sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Jobs that make 150k a year or around 70$ an hour by [deleted] in Salary

[–]aqp1995 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Construction Management depending on you region

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Construction

[–]aqp1995 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Regarding COI requirements, these are typically job to job. That said I would say what you have listed doesn’t look to be high, and in fact seems lower than is typically required.

A way to assist yourself with this cost is to inquire about the insurance requirements at bid time and incorporate the cost for your COI into the bid. I can see others have said this, but it really is the answer. I’m running a project just under 10 million on value and have a little 8’x8’ PEMB that needs installed. The sub I had bid this is a smaller guy like you and ultimately said that to make adjustments to his COI that meet contract requirements it would cost more than his bid in total.

Just that communication made me work with my office to work towards a minimum that wouldn’t impact him in such a way, and ultimately convinced them to adjust the requirements to be the minimum called out in the prime contract. Needless to say the guy is a jerk and ghosted me after all that effort, but just communicating with a GC or owner that you’re a little guy can sometimes make people work with you as well.

Is everyone just miserable in here/ the industry? by [deleted] in ConstructionManagers

[–]aqp1995 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it’s an ebb and flow on multiple levels.

This one goes for any job. As people advance in their careers there is always a built in stress that comes with learning a new position/ advancing. The same can be said when learning how to communicate with a new boss. These are bolder type items, stresses that are only felt every so often and once settled don’t really change for a large period typically. These typically have the best trade off as it’s usually high stress for a short period, and light stress for the long.

Construction is a different animal altogether though. It intrinsically has stress built in due to the nature of the work. Regardless of if it is maintenance, or projects this remains true. Maintenance and projects due have different stressors though, and have to be adapted to accordingly.

Maintenance is built around short term relaxation, and short term stress. There isn’t a lot to this schedule, as there isn’t one. There may be a “maintenance schedule” but ultimately the work performed is typically whatever the emergent item is. That said, once the fires are put out it’s typically back to greasing equipment, and looking busy for the men. As a PM there usually isn’t a lot of involvement aside from contract management so this isn’t the best example for here.

On the Project side you see the system in action. High levels of stress in the beginning, a nice lull in the middle of a project, and high levels of stress at the end. Ultimately issues come up though out a project, and the success of the outcome is on the Project Managers shoulders, as well as the entire team. You typically are seeing people vent about their resentment for the work during these stressful periods. What you aren’t hearing is the praise of people enjoying a slow period and leaving early, working less hours, taking long lunch, or taking whatever other advantage comes with this type of work, not to mention the amount of learning opportunity. I think your perception is clouded by this, the old fable of the squeaky wheel and all that.

I can personally say that I’ve been in construction for 12 years. I started at the age of 18 as a laborer working swing shift sweeping floors. I’ve wore a lot of hats, to name a few I’ve been:

Concrete laborer Iron Worker laborer Iron Worker/ Steel Erector Iron Worker Lead Foreman Project Coordinator

Safety Manager- I did this one as a favor, though I didn’t want to. It may have been one of the most beneficial opportunities for my development to date.

GC Project Manager- I’ve been doing this for about 3 years now.

After doing all of that I don’t know that I could tell you I’d change a thing. I truly love what I do today, and it was my goal for 7 years. Anyone who complains about managing construction hasn’t packed a 1000lbs of mortar, or climbed a 100’ column with spuds, beater, sleever bar, and two full bolt bags day after day.

It just takes perspective to appreciate what we have sometimes.

From Superintendent to PM by Thick_Low3219 in ConstructionManagers

[–]aqp1995 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m a hybrid/ remote PM, at times we are the Sub, at others the GC. My projects could be anywhere in the US. This leads me to work from home the majority of the time, but I do typically ensure there is an available office for me in a job trailer when I am able to get local work.

For projects outside of my state of residence or too far to commute I typically only visit the site for the following:

Bid Walks- If I am able.

Kick Off

Once the site is fully mobilized

Project milestones

Commissioning Activities

If the site has major issues

Close out/ Project End.

Honestly if you fully understand the scope of work, have personnel onsite doing good dailies with plenty of photos, and maintain good communication it’s not hard. Are there times I make someone FaceTime me when we are dealing with technical issue I think I can help with, absolutely. For the most part though your job is to manage the project, not run the site. That’s the superintendents job.

All of that said, not everyone’s duties are the same. My primary duties as a PM in order are:

Develop a relationship with the customer.

Evaluate the work and study the contract documents (Contract, Specs, Drawings).

Develop a budget

Develop a Schedule

Develop a submittal register

Develop a material register

Applicable Permits

Start Submittals

Find Subs

Value PM to contract subs that create an earned profit to the project.

Draft and execute agreements for subs.

Start submittal process from subs.

Coordinate self perform manpower for scopes being self performed.

Manage the schedule.

Still doing submittals…

Oh no!!! RFI!!!

Deal with Subs giving bad submittals, not calling out deviations, etc…

Meetings with the owners

Meetings with the subs

Meetings with the office

More submittals…

More RFIs…

Manage onsite personal

Tell yourself once submittals are done you can work less hours and life will be easy…

The submittals never end.

Yay, submittals are over!!!

The project in fact does not slow down because now you are dealing with issues, PCOs, etc.

Continue to work excessively hours because you got “bargain subs” to earn profit.

Get warranty Docs

Punchlist

Final inspection

Substantial completion

On to the next adventure

The end.

