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Not enough construction worker to rebuild Houston
droptop
Member Posts: 8,363 ✭✭
Have been looking at photos of Houston flood. Lived there most of the last 50 years and nothing I've seen is even remotely close.
Will the insurance companies have the resources to fix the problem?
No way there is enough workers in Houston, maybe the U.S., at least those that want to travel.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2017/08/28/houston_might_not_have_enough_construction_workers_to_rebuild_after_harvey.html
Before / During flood.
Land in many areas is more of an island in a sea of water.
Will the insurance companies have the resources to fix the problem?
No way there is enough workers in Houston, maybe the U.S., at least those that want to travel.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2017/08/28/houston_might_not_have_enough_construction_workers_to_rebuild_after_harvey.html
Before / During flood.
Land in many areas is more of an island in a sea of water.
Comments
How many floods can people take?
Might start seeing the decline of this once-great city.
That won't be a problem. My homeowners policy is due in a couple months. I am sure there will be a big increase in my rates with a letter blaming large losses due to the disaster in the Texas/LA area.
The insurance companies will be just fine.....
Great source of Labor for clean up, chain gangs working sun up to sun down on a bologna sandwich and water.
H
No way there is enough workers in Houston, maybe the U.S., at least those that want to travel.
If they want to pay, they'll get help. About 15 years ago a buddy of mine was working on a natural gas pipeline going in here. The contractor was from Texas. When the job was winding down, the contractor wanted to take mt buddy, and several more of the good operators back to Texas to work on a pipeline. It would have been a $9.00/hr cut in pay. My buddy said nope.
I know three crane operators who went to NO to run crane after Katrina. They were under absolute strict orders not to tell anyone how much they were making. They were making 2x what a foreman was making in NO
Bottom line, if they want help, they can get it.
Anyone that thinks that their Homeowner's or regular business property insurance covers FLOOD damage- REALLY needs to go sit down and talk to their insurance advisor.
You can BUY flood insurance- from the government. Most of what you are seeing in Houston is NOT insured. You may have insurance for storm damage, but flood- not so much.
The crux of the biscuit right there. Texas is always talking about how many jobs they have moving into the state. but the fact that it's largely because of a labor market willing to work for depressed wages is always left out. If the Texas contractors want to pay outside help the $35 to $50+ an hour a lot of out-of-state construction guys, (especially in civil construction) are used to, plus OT and maybe per diem, they'll have all the help they need. They're not going to get anyone to rebuild Houston for $19 an hour. (Maybe non-English speaking residential framers and drywallers, but they'll just walk across the southern border) It might suck living in some of the states that pay well, but the more you make while you're working the better your retirement is going to be. Sure not going to see many Alaska guys in Houston. Or not many California journeymen either.
Mr.Chump
Beachfront property owners don't pay NEAR enough to insure while the shack down the road is over a grand a year.
A friend who has a contracting business is doing well, and held on through the slow down by going to extremes to find work for his team and avoid layoffs as much as possible. Now he has all the work he can handle and doing very well again.
Problem for home and business owners is for smaller jobs it is VERY difficult to get anyone. Friend had 3 quotes for about $10k in drywall work and accepted one, guy never showed up, went down the list and 3 months later is still waiting, no one is interested. This is not isolated. Another contractor friend said he just can't find blue-collar guys that can pass drug testing. I built my first house (literally) and am a capable amateur in all trades (just slow and methodical), that is now coming in very handy.
"Will the insurance companies have the resources to fix the problem?"
That won't be a problem. My homeowners policy is due in a couple months. I am sure there will be a big increase in my rates with a letter blaming large losses due to the disaster in the Texas/LA area.
The insurance companies will be just fine.....
I didn't think homeowner's insurance covered flooding. In that case, would not the solution be to forego flood insurance, thereby lowering your up-front expenses? Of course, if you are hit by a flood, that would be another thing.
quote:Originally posted by William81
"Will the insurance companies have the resources to fix the problem?"
That won't be a problem. My homeowners policy is due in a couple months. I am sure there will be a big increase in my rates with a letter blaming large losses due to the disaster in the Texas/LA area.
The insurance companies will be just fine.....
I didn't think homeowner's insurance covered flooding. In that case, would not the solution be to forego flood insurance, thereby lowering your up-front expenses? Of course, if you are hit by a flood, that would be another thing.
Homeowners covers 'flooding' if it comes through your roof, and/or windows as a result of damage to the building envelope.
It does NOT cover flooding due to rising water, which makes up the largest percentage of cases.
Not sure what sort of trade you're talking about but I've NEVER seen a nail pounder that was "worth" more than $19/hour( and most not "worth" 1/2 that).
It will take a while but Houston will bounce back.
It happened after Katrina and another situation in the past.....
"If the Texas contractors want to pay outside help the $35 to $50+ an hour a lot of out-of-state construction guys, (especially in civil construction) are used to, plus OT and maybe per diem, they'll have all the help they need. They're not going to get anyone to rebuild Houston for $19 an hour."
Not sure what sort of trade you're talking about but I've NEVER seen a nail pounder that was "worth" more than $19/hour( and most not "worth" 1/2 that).
Not going to debate "worth" but the point is right on. Plenty of work in my area right now for framers, finish carpenters, drywallers, plumbers, apprentice electricians all in the range of $45 to $75 an hour and that is direct wage, so add 20% or more of you are hiring a contractor. I paid $18 an hour for framers and $20+ for finish carpenters in 1980. Obviously different throughout the country simply because living expenses are so different.
Edit: Just checked with our neighbor who is in the middle of a major remodel. They get an itemized bill every month and the pay rate for the carpenters is $50 to $55 per hour. Rent around here is at least $2500 per month for a very small house or guest cottage, and the higher your pay goes the more percentage goes to taxes, so all that factors in to what it takes to keep workers here.
Fairly common to hire Amish/Mennonite nail benders for $50 per head per DAY. I supervised an 8 man crew on a farm building job and ran the telehandler. I was helping a relative so worked for gas money but I know exactly what the others got cause they wanted paid in cash at the end of each day.
Wee bit hissy aren't we?
Just FYI: over the years I've acquired a degree in mechanical engineering, been a certified welder, bridge builder, heavy equipment operator, and built a couple of houses. Nope, I don't have a clue but I still say there isn't a nail pounder alive that's "worth" $50 per hour.