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Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 6:34 pm
by Carberry
Mentioned it before in the past but I feel like now is the right time for me to get out of the industry, Business been pretty slow this past year, wreck my body for a crap wage that I struggle to support wife and kids with and i've not replaced many of the tools that were stolen from me. Farmer also pulling the lease on land, selling out to developers for £££.
Tony Mc - Thanks for the site, it has been an invaluable resource.
LLL and Sean - Thanks for the advice offered through the years and for keeping us inline with elf and safety.
Mick, Cookie, Pablo - Thanks for the inspirational work. Some of the stuff you guys have done are pieces of art.
I'll still stick my nose in occasionally and see how everyone is doing but for now, time for me to hopefully move on to bigger and better things. :laugh:
Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 7:31 pm
by sy76uk
We all go through peaks and troughs in work and life mate. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Especially if it's a new lawn that's been laid on wackered topsoil.
I had a few years away from paving between 2011 and 2014. Back in it now and it's nice to be back doing what I'm good at but like you I have a family to look after and paving wasn't paying enough at the time so I had to move.
Good luck.
Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 7:47 pm
by mickg
Nooooooo I have loved reading your posts over the years, make sure you do drop by and keep in touch
Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 2:00 am
by lemoncurd1702
It's a shame carb's and I guess most of us here know how you feel.
Don't burn your bridges.
Go work for someone else but don't physically close your business. Keep your van, machinery etc and your customer source.
Got the T-shirt.
Good luck
Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 6:40 am
by seanandruby
Thank you for those kind words. Will miss your comical links and good posts.
Wish you and your family good luck and hope things get busier for you.
I'll keep 'em on their toes with Elf and safety :;): 
Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 1:46 pm
by lutonlagerlout
thats a shame stuart but I kinda know what you mean
I am concentrating on the refurbs stuff now as thats where the big money is
I enjoy paving but its bloody hard work on your body
keep in the loop mate
LLL
Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 8:21 pm
by Pablo
I'm very close to being in the same boat Carberry but I currently have no plan B, the arse has completely fallen out of Paving and landscaping in my area. It's brutal right now, there's no demand for quality workmanship and there's far too much competition. Too many Eejits buying work and not having the time or skill to do it right. I built 1 driveway last year a handfull of patios and 2 gardens. All the old channels for generating work have dried up and builders are using their own labourers to do the paving and landscaping so you can imagine the quality you have to compete against. All trades are doing well to get 100 quid a day and usually it's closer to 80 and houses are being put up for 50 quid a ft. Maintenance work is even worse, there's been so many civil servants laid off that they're all running round with a car and trailer working for beer tokens to subsidize their early pensions. I'm pricing plenty but missing out by up to 40%, I don't have a clue how folk can do it. Currently doing a well paid patio in a high end area but nothing after that for now. 2 lads came to cut the lawns on friday, they were there for 2 hrs and charged 25 quid and used their own kit. I doubt it'll pick up anytime soon.
Posted: Sun May 10, 2015 9:12 pm
by sy76uk
I was in exactly the same boat as you a few years back Pablo.
I went from earning 30+k a year as a paver working on big sites for a national firm to earning 10-£12 per hour as a ground worker on agencies.
I ended up doing 2 years as a roofers labourer but he did pay me well, he more than over paid me actually and helped me set up on my own.
It's strange how the economy seems to have picked up more for some areas than others.
I hope your fortunes change for the better soon.
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 4:42 am
by lutonlagerlout
thats insane pablo
it is definitely booming in the south east of england
everybody I know down here is busy busy busy on decent work
skilled men are in short supply so the wages have shot up
but I seem to recall you being flat out busy while we were just ticking over
best of luck mate
LLL
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 10:19 am
by Carberry
Yeah, things are pretty rough just now. I quoted a big job for a care home ~22k, they got 3 other quotes that were £20-£24k... they went with a couple of polish guys who did it for £10k and told them that anyone quoting 20k is ripping them off :laugh:
Lost a few regular gardening jobs I had to guys doing it for £10. Figure the only way they can do it for that price is if they are on benefits.
I could always fall back on stripping. I got paid £100 on Friday night and I was the one getting a 30 minute lapdance :laugh:
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 12:24 am
by henpecked
Just had a quote to relay a 150m x 3m access road 150mm deep £700 labour only. Guys supplying his own machinery too. Couldn't believe it. I thought things were on the up and up
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 2:47 am
by lutonlagerlout
I guess contacts are all important
I try and cultivate the best clients and architects and so the last 2 years we have been working exclusively for old clients and friends of friends
A guy stopped in his beamer today as we were building a boundary wall, and enquired about a porch a few doors up
so i went and saw him,he asked for a ballpark price and I said 8 grand
he nearly died,some polish lads have priced it at 2.5k,
so I said lets not waste any more of each others time
cannot be done right for 2.5k ,you cannot even buy the windows and doors for that
so it will be some kind of bodge
LLL :;):
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 8:27 pm
by Forestboy1978
I do feel for you guys. Landscaping has got to be one of the hardest and most financially competitive trades there is, barring perhaps tree surgery.
People just don't want to pay the extra for above average attention to detail generally. As Luton says, and I do the same, I look after my best customers and they are the ones who will pay the extra for the detail so I add the detail. I always make it ultra ultra clear that if there is anything at all they are not satisfied with then tell or if a problem arises call me and I will remedy it.
The funny thing is, a call back for a remedy is usually good for biz in a strange way. Women phoned me up the other week. She had been meaning to mention that no post caps were fitted. I checked the quote, hadn't quoted for them as it was a fence extension and the other posts didn't have any. Turned up with enough post caps for every fence post including the old posts and mentioned the fact that was why they weren't added. Cost me a tenner but I got a grands worth of painting work out of it whilst I was there and a customer for life.
Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 9:28 pm
by DNgroundworks
I did PM you Carberry, not sure if it sent, but i wish you the best of luck.
Isnt it odd how a few more miles north than me things can be so different.
Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 4:35 pm
by mickavalon
Pretty good around here lads to be fair, we're busy as hell, and looking to recruit...Again!!!! I haven't been on here for a while, been honestly too busy. I reckon we're booked up till mid Autumn possibly longer if I manage to get back with the quotes!!! LOl :p