Roland Hulme

Lucky sod. It took FOUR YEARS for mine.

bevinva

It is not only new construction that is slowing down. People are not putting as much into home upgrades as they were a year or so ago. Many contractors are without work and I suspect the laid off construction people are taking side work for cash.

One way to get your name out there if you are working for yourself is to try and get work with real estate agents who need work done on houses they are marketing. This gets your name out there with homeowners who refer you to their friends, word of mouth goes a long way. Be prepared to wait until real estate closings to be paid sometimes though.

old curly

Thanks for all the Construction related responses!

It appears that its a similar situation as in England. All the people responding that have never spent 1 day on a building site think that all tradesman in USA are non-American, but responses from people who know what they're talking about say its mostly the Labourers, Painters etc. Believe it or not, this makes a big difference.

Thanks again.

basementwaj

i read elfmans timeline and nearly cried...... 2 years of tress.... and four for you!

Poor us

meauxna

That's the second time I've seen you say that.. what the heck kind of process did you two DO?


erm.. if it was long enough ago that you worked with the INS, it's a fair bet that things are different now.


pssst... 33 days petition to visa here. USC wife, UK hub. <g>

old curly

You're a funny little man aren't you.

Your wife has a degree? Wow, you must be proud.

So let me get this straight. Nobody is allowed to earn as much money as you, and particularly not as much as your wife?! Why not? She only makes about $50,000?? My boss was a bricklayer and now runs our residential building company, he makes around £180,000 per year remodelling houses. I dont think you know what your talking about.
I have a friend who is 25 years old, he's a plumber, he makes about the same as your wife (in sterling),on a bad week.

Also, I think that it depends on who the client is. There are decent people in more middle class areas, who have plenty of money, and want their house to look nice. They pay good price for good work. We work for these sorts of people.
Then there are people like you.

Bob

It's also a different market, if you can get the same skilled labour willing to work for a lot less, which is often the case around here with the hispanic work force your going to make less money. And unlike in other countries, being in a trade doesn't get you a visa here. Each state also has different requirements so what might apply for you in one state might not in another.

Ray

But not in TN .....

frrussre

You will go far with that attitude. I am not in hands on construction, but have a great knowledge of the building sites in 4 States. Can't wait to see your face, when it all happens & if your lucky, non union will offer you $13 an hour.
Bless you. Good luck, welcome to The New World.
Reg. Frank R.

frrussre

You should try out for plumbing, highest paid workman in USA.
Of course you have to be willing to do a bit of cheating here & there, you know change the faucet (Thats what it is called), when it only needed a washer. Hope its a Sunday & they have a minor leak $463.00.
You have it all worked out. Good for you.
Frank R.

scrubbedexpat099

You are not a Labourer, Painter etc.

But you are non-American.

PS: Does anybody know what the US eqivalent of the JCT Minor Works contract?

scrubbedexpat099

My wife likes HGTV, now is it me are the Contractors mainly white and the workers, well not so.

old curly

Im not saying I expect to earn loads of money right now. $13 per hour is an expected starting rate. Im saying that people that dont have Degrees and top dollar eduacation can still earn good money and theres no reason why they shouldnt be allowed.
No, not as a Carpenter starting their first day with a new company. Im saying that In years to come, I could be running my own projects. I may even buy land and build houses to sell them and make profit. Im sure this will produce more money than what you are quoting.

I think there are many narrow minded people here.
To put it in very simple terms, Im saying that people without a degree, who choose not to go to work in a suit and tie, to push a pen, are also allowed to earn good money. Difference being that its by working with different tools. Think outside the box.

Im Shocked that when posting a question to find information regarding my trade, I get an insulting reply saying that nobody in my area of work is allowed to earn as much as their wife.

I think I know the kind of people on this website now.

meauxna

Have you even tried contacting some of the tradesmen in the area you're looking to move to? Looked up the Contractor's Board (CCB) to find out what licensing and insurance you'll need? Looked at the comparative wages for jobs on offer now?
This listing (courtesy the 1st reply in the thread) is offering $10-$12/hour:
Looking for a motivated person that has a good work ethic. Someone who needs to be versital in all aspects of carpentry from framing to finish. Serious inquiries only. NO DRUNKS OR DRUG USERS, Reliable people only. Must have transportation and handtools. Needs to have a working knowledge of carpentry and building. Pay ranges depending on knowledge and skill level. Be ready to work 40hrs possible more.

meauxna

Buddy, I think you misread BritGuyTN's post *completely*.