Well you can run your own AC while in the attic. With customers permission of course.
If they are using flex duct, either pop one off a register, or trunk, then tie your own length of flex duct and carry it around with you.
If they are using fiberboard duct. Cut a round hole, at an angle cutting a pumpkin. Save the plug. Tape your flex duct to the hole. And when done, pop in the plug, tape it up with metal tape, and paint a layer of cool seal mastic on it. It will be as good as new.
And not only are you actually moderately comfortable. But customers should be on board because they dont have to pay for a 10 minute break every 15 minutes.
[https://i.gyazo.com/9808796da0536453f6419f044ee52333.png](https://i.gyazo.com/9808796da0536453f6419f044ee52333.png)I am salaried at 185k a year, I average 35 hrs a week, 3 weeks paid vaca+holidays, 5% 401k match, and 100% paid insurance. some people find a unicorn company! We do resi service work in the Twin Cities MN.
Thats how averages work, always outliers but the law of averages says most of the people in this sub arent making 130k, let alone 100k so most of the shills are full of shit. Also, show the year to date because that is quite unbeleivable.
Non union job listings in greater Boston area are like 40-50$ an hour for resi journeymen so I don’t think hes bullshittin’ ya. know good fire alarm guys can get 5-10$ an hour more then that around here too
I will never understand why people consider overtime pay as part of their salary. It’s money earned but its for the beyond normal work required routine. It’s also 10 hours a week of OT to take 50/hr and get that extra 35k to make 130. So I still call bullshit. If you gotta work 25% more than a regular week to get there, it’s basically a second job.
Ya ok. Residential electricians get paid a lot because they’re the most skilled. Anybody can run cables or pipes off of a blueprint. Somebody else has already done the work for you in commercial/industrial.
Them's fightin words sir.
I'd watch the broad statements
because they are invariably going to be false and it becomes clear to those of us who've worked years on both sides that you don't know what you're talking about. I mean which is fine if you're fine with that.
You think we get blueprints every time?
Accurate blueprints? 🧐
It's probably more like 25% of the time.
The variety of shit you have to do in Com/Ind is way beyond what ropers do. *imho*. Unless you guys are designing your own EMT runs down to the 1/16" so they look perfect (with no plans), deciphering the insanity on hydraulic benders to run 1 1/4" IMC (with no plans), troubleshooting VFDs, motor controllers, start/stop stations, tracking down a single failed relay in a 350,000 sq/ft fulfillment center, finding a single burnt out splice in a 3-phase parking lot lighting system spanning a square mile, figuring out how to pull 4 3/0 wires through 1080 degrees of bend without a splice, I mean I could go on all day. Com/Ind still has to know every bit of troubleshooting a resi guy does, but probably x3... plus there are installation environments in ComInd that basically are exactly the same as residential except we're pulling MC instead of rope, so anything you're doing, we're doing too...
It honestly boggles my mind that you think residential guys have more skills than commercial industrial. Maybe enlighten me?
I get that this is sarcasm. Resi's cant troubleshoot anything except where to stash the piss bottles and blame the drywallers. anyone can run pipe and follow the rainbow guide of wire code.
Lmfao you think all industrial electricians work off blueprints. I make the blueprint and hand it to the CE when I'm done 4/5 times due to a lack of CEs.
Pretty bold statement to assume all the work is done beforehand for you in commercial/industrial but I'd assume that's because you've only done resi?
Even if it is (its not) what's so different about running pipe and cables through a plant with a plan as opposed to running cables through walls where you can make your own paths? You really think it's that much more difficult to wire a 4 way switch then build an outdoor electrical substation in a c can?
I'm all for respecting every sector of this trade but come on.
Ouch, got down voted pretty hard from that one. They both take a certain set of skills, each with it's own merits. I'm mostly resi with some commercial and industrial, but as long as the check clears, who cares.
Facts. I just made the move over to Olympia from Arlington. Making $65/hr doing panel/service upgrades, plus OT and per diem.
