decide to go work anywhere in the Carolina's do yourself a favor and learn atleast a little bit of spanish. Makes life a whole lot easier. When I was down around where bucksnort is, twenty miles east of him in Raleigh, it wasn't unusual for me to be the only white guy on a crew of ten, or even larger. You better beleive I had to learn spanish.

   I still love it there, just came time to move away from home I guess.

3. 
   rebuilder | May 13, 2003 09:06pm | #11

   I live in western N.C. and business is booming. There is still a lot of crap construction going on, so when it falls apart, I get called in.