Hard times are here

[Walt Graner]

I don't know about y'all but the building industry sure has turned off here in Austin Tx. Upper end homes turned off first then commercial now middle, man sure brings back some bad memories.
How's it going in other places??

 

[Jon]

Walt,

Ever since Sept. 11 many businesses have slowed down, here in Southern Calif. the restaurants have been laying off people, the hotels also yet for some strange reason I am gaining business.

Sure I am out there seeking it and it is coming to me too, strange indeed but that is how things are.

Los Angeles is about to displace over a 1000 familes to build a few schools so that should help the building trade here. Starting in Jan. right after the holidays, you would think the school district would know that is a bad time to move people and most are at the lower end of income scale too.

Anyone else finding that even as other businesses lay off people your gaining accounts?

 

[Dan Flynn]

Things have been picking up for me over the last few weeks. The fall rush I guess.

Walt; do you do a lot of new construction work?

 

[Beth]

We had just started to see things pick up after the vacation slowdown, then the terrorism hit. Then everything went dead for a while... Things are picking back up, but are not at the the same percent above last year that they had been all year. So while it's better, it's still not where it should be based on all the months prior to the attack.

I know some of the new housing starts here have halted - while under construction. I have also noticed some commercial accounts not paying as promptly. We're thinking about revising our payment terms....

I would thin k you will feel less of it in the south right now where it is warmer longer. The DC area is already having temps well below what they normally would be, which doesn't help either. We need indian summer here right now.

Beth

 

[Walt Graner]

Dan

Yes, my father and I are brokers. We buy land, plan out what we want to build on it, we then general the construction, and manage it after completion. I have the graffiti business and now site work as well. Graffiti is like selling toilet paper, (theres always a need) but when it comes to the leasing of new office space or dirt work this market has really turned off.

 

[JR Wood]

I am getting the last minute stragglers for deck cleaning...as a matter of fact I got about $3500 worth of work in the last couple of days and then I work for 25 or thirty straight days cleaning gutters.I even work on thanksgiving.Have no choice you only have a limited amount of time to get them done before the snow flies.I raised my price $5 this year and still got 225 signed up as of 10/25/01 that's about 13 grand!

 

[colorfreak]

Not in Northern Calif. building is all over. I can't keep up with all the calls.

Another difference, I resurface concrete.

 

[powerwashgirl]

Colorfreak:

I have pressurewashed 2440 sq ft of stamped concrete pool deck with my 3500 psi unit ( cobblestone type of effect ) and an adapter that boosts the psi ( I'm tired tonight so I can't remember the name of the adapter ) problem is not all the paint has come off - there are/were several layers of unknown types of paint and stain on this surface that were peeling off like bark on a tree. Some paint came off with a thinner - so I think there is stain/outdoor latex/and possibly one additonal layer of mystery paint. I am going to have to try to apply a coating thick enough to rise to the level of the existing paint that won't come off with pressure. I am sure that I need a primer of either an outdoor epoxy based product or an outdoor rubber based product - stain, I think, will be too thin - there are lots of hills and valleys and rough concrete - before I apply a product I am aware that I will have to wash with tsp or a mix of water and muriatic acid to open the pours of the concrete for better adhesion - in any event I need some advice on the proper treatment for this pool deck - can you help? - will be glad to send pictures if you like - I'm at atlantabluepressurewash@yahoo.com - thanks!

 

[oneness]

Hey, colorfreak...note the date on the post...that was 2 1/2 years ago...things have picked back up all over.......It has nothing to do with your concrete.

 

[OrangeCrest]

[plsdjhryr

 

[colorfreak]

Oneness yes I noticed after I posted. But nor cal is still busier than all hell and looking like it will continue. Building is going on everywhere commercial house apartments. Every directions and lots of it

And powerwash girl definitely send me a pic and I can help you out or call me

916-752-0043

I would strip all paint off and dont' acid wash I would acid stain it myself but it depends on the condition.

 

[Walt Graner]

Well since this post things have picked up, we're now %100 in our office park and % 99 in our office warehouse. Not the highest rents we've ever charged but it is rent.

 

[Reliance]

Godd materials source

This is a good source of resurfacing materials in California, they are all over now.

Decosup

 

[colorfreak]

Deco sup materails suck, weak and the manufacturer know nothing

 

[Walt Graner]

Long Time Ago

Man have' nt logged onto this page for a while, can't believe it's been over three years. Well how's everyone doing?

 

[Dave Olson]

Hello Walt,

Some of us Old F**ts are still here! [hello]

Hows things been with you and yours?

Dave Olson