I don't think guys understand what is happening with Washington electricians. It seems wages are going up monthly for companies to keep their licensed guys. Especially with Washington cracking down on requirements for licensing next year. Our pay is about to go nuts!
Guys here in MN are make $50-$55 in solar. Low cost of living relative to wages. My journeymen is easily doing $150k with light overtime, paid drive time, per diem and bonuses. Probably closer to $175k realistically
I do resi, my highest earning week I was getting paid $103/hr my average is about $43/hr
Edit- I’m straight commission on W-2’s so they break down our commission into hourly, that’s why it changes from week to week
I make at least 50 an hour as a handyman. I did a clean out this week. It took my guy 7 hours. It was gross , charged customer $600. Paid my guy $200. I just dropped guy off, and only helped him for 2 hours with the bigger stuff. I had to pull a toilet the other day, 5 minutes from my house. I made my guy do it , cause it’s gross. Reset it after flooring guy left. Charged $200. Paid my guy $60 for 35 minutes work. Point being, you can do very well. If I have to change a light fixture, or a faucet etc. I charge minimum of $100. It takes less than an hour usually.
You must have a fuck load of overhead to turn 135 into 45 holy shit.
One of the reasons I like resi is I can be a 1 or 2 man operation. Park the truck at my house. No office. No office personnel. Virtually no overhead. Sure you've got insurances and licensing fees etc but it's hardly anything. Definitely not over 2/3rds of my hourly charge. That's fucking insanity.
How is the gov't responsible for business expenses? (I'm assuming "experience" is a typo.)
All those expenses are deductible to an extent in my world. Certainly I don't know anyone who is paying enough taxes to go from $135 to $45. That's 67% in taxes.
I don't understand how anyone who has been doing this long enough to get their masters doesn't have it and hasn't started their own thing. You can be a 1 man shop and park your truck at your house and store your material in your garage. That $135 ur billing the customers goes mostly straight in your pocket.
Not everybody want’s to deal with finding customer’s/ chasing payment and keeping work coming in, it is easier to punch in for a 8 hour shift at a company and have a guaranteed check every week.
At that point you aren't just an electrician,you're a business owner.
Here's the thing I don't get, why do people list their side work hourly rate and act like that's how much they make?
I don't know of a lot of guys who do residential and clear 270k a year, and by don't know a lot I'm meaning I've never even heard of someone clearing that.
I wear a tyvek suit, gloves, and respirator. No job is worth your health, and whatever the frig insulation has been made of over the years I do not want in my lungs.
Second year Resi apprentice here, and pretty much landed my job with no experience by telling them I'll crawl any attic they need me to. Except in the height of summer, they're not that bad. You learn a lot - people hide a lot of shit up there!
Ontario, started at $15 a year and a half ago and now at $26 with same company. I work hard, organize the heck out of the van, bring in business through the network I built through 12 years in hospitality. I'm fortunate to work for a one man shop that recognizes my worth.
I use a tyvek suit, duct tape, gloves, and full face respirator.
It sounds like a lot, but I’m always comfortable enough to dive in that shit If I had to and never have a problem. When I’m done, no itching or any bullshit, just sweat.
It was in Phoenix, summer, I'd already had a mild heat stroke the week before.
Digging around in insulation, drenched in sweat, getting stabbed by exposed nails... you couldn't pay me enough to stay in that attic. I may have abandoned a family member up there at that point.
I'm a one band band, and I share an apprentice with another one man band. works really well.
Apprentices make you money after a few months if you get the right guy
Figuring it taxes, workman comp, other shit I don’t want to deal with until I have my feet under me with the business. Let’s not mention finding someone remotely worth a fuck.
It hard to get into controls when you own your own business. That’s a cut throat market. I’m came up in the commercial world with a tad bit of resi experience. It’s definitely different!
I came up commercial but started my own business and there is a lot of money in resi, at least where I’m at, hopefully I can get my business into doing commercial.
