Just wondering how many of you are experiencing a major down turn in work. I have been without work for about 3 months now, most of the contractors are out of work and the flooring stores that I used to do subcontract work for have either gone out of business or are so slow they have their shop guys/owner doing the work. There is also a lot of immigrant workers in this area that are killing the labor rate's, installing for .75 a sq/ft and finishing for the same. Their quality is not as good as I have seen some of their work, but the average customer doesn't care.

Dont feel alone my friend. Times are worse than tough out here. Distributors are crying the blues, stores are closing, installers haven't worked for months are leaving town. Everyone's in survival mode, to say the least. I worked 3 days in Jan., have 1 1/2 weeks this month. But I'm fortunate, I have a low overhead and put money away over the years. Gotta keep your chin up ... monday I got 2 huge "go aheads", and my March is slammed , ( all it takes is a phone call or 2 ). And dont worry about those guys giving labor away ,doing sub par work, word gets around. Keep a good positive attitude, be professional, take care of your customers, it will go your way.

Since we have a lot of different customers, builders, insurance, custom contractors, as well as retail; we are fortunate to be sheltered from the worst of this economic problem. We also re-sell to contractors and DIY peeps so inventory moves through the system quickly.
In my position here (one of many hats) as purchaser I am impacted the most by a general shortage of material. This of course was caused by the logging industry grinding to a halt last year. There are no logs available and apparently the loggers are constantly upping the costs on every quote, and wont cut without a commitment.
It seems like there is no shortage of entry level stuff (laminates, etc.) and lots of high end custom work. But the bread and butter stuff is being fought over to the point that there is no profit in it.

Time to go logging I guess.

Got Wood....this is why I started building my website, because it's so dang slow. I just sent out an invitation to a few clients for their opinion on the look of the site. Course thats also hoping they will want more work done. Seems like everyone wants me to change something different. lol I just changed a few things around on it like the size of the text and background color. I'm getting calls on it already and have achieved a high page rank on local google listings.

I also just interviewed for a sales position as well. Send out resumes.

Maybe Ken will post my website on his other forum.

BTW I cannot read the text in your picture.

Stephen, Your Websites really looking great !

Yea, looking much better SP.

What other forum?

Thanks for the compliments. A young lady said today she picked me cus of the looks of it. I still am torn between a pretty front page or multiple pics on the front. I guess what ever is working who knows!

Ken, I meant your other site. Whats funny is your site/page with the fireplace hearths come up right along with my website most of the time on google.

IMHO, I like the multiple pictures on the home page , they really grab your attention.
I sure wouldn't mind putting together an installation site myself. Problem is I haven't been taking pictures over the years . I should probably start taking pictures now, so no excuse later .

Well, back on track about the economy....It cant be too bad, like I was saying all it takes is a phone call or 2.

Check this Palo Duro Collection out. Just got the go ahead on 1900 sq. ft. of Spanish Peak Walnut , the material is 15.39. I'll be taking pictures of this one .

http://www.palodurocollection.com/

Yea man, definetly take some pics of that! That kiln dried MC is about perfect for here.

I was looking at the Navarre collection from USFloors yesterday, 10 inch wide over 3/4in thick x 84in long plank engineered with a 1/4 inch top. May as well call it solid. Nice stuff I need to install some of that.

Get your hands on some of this Palo Duro, ( Virginia has it ). Tough to get samples but worth it, not too many dealers have it, and they dont give it away . The stuff is beautiful, people that have the bucks have to have it. .

( I'm hoping my "Skill" comes in time for the install , It's a looong way to the saws through this house ).

You hope your "Skill" arrives in time? Hope your not a newbie

Whoa...up there with the old Patina solid stuff.

Thats about what the Navarre collection is running.

Snip: Navarre Timeless Wood Floors™ consists of 24 wide plank natural oil finished oak floors in an engineered tongue and groove construction. Three widths and two thicknesses are represented:

· 7 ¼” width in 13/16” and 5/8” thickness

· 10 ¼” width in 13/16” thickness

· 12” wide, 3-strip in 5/8” thickness

According to Erramuzpe, “The 13/16” thickness and its ¼” wear layer is similar to a solid floor but much more stable and offers the option to be glued down over a concrete slab.


Lengths run like 84 inches to 72 inches and 6mm wear layer

http://www.usfloorsllc.com/blog/2009/09 ... /#more-580