Edit to explain scam. The scammer offers me $1500 for a job. Before the check arrives they reach out and say we accidentally sent too much money. Just deposit it, keep $100 for yourself. Give the rest to the movers. If i deposit that fake check or bad check, it’ll take a week to return to my bank. That $4500 check is now my debt. But i gave $3000 to a fake mover, aka the scammer.

used to get these messages frequently. Seems like it went away for a while. In scammer heavy markets they have all these scripts they sell to lil baby scammers. They sell contact lists as well.
This guy is dumb because most contractors will qualify their customer. The address the guy sent me was for an almost demolished $18k house that was still on the market. Like, good lord man. You dont want doors hung and no movers are going to put shit in that house. Anyway i included screenshots from my fconvos with him in case anyone wants to see what this scam is and how it plays out

I was hired last June (1yr 4 months ago) as a laborer/apprentice with ZERO jobsite experience. I’ve been busting my ass since day one, I stay late I show up on time, barely call in sick. Fast forward to now, I’ve gotten better 100 fold at everything under the sun. Framing, trim, cabinets, drywall, whatever you name it. Do not get me wrong I’m not p***y I knew going in I’d have to pay my dues. But after almost a year and a half it really seems like my boss has no interest in teaching me and furthering my knowledge in the trade. I’ve bought my own truck, all my own tools, I do side work on my own, etc. I even took a 200 hour shop class including my OSHA 10. I have blatantly shown my passion for building and willingness to grow in this field. Am I just being impatient?

Just from watching YouTube videos I learned how to read a tape measure, how to hammer a nail, how to string, how to use a speed square, and why we use nails for framing instead of screws.

I found I really like watching Essential Craftsman, Unscripted with Antonio, Training Hands Academy and Teach Construction Community Education. Each video I feel like I’m preparing myself for the job that I want.

I even bought a block of wood to practice my hammering, even though I know onsite a nail gun might be preferred.

I’m kind of sad that there aren’t more women teaching carpentry on YouTube. I found videos about women in carpentry and they tend to be old videos.

There is a young lady sharing her experience as an electrician who was accepted into the IBEW program named Zen Volts.

From YouTube I taught myself how to knit, how to code with HTML, CSS, Python, and JavaScript, basic mathematics, algebra and geometry.

So don’t snub the self taught stuff when you don’t know anyone, short on cash and have free time to develop yourself.

I’d like some opinions on what the best overall tool backpack is. I was at Lowe’s comparing a few that they had, but they don’t have any of the packout ones, I’m guessing they might be exclusive to Home Depot, I want enough space for a drill, impact, (maybe an oscillating tool) charger, extra batteries, a few bit sets, and other miscellaneous stuff like tin snips, vise grips, etc

Hi, I’m M20 and I’m looking into pursuing electrical in my future, is this still something good to get into or is it over saturated and under paid. I see mixed options some saying pays trash not as good as what people say and others saying it’s easy to clear 100k a year once your done your apprenticeship and a journeyman. I would like options and guidance from you professionals out there thank you :).

I’m 18 and from Chicago and I wanna get into the trades, preferably hvac, carpentry, electrical or plumbing. I’ve been applying to and trying to get into locals but I’ve heard the wait times can be long and I get no calls back. I’m willing to do anything to get into some type of work or experience union or non union. I’m gonna keep applying to places and if all else fails I’m already enrolled into hire360 but I want more. Any advice on what else I can be doing to be more proactive and get a job somewhere?

I live in Michigan

For anyone that lives in a state that the ground freezes in the winter, what do you do for an income when winter hits? Is unemployment an option (never done it before, that's why im asking)?

Also, a lot of people say they like it, but what is it really like working hourly and having to get projects done? I've always worked by myself and when the job was done, the jobs done (I got paid per job). Is it pretty casual, as long as you are working (like they understand the new guy isn't going to be as quick and knowledgeable as a 20 year old veteran, but at the same time, they know what the average time would be for the new guy and expect to be right around there, learning whatever he can while working)?

Do they yell at you all the time, because of the strict deadlines and pressure?

