Structural Engineers

[cr0ft]

Hi all. Do any of you get involved in doing work for any of these? We do property renovation work and one of them wants to meet up for a coffee to have a chat with me as they project manage a lot of domestic and commercial jobs. I read that as him interviewing me to be honest! I'm really nervous actually as I think they could probably pass us quite a lot of work if it goes well. Most construction trade professionals want someone who will do a good job for their clients and cost isn't their main focus so it could work really well for us.

They are a big name in Lincoln and have built the university halls of residence etc.

 

[Ermintrude]

Yes . They were probably consulting engineers and didn't actually build it. If a big concern why are they managing domestic stuff?

I'm sure there is a lot in it for them too. Just watch payment terms. And they will expect you to be able to respond at drop of a hat. Do small favours and prepare quotes and method statements at the drop of a hat and some times leading to .... Sweet FA.

But also they may pay you golden eggs!!!

 

[cr0ft]

The conversation wasn't that clear on the phone today. I think they manage larger residential buildings as opposed to domestic really. At least that's what the portfolio on their website seems to indicate. I reckon it is worth a chat with them tbh.

 

[Ermintrude]

Defo worth a chat. Keep your cards close as remember when your busy do you go looking for people to help grow your business? Don't do anything for free. Even doing take off or quotes.

 

[hammers4spanner]

one of my best mates is a structural engineer and i very much get the impression that doing any work for him would be a pain in the urse. However he has said on numerous occasions that the mechanical companies he uses charge a lot of wedge

 

[Ermintrude]

The mech companies charge a lot as they loose at lot on big jobs. 5% retention gone. 10% waste gone 15% damages........ QS loves not to pay

 

[cr0ft]

Going to see what happens when I meet him. Not wanting to get into huge work really but if I can get a recommend onto managing a couple of property renovations a year out of it I would be very happy.

 

[hammers4spanner]

One huge bonus of doing bigger stuff is when you price jobs on commercial i would price in trips to thailand or new tv's also had the most upto date tool kit i ever had courtesy of someone else's pocket.

 

[cr0ft]

Hmm. I've done my trips abroad when I was in the RN so if I'm going anywhere now it would be with the wife! The tools idea sounds grand though but I think we are too small an outfit to take on commercial projects, there are only 3 of us and one of them is not very useful yet (2 months into his apprenticeship) at anything plumbing related.

 

[hammers4spanner]

Mate i'm a 1 man band was doing regular school/hospital/office jobs

Knocked it on head last year as eventually you know you will get stung on something

 

[cr0ft]

Ah ok. What sort of work did you do? Maintenance work and repairs or full installations? I had just assumed that they would want larger companies in to do that as the systems are bigger and they take longer.

I know it's a matter of scale but you get stung on domestic work too, I've just come to learn it's a perk of doing business.

 

[cr0ft]

Out of curiosity so I don't go in very green, do those of you who do commercial work charge higher labour rates to do this work?

Would be very interested to know so I chat realistically about pricing when we meet. Don't want to undersell myself but don't want to come in stupidly cheap either.

 

[hammers4spanner]

If you don't want to book a holiday via commercial work then buy an R8 instead

Had a commercial council contract doing maintenance
And county council one doing full installs from boiler changes ,Heating installs (all in iron) and all sorts of fancy toilet stuff.

difference is its challenging but pays well however in domestic you may get stung on 200 quid in commercial it can be few thousand , but as rem says i use to put it in to loose that .

Also i use to get told a lot of prices from other mech companies

 

[hammers4spanner]

I know the rates here are gas £70 - £120 per hour plumbing £30 - £50 per hour

i have that on good authority

 

[Ermintrude]

You won't get much on hourly rate if it's a manager project be price work. Materials are list plus 10%

Labour - what ever he suggests pretend it's low. Commercial site lads generally don't work hard as on HR rate and not price. If your on price u can make a £1000 a day