Labor pool in your area

You sound like you live in the "State" of confusion

re-hired a guy that had worked for us previously....yesterday, he asked if i was going to pay for his gas to drive back & forth to work, (shop &/or jobsites).... :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly:

Called another guy who I had let go reviously due to his marginal productivity.....he said he'd like to work part-time, but would like more $..... :silly: :blink: :S

What planet am I living on?....scheeeesh....

80 employees = 80 headaches and a huge overhead. I feel for you. I like to roof, but I can't do all of the physical labor any more. If I have the guys helping, I can still put down a lot of shingles in a little bit. I don't like to do too much in a day as it burns me out, but hey, 10 or 12 squares in 5 or 6 hours and then go home for the day isn't bad. There hasn't been all that much work for the last few years anyway so it doesn't matter. I still do a lot of slate and tile repairs, and that pays a lot more than the shingles do. there are so few roofers out there that know how to do it well and that helps too.

OS; I'm 54....Haven't worked on the roof full-time since becoming a contractor in my mid-20's. I understand your MO...I did things that way when I started and made a lot of $. Hind-site is 20-20...had I stayed at it that way, I could have retired very comfortably 10 -15 years ago....Instead, I went the 80 employees/5-6m/yr., ripped-off every which-way/burnt-out path....

Twill; Very similar experiences here...Guess it's tough all over?

Last couple of years, the "Claim" made by about 1/2 of the job applicants and sub applicants is they used to be Union Roofers.

The ones I have tried are absolute idiots, or totally dis -honest.

The other "knowledgable" "Roofers" I hire claim to know everything, then spend all of their time on my job asking how "we do it". Which is OK for the 1st week or so. After a month of it, I realize that I have hired another PRETENDER and that is all that person will ever be. Until he quits.

I have hired a couple that seem to want to work, but only under their terms which is : SLOP. Accept their sloppy workmanship, or they will leave and work where no one tells them what to do. And I think they end up working for someone even more ignorant, or who cares even less about quality.

How old are you? I am almost 60 and I do it myself. Much easier that way. I have the guys do the tear off and carrying and I just install.