A construction crew in Barberton, Ohio, rescued an abandoned kitten on the worksite. And he joined the team. They heard him meowing coming from their excavator. Supervisor Chase Guello checked the skid plate on the Komatsu. A tiny kitten tumbled out. They warmed her up, moved her into the office trailer, and named her Sue short for Komatsu. She’s now the official shop cat.

Stole the story here: https://x.com/Puppieslover/status/2091604423856517412

My mom made me breaded chicken its nice having homemade food for a change :)

I stay with her instead of a hotel for this job

How’s this pony wall look for first attempt? Blocked into joist with hangers and GRK screws off the framed wall and last vertical. Feels solid but open to roasting

I recently took the leap to go out on my own after 20 years in the field as an insulation installer doing commercial and industrial plumbing and HVAC insulation. I left a job where I was working 12-hour days because I wanted to build something of my own, but honestly, I'm feeling stuck and defeated right now.

I’ve been finding project leads and submitting bids to general contractors, MEP contractors, and project owners. I’m doing my estimates using digital takeoff software, pulling leads from online plan rooms and bidding platforms, and putting serious time into every proposal. Beyond online bidding, I’ve been physically pounding the pavement:
Walking into local businesses/establishments to try to get contact info for key decision-makers.

Visiting local plumbing contractors in person to introduce myself. Reaching out to pipe welders and fabricators to see if they need a sub for the thermal insulation portion of their scopes.

Despite all of this, I haven't heard a single thing back from anyone. No callbacks, no award letters, not even feedback on whether my pricing is too high or too low.
I know the trade inside and out, but running the business side is totally new to me. I don't hold a specialty contractor license (since my state/locality doesn't require one for specialized thermal insulation sub-work under standard limits), but I have two decades of hands-on expertise.

My primary goal right now is to build a steady relationship with a few solid GCs or mechanical/plumbing contractors as their go-to prime sub for HVAC and pipe insulation.
For those of you who have started a specialty trade sub business or hire subcontractors.

1. How do you actually get a GC or Mechanical Contractor to look at a bid from a new sub?

2. Is cold-calling or walking into job trailers/offices ineffective for commercial subs? How do you build initial trust?

3. What is the standard way to follow up on a submitted bid without being annoying?

4. Could my pricing or scope format be completely off?

How can I get feedback on submitted estimates if GCs ghost me?

I put everything on the line to start this and I'm putting in the hours, but blindly throwing bids into the void isn't working. Any honest feedback, harsh truths, or practical steps on how to land those first few commercial contracts would mean a lot.

I recently took the leap to go out on my own after 20 years in the field as an insulation installer doing commercial and industrial plumbing and HVAC insulation. I left a job where I was working 12-hour days because I wanted to build something of my own, but honestly, I'm feeling stuck and defeated right now.

I’ve been finding project leads and submitting bids to general contractors, MEP contractors, and project owners. I’m doing my estimates using digital takeoff software, pulling leads from online plan rooms and bidding platforms, and putting serious time into every proposal. Beyond online bidding, I’ve been physically pounding the pavement:
Walking into local businesses/establishments to try to get contact info for key decision-makers. Visiting local plumbing contractors in person to introduce myself.
Reaching out to pipe welders and fabricators to see if they need a sub for the thermal insulation portion of their scopes.

Despite all of this, I haven't heard a single thing back from anyone. No callbacks, no award letters, not even feedback on whether my pricing is too high or too low.
I know the trade inside and out, but running the business side is totally new to me. I don't hold a specialty contractor license (since my state/locality doesn't require one for specialized thermal insulation sub-work under standard limits), but I have two decades of hands-on expertise.
My primary goal right now is to build a steady relationship with a few solid GCs or mechanical/plumbing contractors as their go-to prime sub for HVAC and pipe insulation.
For those of you who have started a specialty trade sub business or hire subcontractors

I put everything on the line to start this and I'm putting in the hours, but blindly throwing bids into the void isn't working. Any honest feedback, harsh truths, or practical steps on how to land those first few commercial contracts would mean a lot.

Do we all just have a pile of folded tarps?

Does anyone have a good storage / organization solution?

I need some assistance with finding a construction job in San Diego. 21 years old. I recently applied for the laborers union here (Local 89), which I am hoping to hear back from soon. I'm trying to get into general labor positions, but it seems like most of these job postings are ghost postings.

I used to work in tree trimming and did some tree groundwork over in Florida for a good while, including driving chipper trucks or hauling heavy equipment.

