Pieceworkers

CLUTCHSTEVENS

Hi, who on here has pretty much done piecework for so long that the thought of working by the hour is a dread? We use to take on a little more footage than we needed to for years but i never really "dreaded" going to work, maybe it was that we were making great money (for a finisher) or the fact that we never had anyone come in a tell us what or how to do something, when to show up and when we could leave or when and for how long we could take a break. Probably all those things combined. I have only worked by the hour early in my career for a short time but have been thinking of an hourly job as of late since i moved to such a slow area (even without the recession it would be slow here). I have been doing a lot of small jobs although i do have a couple of good size houses to start next week but that won't last long.

Capt-sheetrock

I think you answered your own question,,,, there are a lot of things to loss in this life,,, is your freedom and independance one you are willing to forego ??

d-rock

would you give up piece work for a good steady gig with great pay and benefits?

CLUTCHSTEVENS

Correct, i did answer part of my original post but was also asking what others thought, that feel or have had the same situation. Thanks for the great response.

CLUTCHSTEVENS

The area i am in is pretty bad for piece work, but i am about to make a move of some kind. I have a solid 3 man crew that are very qualified in all areas of drywall including metal studs and custom sections. One opportunity is for a company in Miami that does a lot of custom sections but the pricing seems to be an issue. Another is a company i worked for years has some good size overseas jobs, i subbed for them for about 5-6 years but the overseas jobs are long term and by the hour, but i imagine we will probably end up going as the owner has a silver tongue.

MeatBallDryWall

I love piece work/working for myself too much to give it up just yet. Also I hate some idiot A-Hole that knows nothing about what's going on telling me I'm taking too many breaks. I'm so used to moving at a faster pace that the hourly thing bores me. Just my .02

MeatBallDryWall

Hey Capt, how's work going out in NC?

Capt-sheetrock

Well since ya asked,,,,,,,,,,, I'm making about what I made in the 70's. I remember the "Carter" years, and we are here again, (because we don't learn from history).

I'm still floating above water, and it is picking up some, thank God.

What ya need to remember is this,,, Storms never last,,, and the guys that are still in bussiness and still have their tools and ethics, will be sitting EXACTLY where they need to be when things do get back to Capitalistic free enterprise.

BTW, one thing that helps me to hang in,,, is sometimes, if I have the weekend off, I'll sit around, drink a few beers, and talk all weekend about how I'm done, I quit, all that stuff. Then Monday morning I'll get up and go back to work, feeling much better about the whole thing!

McDusty

I get a very fair hourly rate on renovation/small jobs and an great footage rate on anything new construction. I'm pretty lucky i think.

Muddauber

Hey Clutch,

What part of Ky.are you located?

CLUTCHSTEVENS

Southeast about 65 miles from Knoxville. Where are you?

Muddauber

I'm north of you, Louisville- Lexington area.

MeatBallDryWall

LMAO I've felt like calling it quits a bunch of times myself (Not as many as you have I'm sure) but I do love the trade. Also you don't have to put up with as many idiots as you would a "regular" job so I guess I'm here for good...or bad maybe.

Capt-sheetrock

Relax man, and enjoy,,, its WAY better than real job, after all !!!!

MeatBallDryWall

Roger that!

Bevelation

I have no problem working by the hour. $40-70 /hr or $80-$110 /hr for a two man crew is reasonable, depending what's involved.

__________________
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big george

I do both, but everyone thinks piece work is big money.By the hour i can wash out my pals clean my tools,clean the floor,go for mud and do what ever you want me to do for $40-70/hr.

McDusty

I worked hourly out in Russia (arctic circle, siberia, canadian gold mine, don't ask)

i made 200,000bd ft take 6 months. i spent 1/2 of one day sleeping in an attic and almost a full day trying to master flicking mud with split-hair accuarcy. my point is, after 4 months i was ready to kill myself, i hate working hourly even if you can be lazy. i grew up on a farm and we farm folks know that there is value in a hard days work. piece work is where the money and job satisfaction are at. knowing you did a kick-ass job in a better than expected time-frame is what i aim for everyday.

after 183 days (6 months) i only had to pay about 10% tax vs. 45% tax. it made a difference of about $12k. so i made damn sure the job lasted that long. i should mention that out of that 6 months i spent about a month doing floor tile & painting. those gold companies through money around like drunken sailors. I had a first class flight from Magadahn Russia to Moscow, they gave me caviar & champagne before take-off. In Frankfurt i billed for a 40 euro breakfast. best sausages i've ever had. oh and i was getting paid 8 hr/day during travel. it was great/horrible.

Capt-sheetrock

I think this is the crux of the matter,,,, I do drywall cause I like to do it, I never work by the hour, only by the job,,,, I would never just STAND around for an hour, no matter how much you pay me.

Money is not the ONLY reason to exsit !!!!

MeatBallDryWall

You preach on Capt! I agree 101%