“My brother, who has zero experience in construction, answered a craigslist ad for a roofer position at a large roofing company. They offered it to him after a brief interview, 15 bucks an hour. He started work and was ‘trained’ by a crack addicted employee. The crack head, actually asked to borrow money from him for supplies, which turned out to be a lie for drugs – he obliged and offered up $200 – which he never saw again. My brother confronted his boss after the crack head went awol for a week. The boss had the keys to his apartment (the crack head was staying at an apartment of his) and offered him to go in and take whatever he wanted ! My brother quit shortly after.
If this is the quality of the people who are in the industry now, I can only wonder the quality of the output… crazy.”
- Loon at VREAA 30 Oct 2011 8:46pm
“When I was younger I did roofing for an outfit in Alberta and they had strict standards:
- sneak off to a local pub at lunch for a quick beer if you’re going to drink on the job. Or a one beer limit on the roof, but pound it so the customer doesn’t see
- smoke weed in the company truck but never ever on the roof. That would be unprofessional
- if it goes up nose I don’t want to know about it, but you’d better share
– if you’re working on the road don’t bring hookers back to the motel room you’re sharing with your fellow roofer. That’s what parking lots are for.
- be nice to the new guy. He just got out of prison, and oh by the way – can he stay with you for a while until he gets on his feet?
- all fights are to be done on the ground away from the kettle. And don’t throw hot tar at your enemy/co-worker no matter how much you want to kill him
Good times!”
- nobody you know at VREAA 30 Oct 2011 9:29pm
Concerned citizens hear these stories all the time, but they’ve gotta be exaggerations, right?
- vreaa
Apparently this phenomenon waxes and wanes with the market itself, as unskilled “skilled labourers” come out of the woodwork during boom times. A RE agent I know advises her clients not to buy any new construction built during a housing boom, for this very reason.
Roofers sound like they are cut from the same cloth as concrete placers and finishers.
And painters too. Don’t forget painters.
Speak to any construction insurance providers and they can give you low down on many “best practices” in the industry and who to avoid.
One of the best set ups I’ve ever heard was two builders collude and are stealing from each other and making two insurance claims. Fraudulently brilliant!
VREAA! How could you!? – VanDyke/MaryPoppins: Positively, the worst Cockney accent ever feigned. Ever!
However, ChannellingMaryPoppins here/now… does present us with an opportunity to collectively enjoy some delicious ironies…
Accordingly, let’s all do… [no, not the TimeWarp!]… The FidelityFiduciary!
http://tinyurl.com/48xggt
“Concerned citizens hear these stories all the time, but they’ve gotta be exaggerations, right?”
- vreaa
I only scratched the surface. This is a family blog, after all.
I can honestly say that the roofer is the bottom of the barrel of the construction industry, drinking, drug use and crack use is common. i can’t think of any profession I’d rather see less than roofer on a rental application, unless it’s prostitute, drug dealer, or stripper. Except no one will actually write that on an application.
I’m not a landlord, but I’d rent to a stripper. They would always pay in cash. Crumpled 1 dollar bills, but still. (Well, that joke doesn’t quite work in Canada, does it…)
Ever try roofing for longer then a week? Not very many sane individuals can handle it. Who else is left to do it? Also, it’s physically demanding as hell, no wonder they “self medicate”. Not condoning the behavior but that’s the reality of certain trades.
“Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers” – Primus
I’ve seen them out at Soco
They’re pounding sixteen penny nails
The truckers on the interstate
Have been known to ride the rails
The sweat is beating on the brow
Can’t keep these fellas down
‘Cause those damned blue-collared tweekers
Are runnin’ this here town
I knew a man who hung drywall
He hung it mighty quick
A trip or two to the blue room
Would help him do the trick
His foreman would pat him on the back
Whenever he would come around
‘Cause these dammed blue-collar tweekers
Are beloved in this here town
Now the union boys are there
To protect us from all the corporate type
While curious George’s drug patrol
Is out here hunting snipe
Now they try to tell me different
But you know I ain’t no clown
‘Cause those damned blue-collar tweekers
Are the backbone of this town
Now the flame that burns twice as bright
Burns only half as long
My eyes are growing weary
As I finalize this song
So sit back and have a cup o’ joe
And watch the wheels go round
‘Cause those damned blue-collar tweekers
Have always run this town