6 limes

Hi all. My family have more or less decided that Nova Scotia ticks most of our boxes however one thing still bothers my oh.
As he is a carpenter he spends a large proportion of his time working outside, on roofs etc. He would love to hear from some other construction workers how they cope in winter. Does work stop, do they work longer hours in summer to make up the short fall. Is it a hard physical life for those in construction type trades? Thanks in advance.

6 limes

Nobody???

Greenhill

If it's any help...they built a Holiday Inn here last winter. -20c out but it never seemed to stop them.

I suppose they just have additional tasks like covering stuff in tarps over night, clearing snow and keeping heat on things that need curing (i.e. concrete).

loose moose

...so long as there's work and no snow (on the roof, for safety reasons!) then construction workers are out there all weathers! just spent the last week watching a multi family development being framed even though it was -30 with wind chill

AmyDavid

My OH is a drywaller and is currently waiting to go back to a job at Bayers Lake which is an outside job.

When he was last on it, it was raining and snowing and really windy...and they were still expected to stay and get on with it!

So don't worry - just because its chilly here and rather snowey (specially today ) he will still have lots of work to do !

XCMTBer

We having a house built now, the winter does not stop the construction, just slows it a little. Framed and roof on in November and taking possession in March, so they will be working straight through the lovely Ottawa Winter

kirstya

So is my OH
They heat alot up alot of places he works in... Seal the buildings up with tarp and get huge heaters in.

6 limes

Do trades men find life harder in Canada than the UK due to the weather?
My OH is 46 and is concerned that working in extreme elements will be counterproductive to a "better " life in Canada.

AmyDavid

Yeah working inside is okay - its just put on as many layers as you can should you have the misfortune of having to work on an outside job! I think in Kelowna most of the jobs are housing aren't they? They are more commercial over here.

AmyDavid

It doesn't seem to bother my OH. Like another poster says - if your inside then they heat the places and most of the time you end up being too warm!

6 limes

Hi there Amy David. Hope you dont mind me asking, is your husband in construction? What is the work situation like at the moment? And is construction work easy to come by in NS. Thanks.

AmyDavid

Hi he sure is. He is a drywaller.

The work situation here seems to be good to be honest. I read a report the other day that said we were holding steady here whilst other Provinces were faltering and laying off construction workers.

I suppose it is because there was no boom here, it's just "normal" so it just continues like that.

My OH just phoned one drywall company, explained the whole LMO situation, went in and met the directors and was hired on the spot. Just get on the phone and if your coming on a reccie go into the offices and meet people.

jonjws

currently working with guys from nova scotia and apparantly there is no work there full stop unless u want to work in a mall, looks like they are wrong albeit they are masons so it may be true



john

AmyDavid

What is a mason? As in stone mason or as in the secret society? Confused It may also depend where in NS they are from?

Piff Poff

We have just had a sparky in to put some lights in for us and he said it was nice to be working in doors as it wasn't very pleasant in the -44 windchill weather we have been having.

(nice and warm at the mo though - we're in + temps).