I think it is time for this question.
I have been out of the country for 4 months traveling through Mexico and Central America then went to Europe and now in Hawaii haven’t made so much traveling in long time. When you traveling you don’t really belong to a real life, everything seemed normal.

Now my question is how is the recession for you guys; floor contractors, homeowners, everybody.

Thanks

Just like right after 9-11, things got real slow installing, but the repair calls kept paying the bills.

I have been getting calls for more and more commercial work(usually not wood floor related), but flying solo, that doesn't always pan out.

It is a good thing to be very diversified, when things slow down. Other types of floors, or something totally not related to flooring, keeps the bills paid.

Yeah, in California, where construction represents nearly 40% of the state's GDP, it is at a standstill. Thousands daily getting their pink slips, housing values fallen by 50% in many areas, very few are building or remodeling. The only work being done in residential construction is fix up REO's for the banks to sell. Even the foreclosed homes are not selling, yet. But this is typically the slow time of year anyway. We're hoping that by spring time, things will pick up.

In Massachusetts the flooring industry was the first to be hit. Five year ago things almost came to a stop. SRetail stores have been going under left and right, Hoboken floors, Superior floors who was the largest distributor in the country and one of my major suppliers went under after doing hundreds of millions of dollars just the year before. Not to mention all the hacks and illegals out there doing the work for pennys on the dollar. That's it for now although I could keep going.

OK so looks like just the regular slow economy times. Yes in California this winter months gets a little slow sometimes.Last year in CA was for me the best, everybody was starting to talk about recession and slow times and I was doing great.So I guess it all depends on?HMmm hard work?
Jeff Burstain you not trying to say that the illigal worker is taking your jobs?
I have seen a lot of projects , painters, tilers and so on and never felt they really took my job? I am a foringer myself as you can read just a friendly advice go easy on the politics or expresing your appinion about diffrent people , you can ask Gary when he mentioned something bad about Canadians? A lot of people did not like it.
Anyways let's not get into politics. This is flooring forum
Everybody Aloha and get some surfing from time to time or sking.
Recession can be good, there is more time for the things you putting off.And I always say it is more important to make your dreams then money.

Cheers

In Ontario, economy is fair, but a lot of the smaller guys are coming to us in the hopes of sub-contracting some work from us. Seems most of the consumers looking for flooring are opting to go with larger higher profile companies but are certainly getting many quotes for their job, so pricing has become very sensitive for clients, not just reputation.
I think there is enough work to sustain the industry this year, but next year, now thats the question.

Been traveling as well the last six weeks, now home. The roads are busy, but try finding new construction. It isn't there except for very small pockets here and there. Apartment building is definately there.

Dennins Next year the economy will be booming This 2009 is hard that's it.
For some people, for a lot of people.
Ken Where have you been for 6 weeks? That's sounds like a nice vacation.
driving around US and Canada?
I have drove from San Francisco California to Panama City.
Three months on the road unforgettable trip.
Cheers Everybody let's go back to nailing and sanding.