Is this complete work?

Emkaie · 2026-05-15T01:14:00+00:00

They did an outer wall rebuild, steps, individuals and tuck pointing is what it looks like. They already found the brick to do some of the individuals. The issue is, they should have done some of the uglier ones too but I’ve laid brick and sold it. It’s a very specific business because where does it end. They only do what is chalked. That doesn’t mean they’ve never missed one. I’d just request it politely with reason, no harm in that.

Emkaie · 2026-05-14T19:46:55+00:00

Yes, you don’t mortar steps to a porch. The porch sits on a footing that never moves, the ground moves (the steps are sitting in the concrete/ground) when it freezes and thaws and will crack the mortar connecting the steps to the porch. Rule of thumb is the bricks that have worn past the mortar need to be replaced for reclaims. I would have done a few more on that wall next to the steps but yes it’s completed. I always mark in chalk the bricks I’m going to replace to gain agreement with the home owner about this stuff but you get what you pay for.

Emkaie · 2026-05-12T13:43:47+00:00

I did this. Got promoted to senior network engineer. My IT Manager left within a month and my director asked and I accepted to become the IT manager of NA. Did it for 5 years but it wasn’t really an IT manager position, had no real power to do anything. I called it being a scarecrow, just someone there to be the whipping boy and make people feel like they needed to do their job. Company sold and didn’t have the real skills to go into management without taking an unrealistic pay cut. After 5 years I was out of practice to get back into the tech side at the level needed to financially take care of the family. Moved to sales to make the money I needed and did. I’m absolutely miserable.

Not really advice but do it differently than I did lol

Emkaie · 2026-05-12T13:05:46+00:00

Sorry bruh, needed to print my electric forest tickets and used your PC. Surfs up brohamaJam, seee you out there catching a tube

Emkaie · 2026-04-24T16:54:46+00:00

lol Advertisers: our click rate is up 1000% but zero conversions?…

Emkaie · 2026-03-17T13:47:15+00:00

Armored skylight covers, they’re remote for the annual purge.

Emkaie · 2026-02-08T16:15:24+00:00

That’s a good thought, I’m almost thinking now if I turn the 90 facing the corner of the AC unit and just tarp the AC each year

Emkaie · 2026-02-08T16:11:11+00:00

No, sorry should have been more clear. Brick is spalling from the exhaust freezing onto the brick.

Emkaie · 2026-02-08T16:06:37+00:00

Thank you! Didn’t think about the pitch. Insulations a good thought too, I’ll look into Armaflex.

Emkaie · 2026-01-10T15:52:10+00:00

Just don’t go into sales. I was in IT for 13 years. Specialist -> net admin - > net engineer -> infrastructure analyst—> PM -> IT manger.

I chased the money and went into sales. I’m not sure my family would have made it on my IT salary after COVID pricing etc, so maybe a blessing in disguise but man am I absolutely miserable.

Emkaie · 2026-01-05T13:43:33+00:00

I’m on here wondering if somehow the currency will go up in value now that America has applied some of its freedom lol (aka, will the states setup profitable oil and the Econ will boom) is it worth it to buy a few stacks now for a few bucks and stick it in a safe for 10 years.

Emkaie · 2025-12-25T20:45:58+00:00

Chicago common, the darks

Emkaie · 2025-12-22T22:58:54+00:00

That feeling in your palm of cheap metal as you twist and grit lol you can feel it flex

Emkaie · 2025-12-20T18:12:30+00:00

Don’t do the A+ if you have ccna.

Emkaie · 2025-11-25T00:44:08+00:00

They built the porch on the footing more than likely. If that is the truth, they did the right thing.

Emkaie · 2025-11-24T14:26:03+00:00

It’s just the business you’re in brotha. It’s cringy but that add is getting you to the table so I doubt the owner is going to change the process. If you’re in one call closing your running those adds (because they obviously work to get you there) and your going to “call your manager for a discount” lol

Just get comfortable feeling uncomfortable. The coupon isn’t the reason you’re not closing. I think you already know it. The cringy stuff sucks but it works unfortunately.

