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what jobs are not wroth taking

catwelder

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2016
Messages
383
Location
north carolina
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welder
currently the local DOT has about 8 road project going on mostly paving and expanding well there is one large road expansion that the bid hasn't came up yet but its know what's going to happen. my town hates this idea and it be a good project to do I cant bid on it because of well i don't have the proper equipment to do the scope of work it involves. If i could would it be wroth it take on one of the most hated projects the town has had in 17 years and possibly be a hated contractor or just stay away and lose out of the bid?
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,432
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
BLS stated a lot there, Prevailing rate will hang up a good many as to cutting corners.
 

CM1995

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Jan 21, 2007
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13,250
Location
Alabama
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Running what I brung and taking what I win
What's the estimated contract amount?

Bid bond will be 10% of bid and I'm sure a 100% performance and payment bond will be required.

Then there's licensing, equipment owned or leased, labor, management, cash flow, wage rates - etc, etc.

Now the question posed - "Would you take a project that wasn't popular in town if you could?" - If it's a good job that fits my skill set and is profitable, absolutely.

Once the project is done there only be a few old farts that still bitch about it.:D
 

crane operator

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,275
Location
sw missouri
I got invited by a customer to make a trip to Texas about a year, or two years ago.

Right about the time it was all in the news, about the battles over removing old confederate statues, they had a contract to take a statue down in texas, and couldn't get anyone local to touch it, none of them wanted their crane on the site, for fear of vandalism, news pictures, or such from either side. I was super busy at the time, they would have rented the crane, and just wanted me to come down and operate it for them, and run the small project. I didn't have time for even messing with it.

I could see the local crane outfits not wanting to touch it, I think its silly for them to take down the statues. Its a memorial to guys who gave everything, for what they thought was right, no matter what our current political problems/ correctness says about them. I was glad I was too busy, and that I wasn't so hungry that I needed to think about doing it. Somebody else got paid to take it down.

Somebody is going to do your road project, I would be like cm1995- the bigger question (for me)would be can I make $ on the project. I don't have deep enough pockets to bond a huge state project, and its not my gig at all, but if you are set up to do something like that, I wouldn't let local opinions change my mind on a project. State $ is state $, and they are going to turn it loose for bids, its going to get done even if people are against it.

I've been involved in some projects where people were upset about what was going on, I'm not going to get into a argument with anyone on a jobsite, I'll let the sheriff sort that out.
 

Jonas302

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2015
Messages
1,197
Location
mn
Somebody's always mad about something that part isn't going to make any difference to the way a job is bid
 

thepumpguysc

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Mar 18, 2010
Messages
7,445
Location
Sunny South Carolina
Occupation
Master Inj.Pump rebuilder
Interesting thread.. I know the folks that do the Hwy grass cutting.. You know the ones that have the big signs, Mowing next 10 miles on the Hwy..
They didn't own so much as a PUSH MOWER till they got the Hwy bid.. Lol.
Then it was spend spend spend that money..
 

thepumpguysc

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Mar 18, 2010
Messages
7,445
Location
Sunny South Carolina
Occupation
Master Inj.Pump rebuilder
I'm doing a "job not worth taking" RIGHT NOW.!!
Perka-Piller inj. pump seized, snapped the shaft & in-turn, spun the key in the pump drive gear..
NO WAY to get it out.. The dr. shaft is c-clipped to the inside of the pump..
I has so much back pressure force on the pump, it broke the c-clip & I was able to get the pump off the shaft.. So now what.?? Nothing left to do but remove the water pump, remove the rad so I could get a "better" swing to drive the shaft out.. NOPE "that" didn't work..
So off comes the timing cover to get the gear out so the shaft can be hydro. pressed out..
3 broken bolts later & the shaft is out of the gear.!! Total of 9 hrs & $200.00 in my pocket.. Dam my azz hurtz.!!
I "quoted" the job before I knew what the deal was.. & now they're holding me to it..
 