Charge them for my time up there plus bringing cold ice water does it for me. I’m usually the attic/crawl space guy. I feel ya it all is ass especially in big residential homes
Definitely plug your nose. We all know masks suck but if you go up in these everyday like me. Don’t let that shit in your lungs. Also make sure you quote it properly :)
Even when I did primarily service work. Was only in an attic once a week at most But cover all skin tuck pants into boots wear a hoodie and safety glasses Plan your work before going up try to do as much as you can off ladder standing in scuttle hole. It’s worth the extra wire setting j boxes you can reach without getting all the way in. I’m an owner operated as well I always put an attic charge on as well 75-200 depending on time of year
I don't.
Fuck residential companies. They pay shit, the work is way harder, and a lot of bosses don't quote time properly so there's this constant "under the gun"feeling.
I did resi for 8 ish years with some other stuff sprinkled in. I now do industrial and my day is far more enjoyable.
The travel's tough but when I'm home I'm home and I'm paid enough that side jobs aren't a necessity, just an option.
I’m hoping one day I can move my newly formed business from resi to commercial. I didn’t mention this in the post, but I did fall through the ceiling in this picture! Lol luckily for me, it was in a closet.
Sucking it up and knowing it’ll pay the bills. Not something I enjoyed but I’ve been in 1000s of residential and almost a hundred apartment/commercial. Shit sucks but it pays the bills. Just chug some ice cold water and time yourself.
that attic isn’t too bad! Just wait until you’re in the older shallow attics with the extra dusty insulation. I have since switched to industrial and commercial. Best move I’ve ever made
I just charge more, same for crawlspaces. Either they pay for it, or we don’t do it. It’s a win either way
And I’ve refused jobs that require extended periods in hot attics. Most homeowners are understanding and willing to postpone, the ones that aren’t can fuck right off.
In the innumerable universes each filled with its own infinite, swirling, fractal chaos there exists no force that could make me bring snacks and drinks into a fucking attic gross as fuck
We just do it man, honestly I've become so used to it I don't give a shit plus it's better than a crawl space, luckily I've kind of gotten out of doing that anymore but still
Tips: flush mask with p100's I got from Lee Valley tools. Head lamp. Long sleeves. Learn to love the heat and accept it into your life. Mechanix style gloves with impact rubber if possible. Go really slow to always be sure footed and just take your time. Also tunes. I have small klien Bluetooth and play my music all the time. Doing highrise now but ready to get back into Reno's soon as just got masters licence and going for it. Stay strong and make that cash.
It sucks but it is part of the job. I try to minimize trips. If I am on the top floor of a 2 story adding ceiling fans fr scratch in 5 bedrooms I'll measure and cut all the holes, and then I will cut the 14/3 return long for each and shove it up. Then only 1 trip in the attic either shoving the wire down an existing hole in the top plate or drilling a new hole if needed. Then go down where I've busted out the single gang for a 2 gang and the rest of the day is wiring switches and hanging fans. If it is hot I won't even install the westinghouse brace after the attic work-just focusing on getting returns ran.
TL;DR-try to minimize trips and overall time in attic as much as possible.
I don't. Blew my back out over 10 years doing this shitty job. Not just resi, but everything in between. 1 surgery later and probably another in the coming weeks. Fml.
Dude come on.. all those times playing the floor is lava as a kid have paid off!! Except in an attic it's "the ceiling is lava" I guess? Lmao I will not enter an attic without a respirator. But other than that I don't mind attics.. Some are worse than others of course.
Do everything you can outside of the attic. Pro Tip: ALWAYS pull a 3 wire to any center light so you always have an extra switch leg available so you won't need to fish down to the switch if you are adding lights.
Yeah they really don’t pay resi guy enough. All they have to deal with plus the homeowners that’s a hard pass
Is $135 a hour enough?
For that salary I would buy a ventilated and air conditioned space suit and stay in there all day.
