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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:16 pm
by DNgroundworks
Just wondering how people are doing, keeping busy or has the 'reccession' now started to bite?
Seem to be struggeling a bit up here, mainly not being able to start jobs due to weather, and people calling off jobs completley because they dont know whats goin to happen money/job wise 
Do you think work will pick up towards spring?
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:34 am
by Tony McC
It *will* pick up as we head for the better weather: it always does, but I think we all appreciate we're in for a tough year. Some contractors I've spoken to this week are struggling, while others are just about getting by, often with the help of hospital jobs. One or two, as ever, are boasting that they are booked up until October, and while a minority of them may be telling the truth, some are definitely shovelling the bovine excrement.
Feast and famine: the building trade was ever thus. You have to make hay while the sun shines and put a few bob to one side to see you through times such as these when things are tough and you might only be working one week out of three.
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:46 pm
by lutonlagerlout
definately the winter of discontent in luton,lot of people holding fire on stuff,seeing which way the economy goes
it doesnt help when the "luton news" tells people they have been losing £192 a day on their houses in december
got enough to keep me and the lad going till easter ,then after that who knows? but as the gaffer says ,it normally picks up in the spring
regards LLL 
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:45 am
by Injured
How is everyone finding the start to the year? I am still waiting for an enquiry. Phone hasnt rung since november getting very disheartened looking for other things to diversefy into and areas to get more training in.
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:44 pm
by DNgroundworks
Was struggling but just got on a huge job, But i dont know how long i will last on it, because it isnt mine.
The only phonecalls i seem to get are all regarding tarmacing which is the only thing i dont do, which is frustrating - usual reply is - ( well yes tarmac is an option but have you thought about block paving or flagging etc ) - Not worked yet though!
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:35 pm
by GB_Groundworks
not had any new enquires since new year apart from a big horse arena but it was in suffolk and we are in cheshire, said i'll do it if no one local comes in reasonable priced. got 2 more arenas going through planning but thinking the clients might be getting cold feet on them.
just starting a big basement dig out, got to sheet pile a 150m2 area and remove down to 3 metres and pour toe beem and slab and reinforced concrete walls, block and beam ground floor and drainage. keep me going for a few months hopefully it will pick up again by then.
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:12 pm
by Dave_L
A fair bit of commercial works here; private has gone quiet.
Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:24 pm
by ambient
DNgroundworks wrote:Was struggling but just got on a huge job, But i dont know how long i will last on it, because it isnt mine.
The only phonecalls i seem to get are all regarding tarmacing which is the only thing i dont do, which is frustrating - usual reply is - ( well yes tarmac is an option but have you thought about block paving or flagging etc ) - Not worked yet though!
i get people wanting tarmac and i dont do it but i still take them on do the prep and sub the laying out to a friend of mine and still make a bit of money 
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:41 am
by Injured
i get people wanting tarmac and i dont do it but i still take them on do the prep and sub the laying out to a friend of mine and still make a bit of money
Can only do that if you know someone who can tarmac who you can trust to do a good job.
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 6:18 pm
by Dave_L
Indeed - as the tarmac is what people see.....it has to be right, no if's and buts!
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 7:40 pm
by GB_Groundworks
i picked up a job today scraping up some old mot that has pot holed all over and laying down about 10 ton of base.
for proper surfacing on large areas we sub it out to our surfacing guys, after doing all edging and sub base. get them in with their paver makes it a lot easier and neater job.
Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:02 pm
by Dave_L
How did you lay the basecourse Giles?
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:19 pm
by GB_Groundworks
grrrr.....
just had a client i have been working with since last january for a horse arena that called me today to tell me they were going with a big national company, the everest of the horsey arena world. i asked if she wanted be to requote as she has moved to flatter ground then the gabion reinforced one i quoted for. but no she wants to go with the larger company, the thing is as well she is our neighbor as well 2 farms further up the hill. done loads of work for her over the years thats she's very happy with.
what a let down, 20k grand job down the pan.
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 6:24 pm
by GB_Groundworks
oops, sorry dave i didn't see your question.
haven't done it yet will be doing it this week, got to cut the old road and scrape off the old pot holed mot, compact and lay base to a depth of 80mm
then get 10 ton of base delivered into the hole and lay with 7 ton machine, i'll level it with the ditching bucket, i'm pretty good at it haha done it before.
then role with our twin drum roller, and seal the joints. not ideal but can't get paver in as they are busy and needs doing.
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:19 pm
by Dave_L
Laying base and grading it with a big grading bucket is the way to go!
One of our lads is an absolute expert at it, so we leave him to do it!
Basing up parking bays on new developments is easy with him and one of our wagons together with our Tacheuchi 5 ton machine, loads of reach.
Gutting about the neighbour having "Everest" doing the work, can't quite fathom that one out. I hate it when I see our competitors working on our patch.......but you have to realise you can't do it all. 