bobspread
Well-Known Member
Why wouldn't you turn up in your van,many times I've priced jobs on the way home and got the job because they know I've been working and they said the other ones who priced it didn't look like plasterers
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- Thread starter putzy
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Why wouldn't you turn up in your van,many times I've priced jobs on the way home and got the job because they know I've been working and they said the other ones who priced it didn't look like plasterers
user_removed
Well-Known Member
Well that's where I probably differ to others, I'm a sole trader but I treat myself as a business/company and work towards expanding all the time.
i have a decent website, a decent name, own outright 2 newish vehicles sign written up, approved by 3 render manufacturers (properly), paid for training 2 mm30s got hilti guns, Bosch 5kg breakers, proper tools that cost a lot of dough.
I don't earn millions but I do ok, ok enough to buy myself a house, been hard but it will be worth it, if not, fook it, least I tried.
have a double garage converted into 8 bays to try new renders on, things I haven't used before to see what they set like, get use to different gear.
constantly looking into new ways to bring work in, constantly looking at new products & how they work.
i get invitations to tender commercial work a lot but don't want site work, I'd rather Jack.
eventually when I have enough work to employ somebody full time, drip feed every aspect I know and will learn in the next few years and take it from there.
im not interested in sitting back earning £xxx I want to push on, I'm probably not the best plasterer or renderer, but I ain't gunna sit back and not give it a go, you get out what you put in.
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one of the most eye opening threads in a long time...
Prices are always a sore subject but have to agree, renderers are taking plastering to a different league and you see a lot more plasterers working better at pr and marketing... @Wezly has showed that being ocd with cleanliness works wondersHave you seen his van????
I agree!!! I get as much work from being clean as I do the quality of work. That's not to say my work isn't to a good standard but people have the perception all plasterers go in, blitz the place and walk out leaving it looking like a building site. Not me, can't work in a mess and leave it like I'd want someone to leave my own house.
As for my van, simple but stylish sign writing and well organised and clean inside and out. Who wants what looks like a scrap van sat outside their house??!!!
I can something when I need it as it has its place. Easy.
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good luck to yer mac:RpS_thumbup:
the 1 thing I will say is crack on as much as you can with it all before starting a family as kids don't half kill your enthusiasm and drain you energy and surplus money/opportunity's!
user_removed
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't have kids until I was in a position to pay for the fookers.
im not bragging or being big headed, don't wish to come across that way.
But you can earn decent money, by working smart
im not bragging or being big headed, don't wish to come across that way.
But you can earn decent money, by working smart
Rigsby
TPF Special Forces
Like Owls once quoted, 'Don't work hard, work smart".
When you get older you have to work smarter to survive. Get the others to hack off and do all the carrying. I now try to just get machine work, the thought of slapping mud on a wall with a trowel scares me.
Save your joints!
user_removed
Well-Known Member
Yeah I heard that about 10 years ago, problem is with others I don't trust others, got a couple who come subby to me 1 40+ other about 50, couple of labourers who I don't think would make the transition smoothly, nice guys I have a lot of respect for them and I hope they don't try and fook me over like others my age have done in the past.
ha and then you get to ltd corporation tax and vat and employing people, multipull decent projects on the go.
then getting sleepless nights not worrying about you getting paid, but worrying about how your going to pay other lads.
user_removed
Well-Known Member
Well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, if I come to it.
at the minute, keep plodding on doing what im doing, iv used the winter, quieter times this last 3 months to good effect priced a few ewi jobs, if I get 2/3 this year and an increase in mono to 7/8 then I'll be well happy.
Took your advice though from a few years ago when I was moaning about plastering and you told me to do something about it :RpS_biggrin:
Last September I looked at a Mono rough cast job,the customer said he had already had a price of £2000 off some eastern lads. The measure was 95 metres ,so I said let em crack on. I came back to see the work and it was mint,apparently 8 lads turned out beading,masking setting up the machine etc and knocked it out in the day,all with a Diesel pump.
I can't and don't want to compete with that.
I can't and don't want to compete with that.
nickelarse
Private Member
I'm confused. Why does everyone think plasterers earn bad money?
Like i said they were easy days. Im certainly not charging a day and I dont charge half days so 2 days it is.
nickelarse
Private Member
Charge 2 days and hurry up
raytheplasterer
Well-Known Member
I'm in between sites at the moment and checking some firms I worked for previously for work, I came across this from a firm near London, it's an App for rates !! what it does is basically open the surveyors book for anyone to see with measurements for areas and corresponding prices, not heard of such a thing, good idea I reckon. http://www.stanmoreltd.co.uk/news.php?id=28
johniosaif
Private Member
Do you need to buy this app,what are the rates like?
raytheplasterer
Well-Known Member
no it's for people who are working for them at that time, they send a code to access it if you ask them for it, I think it shows you the technical drawings for areas and breaks the prices down accordingly, like a surveyor would see, good idea, spose the rates are given to you or you measure it yourself.
I was a moron on site for 20+ yrs, now I,m a moron not on site, ooh lala. I can say emphatically I ended up on this forum by accident really whilst looking for a new trowel choice, and not to pick anyones brains at all although I have seen a few tips that may be helpful in the future , just like reading the banter to honest:RpS_biggrin:.
Putzmiester
Active Member
I run a small render company with 3 of us most of the time and sometimes using the odd subbie if things get a little bit busy,but to be honest I earn more money with just 1 gang,we do work for small builders and private clients and it can be controlled nicely ,site bashed for years before starting a company and it always provided a good ish living but was bloody hard work ,I think to earn a descent wage from this game you have to be in control of what your doing,get a good rep,and alway treat each job like it's your own house.Like it said above work SMART lads
johniosaif
Private Member
Thought I had heard of them before but no first hand knowledge
ditto,
i had 8 of us at one point = 3 gangs, and now 4 plus subbies yet i make a better living with 4 than 8, due to less fixed overheads plus you get more than 5 on your books your insurance goes through the roof plus you need a designated trained first aider etc.
Putzmiester
Active Member
I agree owls we also had more guys last year but no one cares like you do it's just hassle you spend most of your time running around,dealing with snags ect so your own productive time gos down we're just doing one house at a time with every gang member doing there bit and me taking the odd day away to do paperwork.and price
it works for us but maybe not everyone.
it works for us but maybe not everyone.
Rigsby
TPF Special Forces
Thats me. I have to go on refresher course every 3 years. But drive past a road accident and if someone else is giving first aid I carry on. Always have a first aid in the boot though.
I was practising cpr on my lab day before a refresher course and someone got off a passing bus to offer help. Thought he had had a heart attack lol.
are you sure you were practicing cpr with your lab, your odd types down there in south Yorkshire. :RpS_unsure:
user__removed
Private Member
I think he meant to say practising a 69er
that's the stage I was at, I suppose you get to that level and you push on and build it up, but I never did.
but yes the hasstle is unbelievable and as you say your not making a wage yourself as your off the tools, you have one lad off more aless at any given time, or a week of rain etc and your all sat around scratching your arse. in better weather you make serious money but bad weather you loose serious money, 30 grand plus cash flow to tide you over.
I might build it up again some day as fortunately im in my mid 30's and have time on my side, but at present im not arsed with it and the agro.
thebearbeef
Well-Known Member
The heat making the walls pull in to quick
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