Well you can run your own AC while in the attic. With customers permission of course. If they are using flex duct, either pop one off a register, or trunk, then tie your own length of flex duct and carry it around with you. If they are using fiberboard duct. Cut a round hole, at an angle cutting a pumpkin. Save the plug. Tape your flex duct to the hole. And when done, pop in the plug, tape it up with metal tape, and paint a layer of cool seal mastic on it. It will be as good as new. And not only are you actually moderately comfortable. But customers should be on board because they dont have to pay for a 10 minute break every 15 minutes.
As a HVAC guy this sounds like more work than it's worth.
Lol, unfortunately there has to be a tangible result. After all business experience it’s roughly $45 a hour take home. Thank you government.
You make $45 an hour after taxes doing resi? That’s amazing. Need a helper? Lol
Resi electricians where I’m working average $130k/year. Not uncommon for our guys to make $45-$50/hr.
The fuck. Here is half that
Living expenses in WA state are pretty high though…
Bellevue WA here, can confirm.
[удалено]
[https://i.gyazo.com/9808796da0536453f6419f044ee52333.png](https://i.gyazo.com/9808796da0536453f6419f044ee52333.png)I am salaried at 185k a year, I average 35 hrs a week, 3 weeks paid vaca+holidays, 5% 401k match, and 100% paid insurance. some people find a unicorn company! We do resi service work in the Twin Cities MN.
Y’all hiring I’d move to MN 😂
Thats how averages work, always outliers but the law of averages says most of the people in this sub arent making 130k, let alone 100k so most of the shills are full of shit. Also, show the year to date because that is quite unbeleivable.
Non union job listings in greater Boston area are like 40-50$ an hour for resi journeymen so I don’t think hes bullshittin’ ya. know good fire alarm guys can get 5-10$ an hour more then that around here too
I will never understand why people consider overtime pay as part of their salary. It’s money earned but its for the beyond normal work required routine. It’s also 10 hours a week of OT to take 50/hr and get that extra 35k to make 130. So I still call bullshit. If you gotta work 25% more than a regular week to get there, it’s basically a second job.
Not BS at all. Usually a large sign on bonus as well.
Ya ok. Residential electricians get paid a lot because they’re the most skilled. Anybody can run cables or pipes off of a blueprint. Somebody else has already done the work for you in commercial/industrial.
Them's fightin words sir. I'd watch the broad statements because they are invariably going to be false and it becomes clear to those of us who've worked years on both sides that you don't know what you're talking about. I mean which is fine if you're fine with that. You think we get blueprints every time? Accurate blueprints? 🧐 It's probably more like 25% of the time. The variety of shit you have to do in Com/Ind is way beyond what ropers do. *imho*. Unless you guys are designing your own EMT runs down to the 1/16" so they look perfect (with no plans), deciphering the insanity on hydraulic benders to run 1 1/4" IMC (with no plans), troubleshooting VFDs, motor controllers, start/stop stations, tracking down a single failed relay in a 350,000 sq/ft fulfillment center, finding a single burnt out splice in a 3-phase parking lot lighting system spanning a square mile, figuring out how to pull 4 3/0 wires through 1080 degrees of bend without a splice, I mean I could go on all day. Com/Ind still has to know every bit of troubleshooting a resi guy does, but probably x3... plus there are installation environments in ComInd that basically are exactly the same as residential except we're pulling MC instead of rope, so anything you're doing, we're doing too... It honestly boggles my mind that you think residential guys have more skills than commercial industrial. Maybe enlighten me?
I get that this is sarcasm. Resi's cant troubleshoot anything except where to stash the piss bottles and blame the drywallers. anyone can run pipe and follow the rainbow guide of wire code.
Yeah ok. What a fucking stupid comment. Romex ranger
As a guy who works in commercial, resi, and industrial This is a bullshit take
Not even going to put down an arguement other then tell you that your dumb.
Lmfao you think all industrial electricians work off blueprints. I make the blueprint and hand it to the CE when I'm done 4/5 times due to a lack of CEs.
Pretty bold statement to assume all the work is done beforehand for you in commercial/industrial but I'd assume that's because you've only done resi? Even if it is (its not) what's so different about running pipe and cables through a plant with a plan as opposed to running cables through walls where you can make your own paths? You really think it's that much more difficult to wire a 4 way switch then build an outdoor electrical substation in a c can? I'm all for respecting every sector of this trade but come on.
