Trenching and groundwork

[Rockingit]

For a sparky, I seem to be spending an awful lot of time with a spade in my hand at the moment. With jobs becoming increasingly tight for budget, and the need to reduce subby costs wherever possible, something that's a fixed-price job and only a couple of hours digging I'm tending just to get on and do.

Is this a worrying trend? Are others doing similar?

 

[Farmelectrics]

is this for yourself or are you working for a contrator

 

[Marvo]

I think it can be counterproductive to do this kind of work yourself if you could be earning your hourly rate elsewhere. It's a fine line I suppose because if you don't have much work it would be saving you some money by doing your own donkey work. The other flip side is that time might be better spent marketing and generating new work if you're quiet so I guess there's no right or wrong.

 

[Rockingit]

No, for me. Currently laying in ducting to carry CCTV cables. I sort of don't mind (in fact I think I secretly quite enjoy it and I just count the extra exercise towards my gym routine!) but it's just a little disconcerting when the brickies and and 'proper' groundworkers on site see you with a spade and barrow and a sweat on your brow.....sets a very bad precident!!!

 

[Guest55]

Digging sorts the men from the boys IMO.
And i still charge standard hourly rate for doing it , so no loss of earnings whilst doing unskilled work.
As you say , good exercise lol.

 

[Richard Burns]

I always wanted to buy one these trenching machines and turn up in someones garden with it to lay their SWA to the garage!

Totally not worth it for me and I tend to get the customer to do the digging for me as I have a damaged back, I will dig a few feet but that its about it.
Then again cost is king at all times and this is the way forward, unfortunately.

 

[Farmelectrics]

No no higher a labourer for the day to dig trench and put a bit on top for yourself