Traveling carpentry... under the table? On the books? Market in the southwest?

[TMG51]

I've been working carpentry / general construction, again. I have experience here but not while traveling. Lately, I've had a day job and regular employment, which is of course all on the books. But, I get paid twice as much when I work side jobs on my own under the table. I wonder if I can keep up the latter while traveling. Surely there are others earning a similar living? Advice as to how much should be on the books?

I'm also curious if anyone has a sense of the market for this work in the southwest. I know most manual labor is done by illegals but not sure about carpentry as a trade. Here are some examples of things I've done on my own. I've charged $35/hr for this work which is less than the going rate in my area.

Handmade pine doors...



Pressure treated entryway roof, cut into siding...



Sagged porch jacked up and leveled, sonotube pored and pinned for new PT supports (3 like this)...



Crown molding, returned on itself and ended in an acorn, note no caulking except where meets trim for stairs...

 

[GotSmart]

There have been a lot of fires in CA.  Carpenters are at a premium.  Work for someone else.  If you are caught "contracting without a license" It is a huge fine.

 

[BradKW]

Nice close-up of the crown...but I imagine you were able to stand on the scrap pile you made getting to that point

Working construction in a transient town like Key West for 15+ years, I've known a lot of traveling carpenters...in fact, the next batch will be showing up soon now that it's getting cold up north.

Continuing to do trades work once I begin to travel is certainly part of my plan...a rear storage area in my build just happens to be the exact size of my table saw. In general I will work for others because it's simple. How many times do I watch guys roll in with a big trailer containing every tool known to man and think they're going to work for themselves and get $40-$50/hr. It never works out as they envision, but if they stick it out a couple years it can happen.

Which is kinda my theory on this, which is I'd rather roll in and start working for $25/hr in a few days, rather than spend a couple weeks looking for some work that'll pay me $35/hr+ under the table. Take the easy in, and side jobs always start to appear before long.

I don't see my travel schedule being nearly so freeroaming as many for some time yet...I see 2 or 3 moves a year, one of them being Key West in winter, and the others being to the latest building boom near somewhere I'd like to check out. Alaska's short season is on the list. And I expect Key West will be my winter spot...I've put in a lot of years here, to the point I can always roll into work and arrangements without difficulty.

As horrible a ROI as social security is, it will still be something that I will want to have, so I'm for doing 40 on the books and cash on weekends type thing. I spent a lot of years not paying anything into it...maybe making up for that some now.

 

[highdesertranger]

here in So Cal the wages are depressed. for 35 bucks a hour you need union work(spotty) or you need to be highly sought after. depending on the situation I might be able to get you some pick up work. looking at your work I would say you will be able to find work anywhere, but for how much money is another story. highdesertranger

 

[TMG51]

I actually only had one set of reject pieces on that crown molding. But, I did spend a good hour getting that set just right. I stapled the backs of the pieces together and put it up with one screw. Did the rest of the crown in that apartment, including another acorn return, the same day.

It's good to know there's demand for work. I don't need a lot of money - I live in a van, after all - but I don't want to get undervalued for my work while traveling etc. In VT it's not necessary to have a contractor license. Sounds like I should plan to work for someone and minimize side work. But I'd be interested to hear any leads around SoCal/AZ.

 

[Matlock]

If you haven't done it yet you might want to create a social security account on-line at ssa.gov and see where you are with your social security credits. The web site answers the questions. If there is one government bureau that has most of their act together it's those folks at SS. Just my 2¢

 

[jimindenver]

One thing to check into might be art crating. I did it until they took the toys away and a simple boxed foamed to size was $500. We would load up the saws, wood and foam and cut in their drive way if they wanted. Other times we brought whole collections to the house and built here. The biggest thing is we could squeeze in the last minute jobs and get them on the way to the auction houses ASAP.

While the crates are crude, it is considered specialty work. I created my own crate designs but you can get programs to do it for you. As for insurance, we always became a agent of the owner/ contractor meaning it was on their hands.

Now for me the hardest part was waiting to know the pieces got to where they were going safely. Sometimes I wouldn't be told and had to go on I would only know if something went wrong, that gnaws on you.

 

[Gunny]

I would bet you could make some money from vandwellers helping customize the cabinetry in their vans or RV. I've seen what dealers charge and if I could get decent work done at a fair price I would jump on it.