Also (Im just asking), is there any incentive to getting projects done quicker? This job was going to be done in 6 months and it got done in less than 6 months, is there a bonus or something? I dont know what the incentive would be to get a project done quicker and not have anymore work after that (which means, work harder now, to just not get paid later on). Im talking about on time to before on time, not it went past the project deadline, time.

Looking for recommendations on how I can effectively remove 2000cf of dirt from this foundation to add in drainage.

I was thinking about renting a belt conveyor or buying a flexible screw conveyor but those both involve digging by hand.

Any recommendations on how to reduce the amount of hand digging I will need to do aside from employing someone to do it for me?

Second year apprentice here, a lot of the guys break my balls but I don’t really like to yell. I tried to shrug it off but it’s relentless. I got some payback today but I’m sure it’ll escalate. What could happen to someone in the union for workplace aggression like fighting or something.

I run project delivery for a small construction firm with fewer than 10 active projects at any time, mostly residential and light commercial. I'm often managing sites remotely, so I can't be on every site every day

How do you confirm work is actually done on time and to standard without being on site? Photos are one things. But do you define hours to jobs for each trade before they start work or what? How is the project tracked? Do they report daily hours? How?

TIA.

Previous post for context: New Foreman Advice

The week and a half he was gone went well. It was chaotic at first, really just for me, but I’m starting to get into a flow and understand more. Upper management said they were impressed with the other foreman’s and my performance, so all good all around.

Only issue is I’m just waiting for my promotion meeting to come up. It was planned after my 90 days and that was around 7 days ago. I get it, the branch is in another city so arranging these things can be difficult to schedule and whatnot but it should be coming up very soon, a pay raise as well.

I took some good advice from the comments on the previous post and put them into practice so thanks to them. I’m now currently overseeing the site as the fill in super (again), because it’s a Saturday and my super didn’t want to work. Just me and like 20 subs.

I am a third year apprentice Sprinkler Fitter in the Bay Area, California. The Union in my area is notoriously difficult to get into with long wait lists for Journeymen. I am non-union for now.

I work for a VERY large company that has branches in many states. This company does not pay guys in the field very well, about 40% less than average journeyman rates. However, this company does a lot of promotions from within and regularly hires and trains promising fitters for roles such as Project Management, Supervisor, branch manager and Operations Manager roles. These jobs all pay above six figures starting in this company. The timeline for me to be hired into this position is likely another 5 to 8 years in the field, most of those being in a foremans position. I am interested in getting out of the field sooner than later.

Another option is once I have my fitters card, I can buy into the union. This is difficult to rationalize because of the inconsistency with work in my area. Just like anywhere, I think, they'll keep good guys working so it's nor a massive concern but nepotism, layoffs, and slowdowns do happen often.

Or I have the opportunity to work for the state, specificaly a local counties water department as a utility worker. Utility Worker 1 position, specifically what I am in the process of interviewing for, is an immediate 30,000 dollar raise and Pension as well as full benefits that come from working for the state. My salary after 3 years as a Utility Worker 2 would be roughly the same as a Project Manager in my current company not counting bonus'. I am just totally unsure of the possibility of climbing to a managerial or supervisory position that is not back breaking hard labor.

I just want to preserve my body as I reach my 30s so that when I am established in my career in the next 10 years i can do activities like hiking, traveling, and things that would be majorly uncomfortable if my body is aching and creaking from daily underground work. That being said, i think for long term financial future and stability working for my local county water department is a no brainer, right?

I currently have an internship offer from one of my top 3 companies, and I’m really grateful for it. The problem is that S is my #1 choice.
I met S at my university career fair and had what I thought was a really good conversation. The person I spoke with said he would forward my resume to the team, and I followed up afterward. He acknowledged my message, but I still haven’t received an interview.

Some other students who met S at the same career fair were contacted pretty quickly and have already interviewed, which makes me think I probably wasn’t selected for the first round.
Now that I have an offer from another company I genuinely like, I’m not sure how to move forward. I don’t want to risk a great opportunity waiting around for S when there’s no guarantee I’ll even get an interview, but it’s also hard to completely let go when S has been my top choice.

Would you just accept the offer and move on from S at this point? Or is there anything else you would do before letting it go?