DMiller

Senior Member
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Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,432
Location
Hermann, Missouri
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Cheap "old" Geezer
Anytime the job 'expanded' for me so too the rate. All Estimates were based on conventional work, if it got deeper so too the pockets.
 

thepumpguysc

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Mar 18, 2010
Messages
7,445
Location
Sunny South Carolina
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Master Inj.Pump rebuilder
Under "normal" circumstances that's how I would do it to..
No money, laid-off, helping a friend, has to take a loan to get it fixed.. THEN, HAD TO pull the front of the motor apart.. broke 2 bolts.. I helped remove the rad. & all the goodies, front supports, water pump..
ALL No charge.. this'll be my 3rd trip to put the pump back on.. I sleep good at nite.
 

catwelder

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2016
Messages
383
Location
north carolina
Occupation
welder
What's the estimated contract amount?

Bid bond will be 10% of bid and I'm sure a 100% performance and payment bond will be required.

Then there's licensing, equipment owned or leased, labor, management, cash flow, wage rates - etc, etc.

Now the question posed - "Would you take a project that wasn't popular in town if you could?" - If it's a good job that fits my skill set and is profitable, absolutely.

Once the project is done there only be a few old farts that still bitch about it.:D
i think for the dirt work of they have a company going and logging and then the power company is moving the poles so its from middle of town to some little country town. its about 10 miles so 5 miles for both sides I think they put a value on the dirt work as it sits after everything is moved as it should about 350k. the tree guys got al the trees, power company for poles, then any demo is rewarded to another contractor. so the dirt work is expanding the road 20 ft on both sides to add another lane for cars a bike lane and a sidewalk. dirt contractor just gotta remove stumps, reposition driveways, break a few unmarks. I don't have the equipment to do that or the people.
 

catwelder

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2016
Messages
383
Location
north carolina
Occupation
welder
I got invited by a customer to make a trip to Texas about a year, or two years ago.

Right about the time it was all in the news, about the battles over removing old confederate statues, they had a contract to take a statue down in texas, and couldn't get anyone local to touch it, none of them wanted their crane on the site, for fear of vandalism, news pictures, or such from either side. I was super busy at the time, they would have rented the crane, and just wanted me to come down and operate it for them, and run the small project. I didn't have time for even messing with it.

I could see the local crane outfits not wanting to touch it, I think its silly for them to take down the statues. Its a memorial to guys who gave everything, for what they thought was right, no matter what our current political problems/ correctness says about them. I was glad I was too busy, and that I wasn't so hungry that I needed to think about doing it. Somebody else got paid to take it down.

Somebody is going to do your road project, I would be like cm1995- the bigger question (for me)would be can I make $ on the project. I don't have deep enough pockets to bond a huge state project, and its not my gig at all, but if you are set up to do something like that, I wouldn't let local opinions change my mind on a project. State $ is state $, and they are going to turn it loose for bids, its going to get done even if people are against it.

I've been involved in some projects where people were upset about what was going on, I'm not going to get into a argument with anyone on a jobsite, I'll let the sheriff sort that out.
I don't have the cash to do it plus that be a huge project for me and i have 5 guys working for me and i don't know how well that go for me
 

Bls repair

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Joined
Jan 21, 2017
Messages
1,612
Location
S E Pa
Occupation
Equipment operator,mechanic
Problems that I have seen occur
1)traffic control
2)ball buster inspector
3)traffic accidents that occur in work zone
4)unknown utilities conflcts
5)old utility’s not put in according to old plan
6). And many,many more :confused:
7) rock ,I’ve seen quite a few companies go out of business because they didn’t have a rock clause
 
Last edited:

Steve Best

Active Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2019
Messages
26
Location
Halifax Canada
Occupation
Millwright, machinist, instructor
I took a small mechanical contracting company from 8 employees to 50 in two years. I didn't do it by being timid.
I had lots of practical experience on my side, hired the best people I could and paid them well, and used their advice often.

That said, growth costs.
Weekly payroll is aprox $1000/man/wk and some customers will wait 3 months to pay. I had to borrow money to finance expansion. It is a challenging risk.