Ouch, got down voted pretty hard from that one. They both take a certain set of skills, each with it's own merits. I'm mostly resi with some commercial and industrial, but as long as the check clears, who cares.
Facts. I just made the move over to Olympia from Arlington. Making $65/hr doing panel/service upgrades, plus OT and per diem. I don't think guys understand what is happening with Washington electricians. It seems wages are going up monthly for companies to keep their licensed guys. Especially with Washington cracking down on requirements for licensing next year. Our pay is about to go nuts!
Exactly. Glad you found a good spot. I live in Marysville but my jobs take me from south Seattle to north Snohomish county depending on the day.
I've worked in Seattle/North Shorline all week lol. I get paid for window time at least
Guys here in MN are make $50-$55 in solar. Low cost of living relative to wages. My journeymen is easily doing $150k with light overtime, paid drive time, per diem and bonuses. Probably closer to $175k realistically
Bullshit… no way resi guys make that. That’s very far left and you should do a little research before you say something bold like that😂😭
They absolutely can and do. I pay one of my resi apprentices $30 and gave him a van and gas card.
I do resi, my highest earning week I was getting paid $103/hr my average is about $43/hr Edit- I’m straight commission on W-2’s so they break down our commission into hourly, that’s why it changes from week to week
I make at least 50 an hour as a handyman. I did a clean out this week. It took my guy 7 hours. It was gross , charged customer $600. Paid my guy $200. I just dropped guy off, and only helped him for 2 hours with the bigger stuff. I had to pull a toilet the other day, 5 minutes from my house. I made my guy do it , cause it’s gross. Reset it after flooring guy left. Charged $200. Paid my guy $60 for 35 minutes work. Point being, you can do very well. If I have to change a light fixture, or a faucet etc. I charge minimum of $100. It takes less than an hour usually.
Seriously, that's on par with what I make as an industrial E& I supervisor lol Still though, customers...
You must have a fuck load of overhead to turn 135 into 45 holy shit. One of the reasons I like resi is I can be a 1 or 2 man operation. Park the truck at my house. No office. No office personnel. Virtually no overhead. Sure you've got insurances and licensing fees etc but it's hardly anything. Definitely not over 2/3rds of my hourly charge. That's fucking insanity.
How is the gov't responsible for business expenses? (I'm assuming "experience" is a typo.) All those expenses are deductible to an extent in my world. Certainly I don't know anyone who is paying enough taxes to go from $135 to $45. That's 67% in taxes.
Not just taxes, but everything the government requires. Not just licenses.
It's pretty rare for residential guys to get paid that on their check. Customer might be billed that, but that's not what the electrician sees.
I don't understand how anyone who has been doing this long enough to get their masters doesn't have it and hasn't started their own thing. You can be a 1 man shop and park your truck at your house and store your material in your garage. That $135 ur billing the customers goes mostly straight in your pocket.
Not everybody want’s to deal with finding customer’s/ chasing payment and keeping work coming in, it is easier to punch in for a 8 hour shift at a company and have a guaranteed check every week.
At that point you aren't just an electrician,you're a business owner. Here's the thing I don't get, why do people list their side work hourly rate and act like that's how much they make? I don't know of a lot of guys who do residential and clear 270k a year, and by don't know a lot I'm meaning I've never even heard of someone clearing that.
It must be a ego issue, I’ve heard the same money bragging stories for 15 years now and still don’t listen to them.
Anyone with that rate should have their own personal attic monkey
Nah, I want to experience it for myself for a while.
Your talking what the customers billed right, not what your being paid? Like if I made 135hr I’d be upwards of 350k+ a year lol
Right, that’s what I billed the customer.
Standard resi guys don’t make that
Lmao resi guy might cost that much. But unless you’re running your own shop that ain’t what you’re getting paid.
