r/Construction 1d ago

Picture Client has shitty neighbors… turns out you can get around fence height restrictions by adding a “roof” lol

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1.0k Upvotes

r/Construction 1h ago

Structural Chemical Anchors

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When using a chemical anchor with an M10 threaded rod in hollow brick, what is the maximum tightening torque for the nut that has to bear the load?


r/Construction 2h ago

Informative 🧠 Needing some advice

0 Upvotes

I work for a general contractor as an Assistant Project Manager, and I’ve been feeling pretty frustrated lately. Management recently told us that either me or the other project manager needs to stay in the office until 4pm every day. I don’t mind doing that, but the other PM regularly leaves early or comes up with excuses to dip out, or shows up incredibly late so it feels like I’m the only one actually following the rule.

On top of that, there are times when I’ll ask him to call people back — clients, subs, vendors — and he just… doesn’t. It reflects poorly on the company and on me, because I’m the one trying to keep communication tight and projects moving. It feels like I’m picking up slack that shouldn’t be mine.

I also asked how yearly reviews work and found out they don’t actually do annual reviews. The owners just sit down at the end of the year and decide everyone’s evaluations and raises all at once. My work anniversary is at the end of October, but raises won’t happen until the end of December, which makes it hard to know where I stand or how I’m progressing.

I’m trying to figure out if this is normal in construction or if these are red flags. Looking for advice from people who’ve worked in project management or for a GC.


r/Construction 18h ago

Picture Lunch/breakfast posting (flagger foreman)

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21 Upvotes

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


r/Construction 1d ago

Picture Pony wall

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41 Upvotes

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


r/Construction 6h ago

Business 📈 Advice for a new GC

0 Upvotes

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 🧐


r/Construction 7h ago

Business 📈 20 years in the trade, just started my own commercial/industrial insulation company, but getting 0 responses on bids. What am I missing?

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0 Upvotes

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.


r/Construction 5h ago

Informative 🧠 Patent design

0 Upvotes

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.


r/Construction 13h ago

Other What do you do for tarp storage?

2 Upvotes

Do we all just have a pile of folded tarps?

Does anyone have a good storage / organization solution?


r/Construction 10h ago

Careers 💵 Trying to break into construction

0 Upvotes

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.


r/Construction 10h ago

Other How do you guys handle machine control modeling?

0 Upvotes

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!


r/Construction 1d ago

Business 📈 How do I handle my suppliers that only take a check?

39 Upvotes

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?


r/Construction 11h ago

Other Best field setup for keeping materials dry and organized on sites with zero staging room?

0 Upvotes

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?


r/Construction 11h ago

Careers 💵 WT

1 Upvotes

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


r/Construction 19h ago

Careers 💵 Is it worth taking a construction mangement degree at college In Toronto or should I go for civil engineering

4 Upvotes

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


r/Construction 16h ago

Informative 🧠 How does Cadence Mcshane still exist?

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0 Upvotes

r/Construction 1d ago

Informative 🧠 How to stop boots from smelling?

21 Upvotes

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


r/Construction 2d ago

Structural New Build - Framing just getting started and not liking what I’m seeing- thoughts?

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1.4k Upvotes

r/Construction 10h ago

Structural Anchor bolts cement cracked during contractor installation

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0 Upvotes

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.


r/Construction 1d ago

Other Best contractor license prep packages that bundle books, rentals, and online courses?

4 Upvotes

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...


r/Construction 11h ago

Business 📈 What's a better business to start in order to achieve a net profit of £1,000,000 per year? (London, UK)

0 Upvotes

A) Construction company that does extensions, loft conversions and renovations

B) Plumbing & heating company that later scales into a multiple trade peoperty maintenance company that does plumbing, heating, electrical and drainage

C) Drainage company

D) Electrical contracting company

E) Fire and security company

F) Loft conversion specialist


r/Construction 13h ago

Structural Common shop drawing mistakes

0 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I am a junior who recently switched to the BIM drafting field and I am looking to improve my shop drawing skills (specifically for concrete layout and finishing drawings). For those with shop drawing experience, which mistakes are most commonly made?"

I really want to learn from you guys.

Thank you all so much!


r/Construction 1d ago

Other Differential Treatment

36 Upvotes

So I’m(21F) asking the “guys” and girls Reddit to get a mix of opinions but I’ve been working the trades for 5 years and been at my current place for 4 months. I’ve notice my boss treats me different from the rest of the guys in the crew including the newer guys(we hire a lot of college kids). I’m constantly put in jobs alone even when I shouldn’t be I has in a cherry picker last week and got stuck up there with no one to get me down. Eventually I was able to get myself down but it was a bit of a bigger wake up call that maybe I’m not over reacting. I want to say something about it but is it even worth it if I’m leaving in four months. I was warned about this happening but I’d litterly pick hazing over this shit. I litterly got scoffed at after saying I can hold my own when carrying stuff. Anyways if I’m being whiny tell me so and get over myself I just don’t know what to do


r/Construction 1d ago

Tools 🛠 Looking for tool belt

4 Upvotes

Currently poking around looking for tool belts. I ordered one of the diamondbacks last year but sent it back after one day. I felt it was set up super weird and the pockets felt odd. Can’t explain it. But I then picking up one of the AWP leather framer bags on amazon for like 90 bucks. I know Occidental’s are the way to go but that just seems like so much money and I don’t really know anybody that has them that I could get some real feedback from or see realistically how they are set up. I do tons of commercial drywall and commercial metal stud framing. What belts does everybody here have and what do you like/dislike about them?


r/Construction 14h ago

Informative 🧠 Looking for an entry level estimating job

0 Upvotes

Does any one have any tips on how I can land an estimating job with very little experience.