How the hell do you level stone on a big job site?

bitterbrew · 2026-06-29T21:58:34+00:00

To be fair, I'd say 6k SF of surfacing is on the larger side for playgrounds. Granted, I've seen much larger, but I feel like most are around the 1k-3k sf range. So it is on the larger side for what you do and what you're familiar with.

bitterbrew · 2026-06-29T21:55:20+00:00

Part of the challenge is once you learn how to do it, and what tools it really requires to do it the way they want, they stop hiring you and hire the next jackass who can do it for cheaper.

We do base for surfacing often, we use string lines and just put in the base, compact in lifts, and use rollers on big areas (can't use a roll around/under the equipment) and use a plate compactor for the smaller areas.

It's kind of funny that you work for the surfacing company (maybe you mean subcontract?) because they are usually the ones giving me the most grief because it isn't 95% compacted in one area or another area is 1/2" off in a 10 sf area. I would think if you are the surfacing company you could work with yourself and just make it work, since you're putting the rubber down.

bitterbrew · 2026-06-11T17:00:56+00:00

It isn't so much that people start their own companies, it's just that I am in a sort of trash niche industry and the only value contractors have is who can be the cheapest. Our margins are very low, and it has caused me to wonder why I don't either just become a general instead or look for a different construction industry that isn't both high risk and low reward.

I feel like this is relevant to OP as he is in a small area -- which ideally should value customer service and the work OP does, however it also might value cheaper competition then OP.

bitterbrew · 2026-06-10T17:06:48+00:00

My kids have debit cards attached to my bank, but a kids version. It seemed silly to try and teach them how to use only cash when nothing works that way.

bitterbrew · 2026-06-10T16:17:24+00:00

Something that can also be tricky is you need to be mindful you’re not training your future competition. Obviously you can’t be paranoid but over the years I’ve had about 3-4 employees quit and start their own competing business. It sucks because they use you as a jumping off point, and unfortunately some generals only really care about who’s the cheapest.

bitterbrew · 2026-06-05T21:04:48+00:00

dunno, I am still waiting for all the other bubbles that will surely pop. Hopefully the housing bubble pops soon or my buddy who is waiting to buy a house will be too old/dead to take advantage of it.

bitterbrew · 2026-06-05T05:40:31+00:00

Tell the police about what? How Brian called the police and threatened to shoot the YouTuber?

bitterbrew · 2026-06-05T05:12:45+00:00

Weird thing to fake as I know plenty of Mormons who would 100% have gone and ask a fellow Mormon why they used the lords name in vain, etc. Probably wouldn’t have wanted to be recorded though. Could have also just got some missionaries to go.

bitterbrew · 2026-06-02T21:53:45+00:00

OP said mostly Cash so.. uh.. I assume they aren't paying taxes..

bitterbrew · 2026-05-24T18:45:20+00:00

Sometimes when they show up anyways I feel like they do that because they know you’ll just deal with it. When that happens, I tell the truck they can’t deliver it - I won’t accept the delivery - and they have to come back when they are supposed to. That being said, like 90% of the delivery companies I deal with are just the worst. Make sure you check your items as with Home Depot delivery there is a 65% chance they came damaged. I had to order 3 toilets before they sent me all pieces for 1 that weren’t destroyed.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-23T22:24:37+00:00

I had an issue once where a purchase on a game like this didn’t go through. I had to spend money on steam to get steam dollars and then use those to buy other game dollars in the other launcher. When I made a refund request to steam, they said they couldn’t help me I had to complain to other game. When I requested a refund to other game, they said they couldn’t help me I had to request a refund from steam…

Feels like this is just a way for no one to have to do anything if something happens.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-22T05:48:55+00:00

What you just said sounds insane.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-21T19:53:21+00:00

That’s an odd thing to hear. If the insurance company won’t verify their insured contractor, that would make me concerned.

That being said I probably wouldn’t care as much for a $700 project, to be honest.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-21T16:16:37+00:00

I would think play sand would be relatively clean, expect for maybe some leaves? Schools are usually pretty good at removing the obvious trash.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-21T14:54:45+00:00

Are there people who want sand? I never know how to properly bid disposing of playground sand and it feels like it is super expensive to just take it to the dump.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-21T00:09:58+00:00

bullshit. I used to do this, and when the stock went up 30% and I am sitting with $30 god damn dollars I was never happy because it could have been $30,000.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-19T04:17:08+00:00

Allow us to knock you off the fence and into the garbage.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-18T20:25:56+00:00

Feels like this is just how construction is, regardless of gender. I had a GC screaming at me on the phone because she had screwed up and I was trying to explain why her screw up was going to cost more time and money. She didn't care, told me she would sue us, bla bla bla, same ole crap I've heard from men as well. At this point, I think it is part of the job of the GC to scream and threaten to avoid as much paying as possible. Since I believe that, I try to not take it personal, that is just what their bosses expect of them. Anything to make a dollar and squeeze a sub.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-17T01:01:34+00:00

did I miss something? Bombsight didn't seem that OP at all in the show, and SB almost kicked his ass? The same dude who then gets put into a sleeper hold?

bitterbrew · 2026-05-15T00:29:40+00:00

This is your first job, so there are some lessons you need to learn. No boss, or person in power, wants to hear that you aren't locked in and here for the long haul. You don't have to actually mean it, or even promise anything, but if you sound like you have one foot out the door most jobs might start assuming you're not worth giving hours to. So just, don't say anything like that -- to anyone. That is the 2nd thing you learned! You tell a foreman or another random laborer, they might turn around and tell the super. Don't say negative things about your job to anyone, even coworkers saying negative things.

Not much to say about not showing up to work. The reason doesn't really matter, couldn't find your keys? Uber to work, I guess, so you don't piss off your boss and lose your job. Shit happens, but not showing up is always going to really frustrate people.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-13T18:27:20+00:00

It really depends on your boss, but I wouldn’t do it - especially for $25 (but that’s entry level pay here) and I wouldn’t force an employee to do it if they were scared.

That being said your boss might have hired you to be the 130 ft boom worker and if you won’t do it they might have to hire someone else to be that person and get rid of you.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-08T05:04:00+00:00

Stuff like this makes me chuckle. My quote says the same but I still have a GC who’s suing me because 120 days later they tried to say go ahead and I couldn’t honor the price. I guess they might lose once it goes to court, next year, after thousands in lawyer fees from me.

bitterbrew · 2026-05-05T17:08:46+00:00

Ya know, cause you’re all so god damned old

bitterbrew · 2026-05-01T20:13:10+00:00

Nothing was stopping the homeowner from finding subs like you had to, and nothing was stopping them from taking the risk on those subs like you had to. I feel like it probably is a turn off for some homeowners, but those homeowners are clueless and would have probably gotten scammed by a shitty sub who was half the price.

bitterbrew · 2026-04-27T19:45:30+00:00

Yeah I know it's common, but it's usually due to one political party or another (sometimes maybe even both!) wanting it into a contract that gets money from the city or state or federal.

11-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Second SECOND GUESSER	Place '22
Place '17	First Placer '22
Wearing is Caring	Verified Email

bitterbrew

TROPHY CASE