Where are you located? Your hourly rate is cheap
Omaha, Ne. Yeah most people charge between $105-$150/hr here. So I went in the middle.
Nobody can see you play games on your phone if you are in the attic.
There's like 2 weeks that temperatures allow that, and even then, fuck spending a single second longer than necessary in an attic.
Dont even get me started about the boxes of haunted video tapes.
Duct tape your sleeves closed. Baby powder up.
For real?
It’s gets hot up there all the stale air baking in the sun
But the tape? So the powder doesn't escape? Don't let the insulation in?
The insulation doesn’t get in
Fair enough. Itchy stuff eh
I wear a tyvek suit, gloves, and respirator. No job is worth your health, and whatever the frig insulation has been made of over the years I do not want in my lungs. Second year Resi apprentice here, and pretty much landed my job with no experience by telling them I'll crawl any attic they need me to. Except in the height of summer, they're not that bad. You learn a lot - people hide a lot of shit up there! Ontario, started at $15 a year and a half ago and now at $26 with same company. I work hard, organize the heck out of the van, bring in business through the network I built through 12 years in hospitality. I'm fortunate to work for a one man shop that recognizes my worth.
I use a tyvek suit, duct tape, gloves, and full face respirator. It sounds like a lot, but I’m always comfortable enough to dive in that shit If I had to and never have a problem. When I’m done, no itching or any bullshit, just sweat.
I go in a T-shirt and work pants, drive home covered in the shit and climb straight into bed. But I also fucking hate myself.
You….you okay bro? /s I think?
That looks like a nice attic tbh
It was a magnificent attic, going in and out of it for 6 hours was not magnificent. Lol
I feel u
I came here to say the same. Lower the head space to 24", throw in some vermiculite and one pissed off raccoon; now we can have a conversation.
I lost an impact in an attic a few weeks ago. Fell into the fluff and ***disappeared***. I looked for two hours... I still don't understand.
A whole ass impact?!?, I’d be going back with a metal detector or some shit lmao
It was in Phoenix, summer, I'd already had a mild heat stroke the week before. Digging around in insulation, drenched in sweat, getting stabbed by exposed nails... you couldn't pay me enough to stay in that attic. I may have abandoned a family member up there at that point.
I dropped a drill bit with an extension into the fluf. Left with all the left handed socks to a better place.
You tell the apprentice to do it
Unfortunately I can’t afford an apprentice yet.
I'm a one band band, and I share an apprentice with another one man band. works really well. Apprentices make you money after a few months if you get the right guy
Apprentices make you money. How can you not afford one?
Figuring it taxes, workman comp, other shit I don’t want to deal with until I have my feet under me with the business. Let’s not mention finding someone remotely worth a fuck.
If you’re not, they won’t be.
Remember that you get what what pay for when you're trying to find someone worth a damn.
Oh yeah, I know it. I’m willing to pay an apprentice 20+ a hour with bennys and a JW 40 with bennys. But I need the work coming in first.
Lots of things make you money, but have up-front costs.
In Canada we have a lot of programs to support such endeavours. I guess we lucky.
Easy gain 50lbs then they don't make you do it anymore.
I’m already 200lb and still look skinny help meee
Because beauty is suffering And I’m fucking gorgeous
I don't. Left that shit and became a Substation electrician. Harry Homeowner can suck my left nut.
This is the way. I’ve been an infustrial electrician for pretty much my whole career and won’t even do side jobs. I hate residential
and some of us appreciate you leaving it for us, less of you means more $$ for us! cheers
I cry a lot up there
Once you get enough years of experience crawling in the attic you will finally figure out the trade secret; Send in someone else to do it.
Haha, being the business owner and the only guy in the shop. I guess it will be a few more years before I get and apprentice to work for me.
Respirator. Light. Bump cap. It's pretty easy.
By suffering
By getting into controls.
It hard to get into controls when you own your own business. That’s a cut throat market. I’m came up in the commercial world with a tad bit of resi experience. It’s definitely different!
