Continuation of work...

[topgrafter2007]

was wondering how lads in the northwest are finding the work situation in the landscaping sector? slow starting this year??

[GB_Groundworks]

compared to last year enquires are down, luckily had a few major jobs to carry us through the worst of the winter, now the weather is getting better getting more and more enquires on the equine side. builders though are very quiet.

[topgrafter2007]

thats what im seeing too, mates on the building side seem bit panicky due to lack of enquiries. my phones hardly rang with regards any advertising we have in place. hopefully a spell of good weather will come along and kickstart things!

[Injured]

had more enquiries than this time last year but get the feeling they dont want to spend the money.

They seem to want the world for a fiver

[msh paving]

domestic paving market is quiet around hear,im going from job to job at moment, few phone calls but they are getting every man and his dog round to quote,i dont stick to paving like i did 5 years ago,have to do what ever is about in groundwork and machine hire MSH

[Dave_L]

Priced quite a bit of work, picked up enough to keep going but it seems everyone is scared to commit any money at the moment.

[slickboy]

I had an awful winter and actaully had to sign on before christmas because a job was cancelled at the last minute. I am now mowed out and the phone keeps ringing, I'm having more enquiries than this time last year partly due to a driveway on a busy main road near some traffic lights that got lots of attention from bored drivers at rush hour. Getting less jobs per quote though as I think there is more competition for the work so prices are being driven down. It is at times like this that A-boards and suchlike are important. Ask the customer if you can leave the board up for a bit after the job has finished and leaflet the street as well afterwards. I bought a couple of correx sign boards from ebay (estate agent sign material). All signed up and delivered for £14, which is a fraction of the cost of an A-board and they don't tend to get nicked. They are light so they need tying or weighting down.

[Dave_L]

Yes, we're in the process of having some jobbing boards doe, so that we can leave them at the site for a week or two after we've gone.

We've done some pretty high profile work adjacent to some busy roads - so thought this was an effective way of gaining more leads.

How big are your boards and what did you put on them slickboy?

[DNgroundworks]

Had a pretty naff winter aswell, But seems to be picking up now, getting out priced on jobs has become a regular thing now though, probably getting around half of the jobs ive priced for.

Also hoping to get my mini-crusher side of the business up and running within the next few months!!

[ambient]

been quiet last 6 weeks but picking up now but a lot of desperate companies quoting very cheap prices and customer asking can you match it

[GB_Groundworks]

Dn what crusher did you go for in the end?

[DNgroundworks]

Decided on the tcp, Have been doing a bit of promoting of the concept of the crusher/on site recycling idea and have had some great feed back, and its looking like when i actually have the crusher it already has 6 weeks worths of hires and thats without any advertisng or internet presence so am looking foward to getting it

Just one thing that bugs me is that legally i am not allowed to tow a trailer so have to do a test first in order to pull the crusher round, this is at a ridiculous cost off 850 quid:(

[GB_Groundworks]

yep been there and done that passed after 97 funny thing is i've been towing 16 tons trailers since i was 16 on the road with tractor but only allowed 750kg unbraked or max gvw of 3500kg not exceeding the nam of the towing vehicle blah blah with a normal vehicle etc. my test was only about £150 but did it without any training etc.

is it this one? http://www.tcp.eu.com/sales/tracked/mini-crusher.html

looks a nice bit of kit



Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1237928506

[msh paving]

DN i move my tcp around on the back off my 7.5ton tipper or why not make ramps and put it on back off transit or iveco only weighs 850kg with conveyor,MSH

[DNgroundworks]

Cant drive a 7.5 neither - another seperate test! well i was thinking about putting it in my transit its a medium wheelbase/medium roof but only a 2800 gross so might be a bit overloaded, plus i need a trailer licence for moving diggers rollers etc.

PS msh how is the crusher side of things doing in the current climate?

pps yes thats the one giles i personally for some reason prefer the look of the bavtrak crushers but alot more thought has gone in to the design and construction of the tcp IMO.