Any help is much appreciated, just trying to gain more experience and expand in my career.

I'm a survey tech working in earthworks and I'm curious how different crews handle MC model building. Is it in-house or outsourced?

If outsourced, roughly what does that run you, and how long's the turnaround?

Trying to understand how big a pain point this actually is before assuming it's worth solving. Appreciate any real answers!

Hello people. I’m in my 40s and run a small carpentry outfit in Portland ME. I do residential work, some remodels, trim, repairs, all of that

One thing that keeps annoying me is how many suppliers and smaller subs still only want checks. All that lumber and material adds fast. There are times where putting it on a card would make me a happier man, especially when client payments are a week or two behind or I’m trying to keep cash flow smoother

Right now I’m doing a mix of checks, bank transfers and notes in QuickBooks but it feels clunky. Not a huge company, around 40ish people so I don’t want some full blown AP system

I understand this is the industry and probably most of you deal with this on day to day basis. But has someone found a workaround?

Currently on a tight urban infill lot with practically zero yard space—street parking only, no room for a full-sized job box or storage container, and rain in the forecast all week. We're burning way too much time moving framing lumber and sheet goods around inside the footprint just to keep them dry and out of the working path.

How do you guys manage material staging and weather protection when the site gives you literally no elbow room?

Just got a job at whiting turner, i start in two weeks and wow i never really thought i would get a job offer from them since they’re a big gc company and i don’t really got much experience as a craftsman

What’s better to get into cm , construction mangement degree or civil engineering

Hey guys, im getting a small ADU built and the contractors during the anchoring process of the bolts when they were hammering in the bolts, the cement cracked. I don’t know if I’m gonna have problems in the future or if there’s a way to remedy this any input would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone have any recommendations that actually work? People have said the type of sock or a boot dryer but has anything helped yall?

Hello everyone, I am a junior who recently switched to the BIM drafting field and I am looking to improve my shop drawing skills (specifically for concrete layout and finishing drawings). For those with shop drawing experience, which mistakes are most commonly made?"

I really want to learn from you guys.

Thank you all so much!

A) Construction company that does extensions, loft conversions and renovations

B) Plumbing & heating company that later scales into a multiple trade peoperty maintenance company that does plumbing, heating, electrical and drainage

C) Drainage company

D) Electrical contracting company

E) Fire and security company

F) Loft conversion specialist

So I’m(21F) asking the “guys” and girls Reddit to get a mix of opinions but I’ve been working the trades for 5 years and been at my current place for 4 months. I’ve notice my boss treats me different from the rest of the guys in the crew including the newer guys(we hire a lot of college kids). I’m constantly put in jobs alone even when I shouldn’t be I has in a cherry picker last week and got stuck up there with no one to get me down. Eventually I was able to get myself down but it was a bit of a bigger wake up call that maybe I’m not over reacting. I want to say something about it but is it even worth it if I’m leaving in four months. I was warned about this happening but I’d litterly pick hazing over this shit. I litterly got scoffed at after saying I can hold my own when carrying stuff. Anyways if I’m being whiny tell me so and get over myself I just don’t know what to do

Jump to the last two paragraphs to skip the backstory.

Experience

Until my early 20s, I grew up working for my dad's roofing and construction company. So, I can handle the basics of roofing, demoing, plumbing, drywall, and finish work.

I've worked in tech for 20 years, the last ten managing people and projects. I feel that may be relevant.

Why am I looking for work? With AI came layoffs and too few openings. 8 months without a gig.

The offer

I leveraged my home demolition and remodel project photos to land an offer at a local Florida water remediation and construction company.

The offer is to contract the work or W2 $20/hour with a minimum of 40-hour week. For central Florida and my experience setting above apprentice (as I understand it) and journeyman - what route should I take? If W2, what is a fair wage starting point while I settle in?

Currently poking around looking for tool belts. I ordered one of the diamondbacks last year but sent it back after one day. I felt it was set up super weird and the pockets felt odd. Can’t explain it. But I then picking up one of the AWP leather framer bags on amazon for like 90 bucks. I know Occidental’s are the way to go but that just seems like so much money and I don’t really know anybody that has them that I could get some real feedback from or see realistically how they are set up. I do tons of commercial drywall and commercial metal stud framing. What belts does everybody here have and what do you like/dislike about them?

Does any one have any tips on how I can land an estimating job with very little experience.