How Much To Pay Day Laborers To Do Demo Work?
I need to hire a couple of guys to tear out counter tops and break through some walls and haul. What should I pay? I was thinking 10/hour. What about an unlicensed laborer who oversees this.
I just finished a total interior gut with day laborers. You definitely want to make sure you are covered by insurance. I had someone get injured, almost an emergency room visit.
I also had problems with controling the demo, stuff was flying everywhere. Trim I was trying to save got broken, then the trim that was saved ended up being thrown in the dumpster.
I would pay close attention and supervise as the language barrier posed a big problem for me. Try to get at least one bilingual laborer to help with the translation.
I paid $10 cash, bought lunch, picked them up and dropped them off, provided them with any tools, gloves, goggles, osha respirators, etc.
I did my own supervision.
Be very careful of liability issues. You may be held liable. If you are willing to take the risk than go ahead. But I suggest hiring only independent contractors who are licensed & INSURED.
I will further add, because you guys have really hit on a good point - demo is seen and perceieved by too many people as get some really stupid but strong guys and let them go to town. The image of a bull ox moron smashing a wall with a sledge hammer and screaming and yelling about how cool this is and I love taking out my frustrations doing this work...
Should often be replaced by a couple of guys who understand what is in a wall without opening it up first and go about demo work with recip saws and similar tools and work with the precision of a surgeon and not a bull in a china shop.
I have seen too many times idiot lumoxes turned loose to do demo work who take 3 times as long and create dangerous situations and collateral damage that takes time and money to repair.
Too Funny. My partner an I have been going round and round about this lately. He likes hireing guys that are laid off and will work cheap for cash. I on the other hand prefer to find small companies or contractors that are fully insured but may be slow on work. (I know thats more dificult at some times of the year) We have one company that charges us $28 an hour. Granted thats $18 an hour more than what we could hire someone for but there experience, speed and the piece of mind are worth it to me.
I do most of my own demo as well. When I need help, I have my dad, 2 brothers and 2 brothers-in-law - and one of them has two brothers of his own. I just buy pizza and promise to come help if they ever buy their own house.
I think one of my debts here is about to come due.