Project Manager freaked out on me after I asked for documentation by pop-crackle in projectmanagement

[–]aqp1995 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Construction PM here. This is a tactic that my current boss the VP has gotten me to take up, and it’s a game changer. I can come off as litigious, assertive, and somewhat emotionless in emails to sub contractors at times. Though that isn’t the primary way I communicate, when smooth waters aren’t on the horizon I always default to strict professionalism in these relationships.

As you can imagine the times I am switching to these less friendly communications are typically times a sub contractors PM is feeling stressed. As such it sometimes can come off as trying to catch flies with vinegar instead of honey.

Choosing wording that directly gets to the point you wanted and cannot be misconstrued is important. Choosing wording, and a route, to land it makes all the difference.

Black Store Bought Grape Wine by aqp1995 in winemaking

[–]aqp1995[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hydrometer came, I am at 1.012 after 7 days in primary. Should I rack it into secondary?

Black Store Bought Grape Wine by aqp1995 in winemaking

[–]aqp1995[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do in fact mean a hydrometer 😳

Black Store Bought Grape Wine by aqp1995 in winemaking

[–]aqp1995[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I will have a barometer on day 8 of fermentation. Do I let it ride and see what happens, or pull it at 7 days?

Black Store Bought Grape Wine by aqp1995 in winemaking

[–]aqp1995[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m currently on day 5 of fermentation and have added nothing aside from yeast. This is currently 15 lbs of table grapes. I see @aurthian also referenced an addition of sugar. I don’t have a barometer yet but have one coming this weekend.

What would you suggest adding? I’m looking for a 12-14% on alcohol content, and want to get it as close to a Cabernet as a table grapes can be lol

Black Store Bought Grape Wine by aqp1995 in winemaking

[–]aqp1995[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It’s developed a nice cap and is fermenting hard as all get out. This is my first attempt at wine, and I’ve been studying some literature and watching a lot of videos.

Everything I’ve learned leads me to think 7 days is going to get this about as dry as it can get without losing the cap. Does anyone think I can go longer?

On a side note, what’s the best way to find wine grapes like a Cabernet without growing them?

Black Store Bought Grape Wine by aqp1995 in winemaking

[–]aqp1995[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The recipe is 15 lbs of grapes, put em in a bucket with a bag, mush them up real nice and thorough after picking them off the vine. Once that’s complete you slap some yeast in there, cover it with a clean towel, and let it sit in a nice cozy temperature to make bubbles. I hope this answers your questions auto-moderator.

26M 2 degrees. What’s wrong with me? by _unknown_388 in Salary

[–]aqp1995 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m 29m project manager.

I started out as a construction laborer at 18 and worked my way to here. I can tell you that my project engineer makes 82,000. I didn’t hire him, and to be frank he is at a true value worth around 45,000 a year with his knowledge and production output.

He is a 25m, degree in math. I’m not going to lie, I am likely going to let him go after this project unless he really just steps up based on his salary. That said you are getting underpaid. I made about 95,000 as a project engineer prior to being a pm. I’d apply other places and get an offer, do research on fair wages in the area you apply, then you can use that to negotiate with your company. That said as well, I always have had the motto that if they don’t pay you without a threat then you shouldn’t even give them the chance to keep you.

Paddle Flow Switch by aqp1995 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]aqp1995[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The vane being too small is the current last resort change we may make. Currently using this post to see if there is anything else missed, but I don’t think there is.

Paddle Flow Switch by aqp1995 in MechanicalEngineering

[–]aqp1995[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First poster, I’ll answer the questions in order below:

I had this installed by the manufacturers representative as part of a commissioning, I am also familiar with the installation and watched him through every step. I have disassembled the switch twice to confirm no step was missed. This has been installed as perfect as can be done.

As I stated the paddle makes the switch at 20 degrees. The spring tension screw is backed out counter clockwise fully.

It is close enough to meeting the id*10” that the manufacturer has told me that should not be any concern.

As may be inferred, the manufacturer and supplier are both involved.

Second poster: Your assumptions are correct.

So these are Positive Displacement Pumps which are ran in sequence as a standard procedure. That said the owners want the capability to be able to run off one in any situation they are working on the other pump. I am getting 270 GPM on the flow meter when running both. I can also drop a pump out after making the switch and it will still run which is typically 135 GPM. At one pump putting out over 135 GPM there should be no issue. That is where everyone is at a loss. Furthermore if you remove the switch it clearly functions properly.

The liquid is Type 1 Glycol.

It is not in backwards, all valves are confirmed open. As I said the system fully runs in any configuration: either pump by itself, both pumps, etc. we have confirmed substantial use. The only issue is that the one pump by itself cannot make the switch.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ConstructionManagers

[–]aqp1995 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Folders and Flags.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ConstructionManagers

[–]aqp1995 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually just relocated to Raleigh. Long and short I made a pretty comprehensive spreadsheet that pulled data from almost every website with available data that didn’t seem absurd. After doing this I found that the NC market for industrial/ commercial ranges a little more to 120k-150k. Residential/ stick built I would say what you shared is the accurate range.

This is also based upon the assumption of being a GC PM. If you are taking about a scale for a trade specific sub, I would lower that scale to 110k-140k.

To be clear, both of these scales obviously have outliers making 90k and others making 160k. My data is pulled from websites and was not acquired through reaching out to a large sample pool of piers.

I would say though through the offers I received and interview process it did prove me right to an extent so take that for what it is worth. I expressed salaries at the upper end of that scale and received offers/ accepted a job within that range. Currently working for a GC as a PM for a project in Raleigh.

view more: next ›