When I was in high school in the mid-90s, trades jobs were looked down upon. Shortly after I graduated high school they took away shop and ag class. And this was in a small, rural, Missouri town of about 1500 people. The effects of that are showing up now. I'm a big fan of Mike Rowe, who promotes the trades. Our country needs to get back to it. It's what made us so great! Yes we need microchips, but without a roof to live under, running water to flush your toilet, or electricity to use the electronics the chips need, they're useless.

Ol dad

There was a reason that I was the GC on our new house as well as doing a bunch of work myself. Obviously, some jobs have to be farmed out, just too much for one guy to handle. You can't find anyone around here to do new construction plumbing, everybody seems to want to play in someone else's crap and charge an insane house call fee. Fired my plumber after he laid the plumbing for under our basement. I figured if he couldn't do something that simple correctly I sure as (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) wasn't letting him touch the rest of the house. Waited 2 months for the guy to come trench in my water supply line for rural water and dig the septic drain and the hole for my lagoon. One of his employees I would guess to be over 80, the other was in his 50s. The owner was probably in his 30s. I asked him where the young guys were? He said they don't exist and this world is in for a hurtin' in a few more years when the old guys are finally forced to retire, there is basically no one to take their place. Another new house went up down the road from ours at about the same time, I saw at least 2 major construction issues as they built it. Cheap, cutting corners work, that house won't be standing in 50 years and I am willing to bet on it.

When they opened the borders in the 90's the non licensed trades such as carpentry and masonry experienced a wage freeze. The south of the border folk would work for a lot less and work a lot more. Younger guys lost interest because the wages for the work expected didn't pay for citizens. It didn't effect the licensed trades such as plumbing or electricians as bad. I recommend any one getting in the trades to practice a trade that requires a license. It is inevitable that democrats at some point and take control and open the borders once again. To be fair, the chamber of commerce type of republicans enjoyed the cheap labor also.

For the younger folks wanting to get in the trades learn GPS as soon as possible. What a game changer.

I work at a trade school and believe the trades are becoming a trend now …. Kids are starting to figure out college isn’t for everyone,,, our programs are pretty much all full this year, 500 kids a day come through our doors ….

That's great news!

ol dad

I am 56 and learned a bit of GPS dozer this year, if the company has good surveyors and engineers, it will make them money for sure.

So the 24'x28' garage we framed today that was 1/4" out of square was okay? My boss is 25 , he will be a good carpenter if he sticks with it. He says I can't retire til I'm 82. His phone rings off the hook with new work.

There will be a big influx of hard workers coming into the workforce after all the nonessential Federal workers get fired.

I figure I can pick on the Federal workers since I was one for 30 plus years. I worked 12 years in the real world excavating business and tried to work just as hard while working for the Feds doing the same type work. I used to look forward to these shut downs because we always got our back pay, this time might be different.

I hate to say it but for most Crete guys 5 inches off isn’t bad, the form deal is one reason we always use a pumper truck even if we hire someone else to lay it we make them use one.

My oldest son is a master plumber and he stays covered up with work. He has alot of nice tools and equipment. He said he hears it all the time from people saying they can't get anybody to show up or answer calls. My middle daughter is a HVAC journeymen tech. She works for a company and is doing really well with it. My youngest son graduates from high school and we have been trying to convince him into going into the trades as well. He works for my oldest son and seems to like the plumbing trade

That's surprising if true. I would be embarrassed to be that far off even if it was just for a driveway. For a structural pour 1/2" would be bad.

But then again it's a sign at the times. Quantity over quality. I've measured out some new construction homes lately that are 8" out of sq.

Ol dad

Good for your kids! Best of luck to your youngest!

Ol dad

Yeah we’ve hung cabinets in new construction houses and they can’t be hung without blocking behind them to get close to square, we’ve even had to modify the face frame so we could install them, the best one is when contractors won’t put cabinets into an inside corner because it’s too far off.

When pot is illegal again, no cell phones on the job and the liberal mind set goes away, or until pride in our country returns and the 60 year old construction guys keep working into their 80 and train the up and comers it won't change!

Ive laid tile for decades now. Talk to me about out of square. Its out there. Im in total agreement that pride in a job well done at a fair price has been in the rearview mirror for some time now. I run across lots of younger superintendants that couldnt drive a 16 without bending it over but are experts at staying clean and operating a phone to tell any lie that will keep moving the job forward.

I run across lots of younger superintendants that couldnt drive a 16 without bending it over but are experts at staying clean and operating a phone to tell any lie that will keep moving the job forward. [/quote]

There is a name for those type superintendents, SUB BUSTERS!

I am dealing with one right now but a phone call changed it for now and when its over a letter.

Lol good luck Snap

Thanks JOCO Not my first rodeo.

Construction in Alaska is a small group of contractors in comparison to other parts of the country and those types get a reputation and aren't around long. Just painful until gone.