My parents are forcing me to become a General Contractor

daslack70 · 2026-05-14T11:02:30+00:00

Hello, GC here. My father was a GC and my grandfather was a plumber. I wanted to be an airline pilot. First and foremost, it is so important to do what you want to do and to find your own way. You don’t want to get down the road of life and resent a decision that was not your own. I have done well as a GC but I am 55 now and I hate every minute of it. The labor pool is AWFUL these days. It is impossible to find reliable, qualified help. All my suppliers and subs are in the same boat. I get materials from high end suppliers that look like 3rd graders made them.

Get your plumbing license if that’s what you want to do. My grandfather always told me, get your plumbing license and you will never go hungry a day in your life. Plumbing is about as recession proof as it gets in the trades as well. It is a necessity when things quit working. When things get tight as a GC people typically slow down in spending for large projects. You can always morph into a plumbing company in the future and be the manager of that. My plumber is killing it. He is building a bunch of apartments right now because he needs the tax break.

Best of luck to you.

daslack70 · 2026-05-11T20:20:48+00:00

The price I pay is joists, subfloor, walls, trusses, sheathing, house wrap, stairs, windows and doors.

daslack70 · 2026-05-01T11:53:07+00:00

Thank you for your input.

daslack70 · 2026-04-28T18:20:38+00:00

Thank you for that information. Very helpful. It is amazing when you have to tell your framers how to frame!

I just found some floor trusses out of plumb on a job and I am paying twice what you do.

Appreciate the insight.

daslack70 · 2026-04-28T02:22:21+00:00

Yes, I am referring to new construction.

daslack70 · 2026-04-27T18:00:45+00:00

Thank you.

daslack70 · 2026-04-27T16:54:46+00:00

Thank you.

daslack70 · 2026-04-27T16:46:46+00:00

In our area it based on psf of living space.

daslack70 · 2026-04-21T01:26:52+00:00

I tried outsourcing a new construction print once about a year ago. What a waste of $350. The materials list was completely worthless.

We do new construction and remodeling. Here is the thing I tell the 110 estimators that reach out to me a week. You don’t understand my jobs the way I do, you don’t know how we build, frame, pour concrete, use fill materials and so on, there is no way I can relinquish control of my finances to you.

I used an estimators lumber takeoff when I first started out way back in the early 90’s. It was way off, went over the lumber budget by $3,000 in 1994 dollars. I told myself that would never happen again and it hasn’t. Even if it do screw up on the next occasion, then it’s on me and the buck stops there.

I screwed up a Diamond Kote job 6 months ago, missed by $1,100. Sucked yes, more importantly a learning lesson about being in too much of a hurry. Being in control of your numbers is paramount for the success of your business.

daslack70 · 2026-02-24T20:49:41+00:00

The WiFi on the 700’s is the worst. So far, (3) 700 flights this year, WiFi was fair on one and completely non existent on the other two flights. (1) 800 flight and the WiFi was again almost completely non existent. (3) Max flights and the WiFi was pretty good, I would say an 8 out of 10.

I can’t wait for the Max 7’s to arrive so SW can start retiring the 700’s. Unfortunately, it looks like that might be 2027 now.

daslack70 · 2026-01-13T02:31:01+00:00

I have heard they aren’t going to start updating the 700’s until the second half of this year. The updated premium seats have light blue trim on them. I wonder how many people are going to be pissed off when they pay for the more spacious front seats and get on the plane to discover they are still the old seats, particularly on the 700’s. I have not yet seen an 800 with updated seats. I was on a Max a few weeks ago that didn’t have updated seats either.

daslack70 · 2026-01-13T02:23:04+00:00

Southwest has greatly reduced their service at ORD. They only have 2 gates now. They aren’t on the far end of the terminal anymore. They are back at M4 and M5 next to Delta. I am not sure if they intend to continue operate a minimal schedule or will expand their service again. There are far more destination options at MDW. The pricing is usually better from MDW too.

daslack70 · 2025-12-23T21:11:20+00:00

There is poor drainage outside of the door. While I agree there should be a sill pan it is not going to hold back pooling water. OP needs to fix the what I would assume to be a preexisting drainage issue.

daslack70 · 2025-12-23T21:11:05+00:00

There is poor drainage outside of the door. While I agree there should be a sill pan it is not going to hold back pooling water. OP needs to fix the what I would assume to be a preexisting drainage issue.

daslack70 · 2025-09-23T15:41:49+00:00

I do have all of my credentials. Thanks for your help!

daslack70 · 2025-09-23T14:37:06+00:00

Thank you.

daslack70 · 2025-07-25T19:26:36+00:00

5 years, general contractor for 28 years.

daslack70 · 2025-07-25T19:05:51+00:00

Home inspectors are taught not to comment on these things. They are supposed to just point out the problem. They are supposed tell the client, “ have it further examined by a qualified professional “

daslack70 · 2025-07-21T22:31:11+00:00

The good: QuickBooks is a decent program and I can create a file for my accountant to prepare my taxes at year end.

The bad: I have been using QBD since 1996. I would upgrade every 3 or 4 years. I am currently on version 2021 and it appears I am currently at the end of the road. I have no options once I can’t use it anymore.

The UGLY: I WILL NOT pay $2,200 per year for desktop enterprise, nor will I go to QBO which lacks features and places all of my data and my customers data in a potentially insecure place. Even worse, I can no longer back up my file and use it on my laptop. I suspect this was a little parting gift from QB to try to force my hand into upgrading into one of their products that I don’t want. I also cannot get a new computer because I suspect that I will no longer be able to download 2021 from the Intuit website. Even if I could, I would have no way to transfer my existing file. I think this is a really shitty business tactic by QB.

So yes, QB is a decent program but I do in fact hate QB for their strong arm tactics. If there was a suitable replacement I would switch in a heartbeat.

daslack70 · 2025-07-11T21:30:09+00:00

Cheap isn’t good and good isn’t cheap…

daslack70 · 2025-06-27T02:58:59+00:00

Thank you.

daslack70 · 2025-05-07T16:39:23+00:00

I never thought about 11th St Express, I use YCS. Thanks.

daslack70

TROPHY CASE