I know many members have offered free help doing installs which is great for someone struggling to get by, but like in my case, it's not that money is no object, it's just that I do have funds and would be more than willing to pay someone to use their talents. Fair is fair.

I think you have a good idea, especially when there is a gathering and your quality of work is known. JMHO...Rob

 

[Canine]

Seems to be plenty of construction jobs about anywhere you go these days.The little stoop roof looks fine,but the steps aren't impressive.Good Luck.

 

[ccbreder]

Here in My Little Town, you would be competing with Non-citizen's from many southern countries. Probably ripped off by a contractor. To do any service work on your own, you need a state registration, municipal license, building permit and insurance. There are a mob of Code Enforcement Officers to see you pay your dues. You could make $35 if you were a known resident, more likely 15 to 20 as transient feeding off the bottom. As MLT uses something called International Building Code, or National Building Code, it must be about the same wherever.

 

[TMG51]

I've actually thought about catering to vandwellers and/or building vehicle homes, but the biggest issue I see there is the people I'd want to work with (people like us who do it on the cheap) tend not to have much money. Which is a problem for having that demographic as a customer base. But I would enjoy that work.

Mr. Dickerson I built the roof but not the steps.

 

[Canine]

I understand.Please forgive my little joke.

 

[TMG51]

I understand.Please forgive my little joke.

Just checking, I know you have to squint when you look at the computer screen. Sometime this week I'll add a picture of some steps I did build - don't have a picture handy now.

 

[Vanholio]

I've actually thought about catering to vandwellers and/or building vehicle homes, but the biggest issue I see there is the people I'd want to work with (people like us who do it on the cheap) tend not to have much money. Which is a problem for having that demographic as a customer base. But I would enjoy that work.

I think maybe if you did some van work above and beyond the price being paid (lose a little on your labor), you could create a photo portfolio to sell your services to the high-priced RVers, etc. If you've got some capital, you might even think about flipping vans. That is, make and sell your own conversions!

 

[djkeev]

It all comes down to WHO you know, not WHAT you know.

If you're in an area, get to know people.
Attend Church, frequent a Pub, hang at the Firehouse, volunteer at a soup kitchen or other charity, whatever your people group is.

These locals know who is hiring, if they get to know you, you're the one being hired.

Dave

 

[TMG51]

Just checking, I know you have to squint when you look at the computer screen. Sometime this week I'll add a picture of some steps I did build - don't have a picture handy now.

Here's a picture of stairs I did build! .... Just for the record

 

[BradKW]

Good looking set of steps!

And I know everyone does it, but I argue against that bottom dado rail design whenever I get a chance. It looks slick, it's simple to execute, but in wet climates all it does is trap water and rot out the spindles quickly. Cutting fillers for in-between can be a significant improvement, but only if the entire bottom rail is assembled using decent caulking, ideally a good dab on bottom of picket before it's pinned in place.

Sorry...the steps do look very professional

 

[TMG51]

Good looking set of steps!

And I know everyone does it, but I argue against that bottom dado rail design whenever I get a chance. It looks slick, it's simple to execute, but in wet climates all it does is trap water and rot out the spindles quickly.  Cutting fillers for in-between can be a significant improvement, but only if the entire bottom rail is assembled using decent caulking, ideally a good dab on bottom of picket before it's pinned in place.

Sorry...the steps do look very professional  

It's easier to be a construction critic than it is to be a construction perfectionist. I know what you're describing, but not every client pays for or wants individual filler strips between each deck spindle. In this case the pressure treated stairs and railing ought to far outlast the rotten pine that was replaced.

 

[GotSmart]

It's easier to be a construction critic than it is to be a construction perfectionist. I know what you're describing, but not every client pays for or wants individual filler strips between each deck spindle. In this case the pressure treated stairs and railing ought to far outlast the rotten pine that was replaced.

My last deck and stairs had to be made with plastic wood and steel railing.  It was a pain recovering dropped tools.  The house was on the highest lot on Mt Konocti.

 

[GotSmart]

My last deck and stairs had to be made with plastic wood and steel railing.  It was a pain recovering dropped tools.  The house was on the highest lot on Mt Konocti.