Small time VS Big time

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Rossi46

Rossi46

Private Member
I’ve tried and failed over years to actually build something solid I could happily call a ‘business.’ Apprentices being a let down, subbies being a let down. Somehow I always end up back just me and a mate because of the shite you have to deal with when you rely on numpties.
Employing good lads is the way to build a proper business. Although finding someone good enough to employ is near impossible. Subbies are come and go. Generally don’t commit to anyone unless they’re absolutely useless.
There are plenty of business’ out there with flashy websites spouting shite that their lads are all qualified and employed etc etc most are talking s**t and they’re just chancing their way through with random subbies.
Is it even possible to build a business in Plastering anymore?! Where you are running jobs while your lads do the graft and make your money?

Just wondering is all :whistle:
 
zombie said:
Mate...i can't even get time served 3oyrs in game spreads to leave there work right and clean up after themselves without a complaint from customers...

Plasterers are F*****g nobeds full stop!!!
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Amen to that mate :sisi:
 
Plasterer is either s**t, egotistical, wants two hr day ,very busy ,promises I'll get to you, then need two more days here ,held up etc etc etc , goes on daywork and sits on the job, can't solve any problem, fights with the builder,fights with other trades, calls everyone acnut
 
Gotta agree with the op , I’ve read and heard people saying they do it but honestly can’t see how it’s true , on plus side Rossi mate at least you’ve tried mate and know for real
 
Also for me I think it might be me that’s the problem, no one seems to want to work with me for more than a few days
 
I’ve come to realise it’s a dead end job for me, I got to the stage where I needed other people to help me on jobs but the hassle and stress wasn’t for me, I’m just a dead end subby now, going absolutely nowhere can’t be arsed anymore. I find the big time guys to be nasty liars and the small timers rough and unreliable.
 
I’d a lad about six months with me,treated him right picked up at the door and dropped at the door.Told me last Tuesday he was finishing cos it was too cold and we were going too early in the mornings.Back on my own now I went in today just to make sure the job is completed on time.
 
Good thread for me this!!!

I've has a mixed year but I've come to the conclusion sadly just easier less stress on your own!!!

Loneliness is the devil for me though...

2018 I just need to learn to say no when I've got enough work and not be afraid to loose work due to being booked up further than people want to wait!...

For example starting tomorrow I'm working 14 days on the bounce...only myself to blame...but I F*****g hate it when let myself get backed into a corner!!!

F*****g hate plastering when got to much to do!!!
 
As well it’s worth saying that there is no shame in just being on your own , work most the time and earn a living , just look round at other people walking to there s**t in an office job no light or joy for them either and there is only so much someone can earn before they go insane
 
zombie said:
Good thread for me this!!!

I've has a mixed year but I've come to the conclusion sadly just easier less stress on your own!!!

Loneliness is the devil for me though...

2018 I just need to learn to say no when I've got enough work and not be afraid to loose work due to being booked up further than people want to wait!...

For example starting tomorrow I'm working 14 days on the bounce...only myself to blame...but I F*****g hate it when let myself get backed into a corner!!!

F*****g hate plastering when got to much to do!!!
Click to expand...
Every new year I say to myself ‘it’s all going to change this year’ ‘ I’m not taking on too much and killing myself anymore.’
Been saying that for the last decade :rayos:
 
Rossi46 said:
Every new year I say to myself ‘it’s all going to change this year’ ‘ I’m not taking on too much and killing myself anymore.’
Been saying that for the last decade :rayos:
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Jinx, lol
 
Financially I try and stay on an extra hour on site and pick up a good job for a Saturday £200 cash for me yesterday for two sets builder supplied materials. I just turned up with my tools (y)
 
Think i need break from plastering and more importantly from working for myself!

Think it would feel like had weight of world taken off my shoulders or perhaps it go back Skippng to plastering and remind me of the good aspects of the job/life style!
 
Is this a common time of the year for plasterers to get the blues and feel like this? I’m sure coming toward the end of a year and a holiday in sight the brain decides it doesn’t want to take part anymore.
 
I see that’s the pattern- work for people- people working for you- work for your self. I worked for people, got gang/s working for me and now on my own. Left site work few months ago , it was secure job money was good, but I couldn’t go forever like this. All the craziness, responsibilities and rush rush rush was killing me tbh. Said it many times I’ll f**k**g leave all this one day and finally did it. It looks like a step back at the moment, financially, but I am way more relaxed, sometimes too relaxed tbh - takes double time to do things, but I am in no rush . Aiming to leave good job and enjoy what I do.Thats all .
 
It's finding a good balance,i have three top class workers,problem with two of them is getting them out the full week,they enjoy the weekends,plastering is not in my opinion a job for one man,we have all done it,but things flow way better with a good 2 or 3 and 1 squad with everyone pulling their weight,the cold weather definately doesn't help an already demanding hard job,just work harder to keep warm[emoji857]


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vfr12 said:
I see that’s the pattern- work for people- people working for you- work for your self. I worked for people, got gang/s working for me and now on my own. Left site work few months ago , it was secure job money was good, but I couldn’t go forever like this. All the craziness, responsibilities and rush rush rush was killing me tbh. Said it many times I’ll f**k**g leave all this one day and finally did it. It looks like a step back at the moment, financially, but I am way more relaxed, sometimes too relaxed tbh - takes double time to do things, but I am in no rush . Aiming to leave good job and enjoy what I do.Thats all .
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Are you back on the domestic scene then?
 
johniosaif said:
Plasterer is either s**t, egotistical, wants two hr day ,very busy ,promises I'll get to you, then need two more days here ,held up etc etc etc , goes on daywork and sits on the job, can't solve any problem, fights with the builder,fights with other trades, calls everyone acnut
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:maraca:
 
Num1spread said:
It's finding a good balance,i have three top class workers,problem with two of them is getting them out the full week,they enjoy the weekends,plastering is not in my opinion a job for one man,we have all done it,but things flow way better with a good 2 or 3 and 1 squad with everyone pulling their weight,the cold weather definately doesn't help an already demanding hard job,just work harder to keep warm[emoji857]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Don’t blame them with having there weekends to themselves keeps them happy. Plastering is a s**t job.
 
