Absolutely crushed with work

[Dutchman]

Not sure how others are doing but holy cow!....feels like 2005 again for us.

We're on the finishing end of a monster right now (pics to come shortly) and the calls for new projects have stacked up over the last few months and are continuing to stack up....real stuff too, not just two week jobs.

Not boasting at all, just wondering if anyone else is seeing things turn around. We were dead in the water a while ago.

I'll get hit by a bus next week most likely.

[kfc510]

Good for you, man. Things have dried up drastically for me lately here, it's looking bleak. Still have a few weeks of work lined up, but after that, who knows.

What if anything do you attribute the rush to?
kevin

[Dutchman]

Not sure what the reason is Kevin, but I'd like it to be that I've stuck to what I want to do which is only modern designed work...that we design.

Some of the recent calls have been clients going for another round of work but the new stuff is all modern related. Not many guys in my area understand what that is or have an appreciation for it.

The bandwagon around here seems to have shifted toward being "green" and we don't advertise that. Our stuff is certainly energy efficient but we don't advertise that either, it's just the norm, I don't care to brag about what should be the baseline.

Could be design, could be reputation, or could just be dumb luck...I'll take it.

[someguy]

crap ton of new stuff coming in. Problem is guys are framing and siding for nothing, can't even buy a job right now. Homeowners seem to be looking for quality over price and within the month will probably be booked until the fall. Only 3 guys so it's not hard. I hope other guys are seeing the same.

Joe

[mike maines]

Bob, you have a real niche, over the weekend I was on the hill wondering which jobs you might have done--pretty much all the ones that appeal to me. We have just had the slowest two months of the last five years. (Slow from a carpentry standpoint, I personally have been busy designing, PM'ing and working on our marketing and systems.) It seems like things are starting to pick up though.

[Dutchman]

Not sure which ones you looked at Mike. Most likely the ones that 50% hate, 50% love.

Anything I do is a mixed review. There's a sweet one someone is near completion on on Sherman Street, looks great from 295.

[butcher]

It seems like Portland is really busy right now. I am in the middle of a 5 month project on the Eastern prom and it seems like every other house up there is being worked on. I know it took more than an extra week to get my permit and when I called they said they were swamped.

[Dutchman]

You're not kidding Geoff....I like it.

Are you on the turret one or the one on Atlantic?

[mike maines]

Bob, there are two on Cumberland St just above Washington, and one on Fox St just above Washington, and a few on top of the hill, not sure which streets, maybe North. I'm bored with our mostly traditional, conservative designs, but that's usually what our clients want. I appreciate classic architecture but have a growing taste for modern design.

[Ted S.]

I don't think it's the Portland economy, it's obviously Parcy's performance in the most recent Cuddledown commercial. Looks like everyone wants more of that guy. He got them with the black socks.

[Bluewoodrock]

We are a little pokey right now, but I have been seeing lots of plans for new buildings and major remodels. Lots of fire related jobs also, not sure what that means but I have quotes out on 6 different jobs where major fires happened. I think southern Maine is going to have a good year for new construction/renovation, especially if people keep burning things down :)

What I really need is someone who's ready to go next week...

[David Meiland]

You guys keep talking... the rest of us are packing... and moving to Portland.

[Tom Bainbridge]

In that case you haven't got any competition at all :)

My passport has only 6 months to run. So i couldn't even apply for an american work visa, even if i wanted

........ you guys got even luckier again.......... :)

I am an old bastad, so I exceed the maximum age limit anyway :)

[Bluewoodrock]

You guys keep talking... the rest of us are packing... and moving to Portland.

That's fine, but the new guy has to buy the beer at building science discussion group.

[David Meiland]

Bainbridge, you are welcome in this country if you have a solid 3-digit IQ, tons of cash stashed off-shore, and patents on numerous items of military technology. Otherwise, go to the back of line.

Mike, I would love to buy the beer, that would mean I could attend the group. Nothing like that in my 'hood.