Gunns Contractors Ltd

[Gunners]

In case you cant hear me shouting about how great or terrible my machines are on any given day I thought it best to start a thread on what I get up to when they are working (which is most of the time - honest!)
For those who don't know me, I run a small groundwork firm in Hampshire and due to the nature of this work not affording me the Sunseeker I'd hoped for, I'm currently changing tack somewhat. Who knows where Ill end up but for now it involves machines!
Here's what I've been up to this year.
New build house in Guildford. Had to set out the footings myself as no co-ordinates given on the drawing. Was a Timber frame too so not much tolerance but I remembered how to use a tape measure, finished it a week ahead of schedule, not a bad job really. Hired an 8t machine for a week for reduce dig and footings and the 8026 did the rest.

 

[Gunners]

Also put in a Breedon gravel path for a customer in Petersfield. Used the track barrow to run down the path so minimised any damage to the lawn. Cant believe how expensive Breedon gravel is!

 

[Gunners]

Then it got cold, my grab man bought us ice lollys as a joke, never been able to leave one outside and come back for a nibble later on and its still frozen. Really tight job this, building a new house in between two others. Loads of services to work around but we got it done.

 

[Mogman]

That timber frame building is a fair old size
Tidy work

 

[V8Druid]

very tidy Boyo .... used to do lots of steelwork for a timber frame outfit that specialised in granny farms / doctor's surgeries / blocks of flats .... getting the founds right was essential .... number I've been out to where a steel column was off the edge ... "can you do summat?" .... need good blokes putting them down for sure

 

[V8Druid]

That timber frame building is a fair old size
Tidy work

this is a big timber frame Mog .... roof support structure for a 15m x 15m surgery

the rest of it

 

[Gunners]

Its a massive house. The client kept saying how small she thought it looked at that stage... Its 3 storys high now - I've seen smaller blocks of flats!

And Yes Druid, it was a bit nerve racking when the guys showed up to put the 1st panels up but I was spot on. Not bad considering its set off the hedge row on the left hand side!

 

[JD450A]

Fairplay Ollie, what are you up to now? and have you still got the digger?

 

[Conor]

Tidy work Ollie, best of luck for whatever road you go down.

 

[Gunners]

Fairplay Ollie, what are you up to now? and have you still got the digger?

Yes, decided to keep both the 801 and 8026 for now. Having a go at finding some local day rate digger driving work. At £250/day upwards its not bad money and loads less stress. As we discussed Rory, keeping it simple and offering good value to the customer gets you return work. Been digging a foundation for a local builder this week, Ive got the old extension down, broken out slab, dug and poured footings and made a start on the drainage in 4 days. I dont think the guy knows whats hit him but it should get me repeat business.
Been dreaming about tiltys recently too. I'm going to need something to keep my mind occupied and it may just be an advantage on the trial hole work I do occasionally in London. If I can make my 801 dig down to 3m I could wipe the floor with work up there as they currently hand dig pits they cant get a 3cx into. 2 men, hand digging is over £400/day. I need to work out a way of having just me and a machine doing it, dig all pits in a day and charge £500!
Its all going round in my head at the moment. Watch this space.

 

[Hydremaduck]

Yes, decided to keep both the 801 and 8026 for now. ....................
Been dreaming about tiltys recently too................If I can make my 801 dig down to 3m I could wipe the floor with work up there as they currently hand dig pits they cant get a 3cx into.......
Its all going round in my head at the moment.

Great to see you on here and that your still "playing" with plant. Was sad to see you having a big clear out and thought that was you done but obviously not, a change of direction and purpose will hopefully get you to where you want to be.

 

[CPS]

Yes, decided to keep both the 801 and 8026 for now. Having a go at finding some local day rate digger driving work. At £250/day upwards its not bad money and loads less stress. As we discussed Rory, keeping it simple and offering good value to the customer gets you return work. Been digging a foundation for a local builder this week, Ive got the old extension down, broken out slab, dug and poured footings and made a start on the drainage in 4 days. I dont think the guy knows whats hit him but it should get me repeat business.
Been dreaming about tiltys recently too. I'm going to need something to keep my mind occupied and it may just be an advantage on the trial hole work I do occasionally in London. If I can make my 801 dig down to 3m I could wipe the floor with work up there as they currently hand dig pits they cant get a 3cx into. 2 men, hand digging is over £400/day. I need to work out a way of having just me and a machine doing it, dig all pits in a day and charge £500!
Its all going round in my head at the moment. Watch this space.