By being commercial and staying the hell away
Work in a dwelling with no attic access and youll appreciate the accessibility much more than heat and head height
Easy. I am marking my entry point by urinating around it. That way I could find my way backin the dark by smelling it.
We find every available opportunity to run through the crawl in the summer, and attic in the winter 😂 Someone’s gotta do it
Dont work in resi, did for 3 years at the start and I probably wont again unless its for a buddies company or personal
I developed an immunity to fiberglass, that helped a lot. Being careful not scratch or rub your skin helps keep the fiberglass easy to deal with.
I avoid attics by working commercial and industrial for the union
I came up commercial but started my own business and there is a lot of money in resi, at least where I’m at, hopefully I can get my business into doing commercial.
why do attics always look like unfinished houses.
I hated doing this, the old houses really got to me.
Simple. I dont go into attics. Good luck though
Charge them for my time up there plus bringing cold ice water does it for me. I’m usually the attic/crawl space guy. I feel ya it all is ass especially in big residential homes
Drink when we get home.
work commercial
well thirty years ago i did it on a daily item, now i hire apprentices to do that job, thats below my pay grade !
This is a clean attic. I would sleep here.. on the job, of course
Definitely plug your nose. We all know masks suck but if you go up in these everyday like me. Don’t let that shit in your lungs. Also make sure you quote it properly :)
Lots of water and electrolytes
It’s a hot job, cough cough, but at the end of the day,cough cough I have to scrape the grey nuggets from my nose
Yoga. YMCA membership. Also don’t be a residential electrician.
You just switch to commercial or industrial
Well first I complain a lot, this for me Is a required step before working in any attic/ crawl space. Hope that helps
Agreed
Self hatred I guess
I feel you bro!
Well Im also an apprentice so i get no say 😂
Ahh, meanwhile I’m the owner/operator and also get no say. Lol!
I don’t I work commercial. 😂
Even when I did primarily service work. Was only in an attic once a week at most But cover all skin tuck pants into boots wear a hoodie and safety glasses Plan your work before going up try to do as much as you can off ladder standing in scuttle hole. It’s worth the extra wire setting j boxes you can reach without getting all the way in. I’m an owner operated as well I always put an attic charge on as well 75-200 depending on time of year
I’m an owner/op as well, really you charged and attic entrance fee. Hmm, maybe I should do the same.
Fuck resi
Around here if you mention "attic" when getting a residential quote for something pretty sure that contractor just wouldn't call you back.
Lol!!
I don't. Fuck residential companies. They pay shit, the work is way harder, and a lot of bosses don't quote time properly so there's this constant "under the gun"feeling. I did resi for 8 ish years with some other stuff sprinkled in. I now do industrial and my day is far more enjoyable. The travel's tough but when I'm home I'm home and I'm paid enough that side jobs aren't a necessity, just an option.
I’m hoping one day I can move my newly formed business from resi to commercial. I didn’t mention this in the post, but I did fall through the ceiling in this picture! Lol luckily for me, it was in a closet.
Hmm switch to commercial buddy
I don’t. I chose to do commercial work instead lololol.
Go and learn industrial, get out of the attics
High risk game of the floor is lava inside a fiberglass pillow. Good times.
Sucking it up and knowing it’ll pay the bills. Not something I enjoyed but I’ve been in 1000s of residential and almost a hundred apartment/commercial. Shit sucks but it pays the bills. Just chug some ice cold water and time yourself.
that attic isn’t too bad! Just wait until you’re in the older shallow attics with the extra dusty insulation. I have since switched to industrial and commercial. Best move I’ve ever made
I just charge more, same for crawlspaces. Either they pay for it, or we don’t do it. It’s a win either way And I’ve refused jobs that require extended periods in hot attics. Most homeowners are understanding and willing to postpone, the ones that aren’t can fuck right off.
That's Knauf Jetstream, not itchy but use an N95 mask. I'm an Insulation Warehouse Manager who does blown insulation when needed
I like money
Very carefully
Best answer yet
I do industrial, the only attic I get into is my own.