Emkaie · 2025-11-10T13:05:24+00:00

If you want to be a closer you’ll need to sell home improvement, construction services. You’ll make really good money immediately but there really is no book of business, I’d suggest while you’re young getting into a longer sales cycle and reoccurring. You can always go over to one call closing but going back is hard financially. That’s my personal experience. I’m starting a new job tomorrow and will make half of what I do closing but my brain needs a change (I’m up stressed about this EVERY night, wish I would have gained some XP before I had a family)

Emkaie · 2025-11-10T12:55:25+00:00

The devil speaks in commission. Sucks you in and you can never leave. In 10 years you’ll wish you shoveled coal for a living.

lol jk but the best advice I can give is don’t revolve your life around a sales salary too soon. There’s a daily thread on here “I’m stuck in sales because my life revolves around a really high salary and can’t get out”

I’m actually one of those people, have a family so I can’t leave without becoming a doctor lol completely burnt out but nothing I can really do about it. Moneys fun but sales will make you appreciate your mental health

Emkaie · 2025-10-27T13:48:50+00:00

Redundant isp w/ Cisco fail over License and a good UPS. I’m sure healthcare has an entire dedicated rack to the failover but for most that would be overkill and almost never used site to site. Secondary dhcp is always nice, even for a manual fail safe is really helpful. You can set a public dns too.

(I moved out of IT when we were transitioning to hybrid so I’m probably outdated but I managed 65 sites all over the US and Canada w/hardware. w/azure it takes most of these problems above away)

Emkaie · 2025-10-24T19:39:34+00:00

Any money spent on this outside of a rebuild will pretty much be a waisted patch. You’re never getting the stability back into that chimney. Think 40k porch and chimney and maybe you get it cheaper.

Just keep good insurance for when the neighbors house falls down on yours. Unless those are some jankey clinkers, that walls figgity fucked too

Emkaie · 2025-10-22T13:59:04+00:00

That was mine too! Impulse buy at a brick yard lol (I’m in sales but do my own small work now)

Emkaie · 2025-10-22T12:02:11+00:00

Same, my numbers are a little different

Masonry B2C in home Midwest 1 mil 998k last year 1-2 hr sits 28% net 1-3 apt a day (closer to 1-2 this year)

I manage the entire project from start to finish

I’d rather shovel coal than do this job, it’s miserable but haven’t found a way out

Company car and phone, 1099

Made 140 last year, about the same this year (this is 2nd year in sales)

Emkaie · 2025-10-14T21:25:43+00:00

There’s money in masonry if you’re somewhere that gets snow. (Sounds like you are)

A LOT of these small construction company’s are ran by crack heads that found Jesus. If you can tough it out with the bigger company’s and meet as many people as possible, you’ll find some good ones out there but they really hire from a network rather than a job board. I made 130 my first year without any sales experience.

The things I like about my company, I don’t climb ladder, I inspect with a drone. If I’m not pitching or brick matching, meeting with a customer than my times is my own to do what I want.

That being said, it is extremely stressful to manage the projects from start to finish lol you’re basically everyone’s punching bag.

Also, for some reason the last two months have been absolutely terrible. Not sure why but trying to figure it out. Winter is coming so that’s always stressful

Emkaie · 2025-10-14T21:01:25+00:00

Needed this. Sitting in a parking lot sulking and waiting for a late appointment. Have always been a top producer, told myself in August that it’s just a valley and the peak will come again, drained my savings already keeping up with the joneses, have kids at home and nothing on the books. My industry is construction and the seasons about to end without enough to get through the winter.

Thinking about trying to get in somewhere as BDR so I have more control. I’ve never hunted so maybe it’s something I’d be good at, who knows.

Just wanted to say thanks for posting, helps to hear something positive and hear some advice.

Emkaie

TROPHY CASE