A dipper extension, If you want one give me a shout.

 

[V8Druid]

Yes, decided to keep both the 801 and 8026 for now. Having a go at finding some local day rate digger driving work. At £250/day upwards its not bad money and loads less stress. As we discussed Rory, keeping it simple and offering good value to the customer gets you return work. Been digging a foundation for a local builder this week, Ive got the old extension down, broken out slab, dug and poured footings and made a start on the drainage in 4 days. I dont think the guy knows whats hit him but it should get me repeat business.
Been dreaming about tiltys recently too. I'm going to need something to keep my mind occupied and it may just be an advantage on the trial hole work I do occasionally in London. If I can make my 801 dig down to 3m I could wipe the floor with work up there as they currently hand dig pits they cant get a 3cx into. 2 men, hand digging is over £400/day. I need to work out a way of having just me and a machine doing it, dig all pits in a day and charge £500!
Its all going round in my head at the moment. Watch this space.

A dipper extension, If you want one give me a shout.

or a tele dipper ... cost a bit more than an extension though

 

[CPS]

or a tele dipper ... cost a bit more than an extension though

Your loving this multi quote now arnt you

 

[Gunners]

Great to see you on here and that your still "playing" with plant. Was sad to see you having a big clear out and thought that was you done but obviously not, a change of direction and purpose will hopefully get you to where you want to be.

Its a mugs game Rob. I was pricing larger work for developers I already have completed work for and I was being under cut on 150k jobs by 30k. The margin goes down as the work gets bigger to the point where another reputable contractor in the south told me he was completing £1m of work and was hoping to earn 50k. Thats 5% margin. You wouldn't complete £1k of work for £50 profit so why do it when it scales up? The only way to earn is to cheat and thats not who I am. If I cant win work on a good reputation and solid workmanship then I'm out while I can!

 

[Gunners]

or a tele dipper ... cost a bit more than an extension though

Your loving this multi quote now arnt you

It is good isnt it In all seriousness though, I'm thinking about getting an 801 with a current dig depth of 2.5m to go to 3m. An extension would be ideal as don't want the weight of an extending dipper on that small a machine and being able to take it off will allow me to use it on other works as normal. I thought about making a bucket with a long headstock on but I guess Id loose breakout? Dipper extension would probably be the best solution. Or spec a gravemaster dipper but then its not very good for general landscaping works etc. Extension would need to be easy to fit as this work often involves breaking through serious concrete before digging deep. I'm sure its all possible though.

 

[Grahams]

I have an extension for my little machines. All it is is a dipper the end has been cut off and a plate and pins welded on. Just pick it up on your quick hitch and attach the pipes to the breaker circuit to work the bucket crowd. I then have a manual quick hitch as all my stuff is fixed pin. Must have a two way breaker circuit though.
Another half metre on your machine would be easily doable, I have a metre. Takes a bit of getting used to though.
Graham

 

[V8Druid]

Your loving this multi quote now arnt you

always used it in CEF .. was miffed I couldn't get it to work here .... old dogs ...etc .... bit of input from Stu ... job sorted

 

[TiltyShaun]

Its a mugs game Rob. I was pricing larger work for developers I already have completed work for and I was being under cut on 150k jobs by 30k. The margin goes down as the work gets bigger to the point where another reputable contractor in the south told me he was completing £1m of work and was hoping to earn 50k. Thats 5% margin. You wouldn't complete £1k of work for £50 profit so why do it when it scales up? The only way to earn is to cheat and thats not who I am. If I cant win work on a good reputation and solid workmanship then I'm out while I can!

I know exactly what you mean. I used to run 35 blokes and when I looked at the margin I was making on the contracting work for the major developers at my size it didn’t make sense! With a little digger and doing a good job you can earn without a fraction of the hassle! Keep smiling and keep digging!

 

[Gunners]

I also do work for my local parish council who appreciate the fact I'm local, use a local grab owner driver, local plant hire firm, local suppliers etc. Makes a nice change, they always pay on time and you get the chance to find out how much other contractors priced the work for when you read their meeting minutes - a rare opportunity to check your pricing. Completed 125m of footpath for them earlier this year. This took over a year from when I priced it to actually starting but once its in their budget the work always happens and they appreciate materials go up in that time. Wish every client was like them really.