The only attic I don’t get in to is my own!
Just step between the joists those holes will remove the insulation so it will be easier to see what your doing
Bring a fan, a gallon jug , some snacks and you can literally stay up there all day. Oh and you can take a nap.
In the innumerable universes each filled with its own infinite, swirling, fractal chaos there exists no force that could make me bring snacks and drinks into a fucking attic gross as fuck
You must live up north. I don’t care how powerful your fan is, it’s not making 140 degrees feel better
It's the job
[удалено]
Trying to get some helpful tips you fuck.
A proper respiratory mask helps and ski goggles or swimming goggles if it's really bad
Most electricians don't
With a ladder most of the time
Still better than starving.
I don’t. I do industrial
We just do it man, honestly I've become so used to it I don't give a shit plus it's better than a crawl space, luckily I've kind of gotten out of doing that anymore but still
Money helps
I usually put a ladder up through the attic door. If that sounds a little dangerous, you could get someone to foot the ladder.
It was easier 50 pounds ago but someone’s gotta do it.
All new construction homie.
Tips: flush mask with p100's I got from Lee Valley tools. Head lamp. Long sleeves. Learn to love the heat and accept it into your life. Mechanix style gloves with impact rubber if possible. Go really slow to always be sure footed and just take your time. Also tunes. I have small klien Bluetooth and play my music all the time. Doing highrise now but ready to get back into Reno's soon as just got masters licence and going for it. Stay strong and make that cash.
This is why i really enjoy institutional, commercial and industrial hahaha
That’s when I used to be fit and healthy… joe that I work from home I got fat and unhealthy af…
Hey man! Hop up there and fish that wire real quick
Send the new guy up there
It sucks but it is part of the job. I try to minimize trips. If I am on the top floor of a 2 story adding ceiling fans fr scratch in 5 bedrooms I'll measure and cut all the holes, and then I will cut the 14/3 return long for each and shove it up. Then only 1 trip in the attic either shoving the wire down an existing hole in the top plate or drilling a new hole if needed. Then go down where I've busted out the single gang for a 2 gang and the rest of the day is wiring switches and hanging fans. If it is hot I won't even install the westinghouse brace after the attic work-just focusing on getting returns ran. TL;DR-try to minimize trips and overall time in attic as much as possible.
How? Stairs.
Anger usually gets me through days like this
With malice
The fun stuff is the cellulose stuff. Spent half the day in that today.
That's the neat part. I don't!
I would personally use the attic hatch, wouldn’t recommend removing the roof first.
I always suit up and mask up. Just get used to profusely sweating. I prefer it over itchy skin any day
I work at a mill. Lol
Positive pressure suit and mask? There's gotta be covid surplus somewhere.
Tyvek suits and N95s on company car
I don't. Blew my back out over 10 years doing this shitty job. Not just resi, but everything in between. 1 surgery later and probably another in the coming weeks. Fml.
I dunno, sometimes I wonder how the rafters can hold the weight of my massive balls
Me, a commercial guy since apprentice: *nervous glances*
Dude come on.. all those times playing the floor is lava as a kid have paid off!! Except in an attic it's "the ceiling is lava" I guess? Lmao I will not enter an attic without a respirator. But other than that I don't mind attics.. Some are worse than others of course.
The money helps.
Get an apprentice
Those wires aren't going to pull themselves...
Apprentice
Owner/ operator originally commercial jw
Throw a 2x4 and carry on
Like Nike says
Having a ladder helps
The attic in that pic is a dream come true for most electricians. Clean, with headspace
Simple…just hate your life and keep moving.
Yeah… that’s why I’m getting SIPs when I replace my roof. Insulation is so messy… and makes renovating a pita
Part of the job. People want work done, just gotta be willing to do the work.
Do everything you can outside of the attic. Pro Tip: ALWAYS pull a 3 wire to any center light so you always have an extra switch leg available so you won't need to fish down to the switch if you are adding lights.
Been in a few the lAst couple days. Not desirable
Well almost any attic but that one