Home Improvement Today?

You should see how few people can read the tables on a framing square

 

...^^^... Unfortunately ... it has become more of a "Dog Eat Dog World" with the many GC'c seeking the cheapest labor possible.

I had a friend with the "BIGGIE CONTRACTOR" in the Middle East ... example .. USGovt pays GC $62.00 an hour for an electrician and it keeps getting subbed out 5 more times until the last unskilled guy from Libya get less that $2.00 an hour and the soldiers get shocked to death in the showers from electrical shorts.

It also happens here in Georgia with sooo many illegals working for $6.00 to $10.00 and hour and pay no taxes and the GC makes a fortune and exploits them too.

And ... when a problem arises with the GC ... they don't honor their word, unless they are under a "strict performance bond".

And with no Trade Schools in the US now and many getting their Masters at the University in "Basket Weaving" that find getting a job difficult.

We need a major revamping back to teaching trades in school again.

PS ... Good GC's are hard to find ..... and this thread has some good GC's to learn from too.

 

Reminds me of the showers on my first tour. Watched the electrician come to do some work to fix it, he took two bare wires for his drill and shoved them into the 220 outlet.

 

we had an aircraft mechanic couldnt read a tape measure...

 

You should see how many guys don't know whether to use common or rafter numbers on a speed square. It's gotten to the point I just give them the actual angle. There's almost no way to screw that up. Yet, somehow they do. lol

Stair layout is another thing that a journeyman should be able to do. Last guy I asked to lay out a very simple set of stairs couldn't do it. I went over and asked him if he had his stair gauges(square knocks to some). The look I got was priceless. lol

 

Got some wire fencing up to protect the neighbors rotting fencing.

 

Finally cleaned out the garage and built myself a proper work bench!.


QA Pupervisor approved!

 

What breed's your dog? German Wirehaired or Wirehaired Griffon? Or mutt. lol

 

He's a wirehair. Jail broke him from the pound a month ago and we've been best of friends since!

 

Thanks
Paid someone else to do it but ended up me doing it since I couldn’t afford to have it done twice.
But I’m happy with it.

 

$11 Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work

https://www.amazon.com/Shop-Class-S...ocphy=9032528&hvtargid=pla-452786773339&psc=1

 

Got some of our art hung this evening, we still have a few more pieces to hang and then if I have time before Christmas I’ll get the lights and switches installed, if not then I’ll get that done on my 2 week break.

 

Has anybody used Quikrete 50 lb. Fast-Setting Concrete Mix for metal poles? Does it work better without mixing as advertised or should I mix it prior to pour it.

 

When we set posts we wet the hole with the post in it, pour half a bag in, spray water and use a hoe or shovel handle to mix it (just by poking it) and then repeat until filled. It’s always worked for us.

 

Yeah I read for holes over 2' deep one bag at a time should be used/poured. Thanks for the info.

 

Got a small project done to our laundry room. Replaced the front load machines and giant cabinet and put in some top load and made a shelf for the back of them to cover the lines. Basic, but really changed the whole room.

Before:


After:

 

I like the shelf. But what is all the non-laundry stuff doing on it?

 

Installed a space heater in the attached garage which is becoming my wife's office. Lil bastard had it up over 70 in no time. Still need to repaint the door but I'd rather have a root canal then paint.

 

That's why I do all the prep for painting but my wife is the one that actually puts that shit on the wall. I don't paint. lol