Went out last night and actually socialised for a change , at the meal my mate who in trade for 35 years was there not chatted to him for about 10 years, anyways I said you still running round like a mad man he surprised me tbh said no, told me he doesn’t set his alarm in the morning no more and just wakes up naturally then goes to sort his day , made me feel loads better as I been doing that for a while

Gods honest truth I think it’s a sign of success and happiness
 
Vincey said:
Also for me I think it might be me that’s the problem, no one seems to want to work with me for more than a few days
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I've always known it was me the problem. I didn't come into the trades for money, I love making it but rarely know what to do with it. Buy more tools, more boots, pay bills, groceries. I'm not tops on that stuff I get confused. Numbers and tested were easy in college but I got bored easily. I do this work cause I love it, doing it to the best of my ability. It fires me up. I make a decent living, lots of days out the door by 7 to get home at 22h. Not complaining, I chose this lifestyle. Yes I'm the problem but I'm my own solution

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Rossi46 said:
I’ve tried and failed over years to actually build something solid I could happily call a ‘business.’ Apprentices being a let down, subbies being a let down. Somehow I always end up back just me and a mate because of the shite you have to deal with when you rely on numpties.
Employing good lads is the way to build a proper business. Although finding someone good enough to employ is near impossible. Subbies are come and go. Generally don’t commit to anyone unless they’re absolutely useless.
There are plenty of business’ out there with flashy websites spouting shite that their lads are all qualified and employed etc etc most are talking s**t and they’re just chancing their way through with random subbies.
Is it even possible to build a business in Plastering anymore?! Where you are running jobs while your lads do the graft and make your money?

Just wondering is all :whistle:
Click to expand...
I think it depends how big you want to get.
Personally the most guys I had was nine plus myself, but more often four or five. I worked on the tools the whole time, sort of leading by example.
All my guys were on a price and good prices at that! I was 'lucky' in that I had lots of regular ongoing work and could offer the right guys work for twelve months ahead or more. This encouraged them to keep standards where I wanted them, well most of the time.
Nowadays I'm happy to be just working with my son and the very occasional subby.
I don't know if that helps you at all, the only other thing I'd say is something I said in another thread, and that is;
if you have a dream don't give up on it!
Good luck whatever you decide to do.
 
essexandy said:
I think it depends how big you want to get.
Personally the most guys I had was nine plus myself, but more often four or five. I worked on the tools the whole time, sort of leading by example.
All my guys were on a price and good prices at that! I was 'lucky' in that I had lots of regular ongoing work and could offer the right guys work for twelve months ahead or more. This encouraged them to keep standards where I wanted them, well most of the time.
Nowadays I'm happy to be just working with my son and the very occasional subby.
I don't know if that helps you at all, the only other thing I'd say is something I said in another thread, and that is;
if you have a dream don't give up on it!
Good luck whatever you decide to do.
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Nice one Andy (y)
 
Owls has a good idea on how to run a plastering business.

2 local chaps became very wealthy and employed men for very long periods. Lou employed 100 staff all self employed, which he ran with one QS. he always said that 50 men was the most anyone can look after. he always paid his staff every week without fail. the large London based developer he contracted for payed out every day. his turn over was huge and he purchased his own builders merchants so that he could have materials delivered on time at the cheapest price.

the other chap Archie employed about 200 most were direct employed with a bonus system. a complicated system where you where paid in hours per house and the extra hours that you had earned where split 50/50 with the firm. you could have a firms van with fuel and it would be charged to your gang . payments where made every week without fail, so that suited some people.

Archie always had about 20 plasterers that he was trying to get rid of, but the union would get them reinstated.
lou and Archie have both now dead therefore there umpteen small firms trading.
 
johniosaif said:
Plasterer is either s**t, egotistical, wants two hr day ,very busy ,promises I'll get to you, then need two more days here ,held up etc etc etc , goes on daywork and sits on the job, can't solve any problem, fights with the builder,fights with other trades, calls everyone acnut
Click to expand...



Most trades are like this. Most ive met havent a good word to say about anyone. Its like if they think they dont slander people, they wont get work themselves.
 
zombie said:
Good thread for me this!!!

I've has a mixed year but I've come to the conclusion sadly just easier less stress on your own!!!

Loneliness is the devil for me though...

2018 I just need to learn to say no when I've got enough work and not be afraid to loose work due to being booked up further than people want to wait!...

For example starting tomorrow I'm working 14 days on the bounce...only myself to blame...but I F*****g hate it when let myself get backed into a corner!!!

F*****g hate plastering when got to much to do!!!
Click to expand...



I know the feeling. Have alot on but still cant turn more down. Sometimes i think im superman ffs and can fit it all in. Will have to work now untill xmass eve ffs and after xmass, all steam ahead again :(
 
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