I bid low on smaller jobs to establish a relationship and show our abilities. This also allowed me to grow and learn about the customer (all big companies) and local suppliers. I never lost a dollar and got bigger jobs out of it. I used these smaller jobs as training for my leaders on the larger jobs. I personally managed the smaller jobs on site but trained and watched my crew leaders. If they made the cut, I put more trust in them as time went by and gave them bigger responsibilities. You can teach skills and knowledge, but you have to start with good attitude and decision making.

I was non-unionized so I could keep the best crew leaders and cycle the laborers. I also cross trained enough so I could always pull a guy from another job to replace an expert who missed a day.

As far as not popular, not a problem for me. The job is going to get done so my guys could use the work, as long as it doesn't violate my own ethics. Many times I was working in plants that the unionized staff resented my contract workers. I treated everyone well, gave out hats and t-shirts with our company logo and tried to make friends. Worked well.

If you can handle the job, do it.

12920469_10153959240195803_584223173252682724_n.jpg
 

CM1995

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Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,250
Location
Alabama
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Running what I brung and taking what I win
7) rock ,I’ve seen quite a few companies go out of business because they didn’t have a rock clause

It amazes me that a contractor will bid a job and not exclude rock excavation.

Basic exclusions on a bid I submit:

Rock excavation both mass and trench
Surveying, layout and engineering of any kind
Geotechnical engineering and testing
Hazardous waste of any kind including petroleum contaminated soils
Traffic control
Permitting, impact fees and any governmental fees of any kind.

Of course there are exceptions but that's boilerplate.
 

catwelder

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2016
Messages
383
Location
north carolina
Occupation
welder
It amazes me that a contractor will bid a job and not exclude rock excavation.

Basic exclusions on a bid I submit:

Rock excavation both mass and trench
Surveying, layout and engineering of any kind
Geotechnical engineering and testing
Hazardous waste of any kind including petroleum contaminated soils
Traffic control
Permitting, impact fees and any governmental fees of any kind.

Of course there are exceptions but that's boilerplate.
well the bid went on today some out of town contractor won project start date is early on next year in I think march
 

cuttin edge

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Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,692
Location
NB Canada
Occupation
Finish grader operator
Depends on how many big contractors are interested in it. We were 7th place last year on the first phase of a 93 million dollar bypass. We were $88000 under the engineer's estimate. Boss figured if everything went perfect he could pocket around $700,000 on $6.8 mill. Worst case, around $350,000. The next closest bid was a little over $5mill, Dexter construction out of Nova Scotia took , sorry bought it for less than $4
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,432
Location
Hermann, Missouri
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Cheap "old" Geezer
I have not ever figured how those low ball bids work out, unless they have a caveat as to cost Plus extras not included in bid and screw that pooch pretty hard.
 

thepumpguysc

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2010
Messages
7,445
Location
Sunny South Carolina
Occupation
Master Inj.Pump rebuilder
My story continues..
I got the pump & inj. rebuilt & went back out to the jobsite..3rd time.
I SHOWED the guy that it pumped before I put it on his b-hoe.. & toldm theres no warranty because u didn't replace the drive gear..
He had the timing cover still off.. {had to pull it to get the pump drive gear out so he could press out the broken drive shaft}
I installed the pump & It started right up.. THEN all of a sudden I hear this clank, clank, clank & the motor died..
The CRANK GEAR walked off the crank.. he didn't put the balancer on..
So for the next 5 hrs we tried to get it back in time..with neither one of us knowing the correct way..
I finally said.. I'm sorry but MY END of this contract has been fulfilled.. U heard it run until the gear walked off, thru no fault of my own.. I've spent 16 hrs on this machine that I'm not getting paid for.. & its time I went home..
IF I KNEW HOW to put this back in time, I dam sure would stay & help.. but theres no sense IN BOTH OF US standing here staring at it.. Your just gonna have to call "X" {buddy} & have him come out & do it..
HE AGREED & I got paid & left..
I KNOW this isn't the last time I'll be out there.!! I shoulda walked away when I found out the pump was seized & STILL on the engine.!! I shoulda said, CALL ME when u get it off..!!!
 
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