Yeah that's right!

A construction crew in Barberton, Ohio, rescued an abandoned kitten on the worksite. And he joined the team. They heard him meowing coming from their excavator. Supervisor Chase Guello checked the skid plate on the Komatsu. A tiny kitten tumbled out. They warmed her up, moved her into the office trailer, and named her Sue short for Komatsu. She’s now the official shop cat.

Stole the story here: https://x.com/Puppieslover/status/2091604423856517412

I recently took the leap to go out on my own after 20 years in the field as an insulation installer doing commercial and industrial plumbing and HVAC insulation. I left a job where I was working 12-hour days because I wanted to build something of my own, but honestly, I'm feeling stuck and defeated right now.

I’ve been finding project leads and submitting bids to general contractors, MEP contractors, and project owners. I’m doing my estimates using digital takeoff software, pulling leads from online plan rooms and bidding platforms, and putting serious time into every proposal. Beyond online bidding, I’ve been physically pounding the pavement:
Walking into local businesses/establishments to try to get contact info for key decision-makers.

Visiting local plumbing contractors in person to introduce myself. Reaching out to pipe welders and fabricators to see if they need a sub for the thermal insulation portion of their scopes.

Despite all of this, I haven't heard a single thing back from anyone. No callbacks, no award letters, not even feedback on whether my pricing is too high or too low.
I know the trade inside and out, but running the business side is totally new to me. I don't hold a specialty contractor license (since my state/locality doesn't require one for specialized thermal insulation sub-work under standard limits), but I have two decades of hands-on expertise.

My primary goal right now is to build a steady relationship with a few solid GCs or mechanical/plumbing contractors as their go-to prime sub for HVAC and pipe insulation.
For those of you who have started a specialty trade sub business or hire subcontractors.

1. How do you actually get a GC or Mechanical Contractor to look at a bid from a new sub?

2. Is cold-calling or walking into job trailers/offices ineffective for commercial subs? How do you build initial trust?

3. What is the standard way to follow up on a submitted bid without being annoying?

4. Could my pricing or scope format be completely off?

How can I get feedback on submitted estimates if GCs ghost me?

I put everything on the line to start this and I'm putting in the hours, but blindly throwing bids into the void isn't working. Any honest feedback, harsh truths, or practical steps on how to land those first few commercial contracts would mean a lot.

My mom made me breaded chicken its nice having homemade food for a change :)

I stay with her instead of a hotel for this job

Hello yall, im in the process of a patent design for a construction product.

For those of you who have came up with something, where did you send your product so they can “ review “ it or give you “feedback” on the product.

I was thinking of calling these big construction companies and speak to the safety director to see if they would be interested.

How’s this pony wall look for first attempt? Blocked into joist with hangers and GRK screws off the framed wall and last vertical. Feels solid but open to roasting

Hey Reddit, I recently got my General Contractors license (Beyond excited) but I feel like I have just hit a stand still. i work construction full time, but obviously I want to branch off and do my own thing. What’s your best advice you’ve had? Whether that’s just get started as a new GC or how you’d go about securing your first project.

Just curious 🧐

I recently took the leap to go out on my own after 20 years in the field as an insulation installer doing commercial and industrial plumbing and HVAC insulation. I left a job where I was working 12-hour days because I wanted to build something of my own, but honestly, I'm feeling stuck and defeated right now.

I’ve been finding project leads and submitting bids to general contractors, MEP contractors, and project owners. I’m doing my estimates using digital takeoff software, pulling leads from online plan rooms and bidding platforms, and putting serious time into every proposal. Beyond online bidding, I’ve been physically pounding the pavement:
Walking into local businesses/establishments to try to get contact info for key decision-makers. Visiting local plumbing contractors in person to introduce myself.
Reaching out to pipe welders and fabricators to see if they need a sub for the thermal insulation portion of their scopes.

Despite all of this, I haven't heard a single thing back from anyone. No callbacks, no award letters, not even feedback on whether my pricing is too high or too low.
I know the trade inside and out, but running the business side is totally new to me. I don't hold a specialty contractor license (since my state/locality doesn't require one for specialized thermal insulation sub-work under standard limits), but I have two decades of hands-on expertise.
My primary goal right now is to build a steady relationship with a few solid GCs or mechanical/plumbing contractors as their go-to prime sub for HVAC and pipe insulation.
For those of you who have started a specialty trade sub business or hire subcontractors

I put everything on the line to start this and I'm putting in the hours, but blindly throwing bids into the void isn't working. Any honest feedback, harsh truths, or practical steps on how to land those first few commercial contracts would mean a lot.

Do we all just have a pile of folded tarps?

Does anyone have a good storage / organization solution?

I need some assistance with finding a construction job in San Diego. 21 years old. I recently applied for the laborers union here (Local 89), which I am hoping to hear back from soon. I'm trying to get into general labor positions, but it seems like most of these job postings are ghost postings.

I used to work in tree trimming and did some tree groundwork over in Florida for a good while, including driving chipper trucks or hauling heavy equipment.

Any help is much appreciated, just trying to gain more experience and expand in my career.

I'm a survey tech working in earthworks and I'm curious how different crews handle MC model building. Is it in-house or outsourced?

If outsourced, roughly what does that run you, and how long's the turnaround?

Trying to understand how big a pain point this actually is before assuming it's worth solving. Appreciate any real answers!

Hello people. I’m in my 40s and run a small carpentry outfit in Portland ME. I do residential work, some remodels, trim, repairs, all of that

One thing that keeps annoying me is how many suppliers and smaller subs still only want checks. All that lumber and material adds fast. There are times where putting it on a card would make me a happier man, especially when client payments are a week or two behind or I’m trying to keep cash flow smoother

Right now I’m doing a mix of checks, bank transfers and notes in QuickBooks but it feels clunky. Not a huge company, around 40ish people so I don’t want some full blown AP system

I understand this is the industry and probably most of you deal with this on day to day basis. But has someone found a workaround?

Currently on a tight urban infill lot with practically zero yard space—street parking only, no room for a full-sized job box or storage container, and rain in the forecast all week. We're burning way too much time moving framing lumber and sheet goods around inside the footprint just to keep them dry and out of the working path.

How do you guys manage material staging and weather protection when the site gives you literally no elbow room?

Just got a job at whiting turner, i start in two weeks and wow i never really thought i would get a job offer from them since they’re a big gc company and i don’t really got much experience as a craftsman

What’s better to get into cm , construction mangement degree or civil engineering

Anyone have any recommendations that actually work? People have said the type of sock or a boot dryer but has anything helped yall?

Hey guys, im getting a small ADU built and the contractors during the anchoring process of the bolts when they were hammering in the bolts, the cement cracked. I don’t know if I’m gonna have problems in the future or if there’s a way to remedy this any input would be greatly appreciated.

getting ready for the florida contractor license exams, specifically the General Contractor (CG) exam... trying to find a prep package that has pretty much everything in one place.

looking for something with the books, book rentals, online courses, practice exams, maybe even some help with figuring out what books i actually need.

there’s a ton of prep companies out there and the prices seem all over the place lol. if you’ve taken the florida CG exam recently, what did you use? was the package actually worth it?

also curious if there’s any companies i should probably avoid...