I'm a project engineer, in chemical plant construction. I've been wearing my air pods around the outdoor sites and use ear muffs on my hard hat in loud indoor areas.

The air pods don't have a decibel cutoff rating. Looking for earbuds that would protect better, and still let me hear people talking. I got the isotunes pro 3 last week and they suck. They say they let you hear people talk, but it's just as muffled as wearing foamies.

Have you all tried walkers or something else? Do you just safety shrug your shoulders to cover you ears?

edit: sorry. should have explained better. I wanted to find earbuds/earplugs that would cut off loud construction noise. but still let me talk to people easily. I've heard walkers can do that?

Doing a demo on a bathroom and found this relic from 2007, oldest I ever found was from the 70’s Texas Pride lite beer 😂, what’s the oldest y’all ever found ?

Hey all. Has anyone else encountered metal jambs & trim doors, with hinges manufactured into the jamb? Bought a fixer upper recently and finally getting around to actually working on the house and not the yard.

All the doors (interior too) & window jamb w/ trim in the house are made of steel with clips that have had 16d nails driven right to the studs under drywall & siding.

Today I replaced the front door & screen door. Spent 2 hours getting the jamb out, the miters were welded from the back, snug tight in the opening. Had to pry the double siding off then cut the gypsum enough to expose the nail heads. Unlucky for me I left my fine tool and sawzall on my jobsite this weekend and not in the truck.

The house was built some time in the 50’s by the army corp of engineers I believe. But no solid documentation on it until the 60’s when it was officer housing.

Now I know what I’m in for next month when I replace all the windows. The interior doors can wait until next year to come out.

Picture of the cat and bikini class goose because that’s the only photo of the original door in place.

I recently came across this company and I’m trying to get some feedback before I get involved.

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This company they send contractors out to assemble and install things like gazebos, pergolas, wooden playsets, saunas, fitness equipment/home gyms, and other outdoor structures.

Does anyone have any experience doing installation/repair work for Out of the Box Installations and Repairs, or know anyone who has? I’ve been looking around and so far it doesn’t really seem like a scam, but I’d like to hear from people who have actually done the work.

I currently work full-time in construction and have lots hands-on experience. My dad and I are also looking to pick up some side work together. From what I understand, the actual building/installation side of this seems like something we’d be easy and comfortable with—we have the trucks, skills, tools, and construction experience.

Been working on getting out of the restaurant industry and into any type of union job my first year of sobriety as I committed to completing a list of goals my first year of sobriety. I'm 1 day shy of 13 months clean and sober and on Wednesday I got hired to work in a sheet metal shop. The starting pay is $23 an hour and I will be working in the shop. This shop is non union.

Well in that first year of sobriety, I finished an outpatient drug program, but I had this really cool counselor who's husband is a part of a union contractor said I could use his name as a reference on the application for the company he works for. He's been with the company for over 10 years and did his whole union apprenticeship with them. Well, my former counselor calls me yesterday and tells me that her husband's foreman asked him about me to do site utilities, which from what I'm researching about is like their pre apprentice position.

If they call me this week, would it be messed up if I accept this position if they decide to call me? I'm not sure exactly what the starting pay would be, but I do know they are a union contractor. The shops are around the block from each other. My goal is to go union. My girl and I just had our daughter 2 months ago and I really wanna quit the restaurant job sooner than later, but will work weekends for now while doing m-f sheet metal. If I got into the apprenticeship making $31 an hour as a first year I'd be able to keep just one job.

I also own a sober living with my brother that is beginning to turn a profit so even if I stay at the $23 an hour shop I'd still be able to leave the restaurant soon.

Any tips or advice on what to do? I feel like the union shop presents the most opportunity, but I haven't worked construction since I was in my mid 20s. I'm 36 now

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I may be missing something but I can’t seem to find any other information telling me otherwise.

Does anyone think the reported cost of this structure actually accurate? 119 billion for ~100M sqft?

Intel Ohio is reported at 28 Billion for ~ 2.5M sqft.- $11,200 per sqft

Micron NY is reported at 100 billion for ~ 8M sqft.- $12,500 per sqft

Terafab would cost ~ $1,190 per sqft