Jonathan Smith, RLA

Although…I wouldn’t want kids walking on cow paths along the highway.

If I buy a plant from a wholesale nursery for $10 and sell it for $30, the final price is where I get my labor, overhead and profit?

But if I buy the same plant for $20-25 from a retailer, where do I earn my labor, overhead and profit?

So should you take the wholesale cost and bring it to retail before applying you overhead and profit?  Everything else costs retail.  Seems as though it would be better to purchase materials from a retailer.

Does this 2.5-3 x markup include overhead and profit, labor and amendments?

Yes, a thank you letter is a good “By Mennen!” 
 

Here’s the job description:
 
 
Project Manager/Construction Manager Job Outline
Overview:
This position will be responsible for profitably running the construction division of. The construction division consists of two crews (3 people each), the truck and truck driver, and the special project/warranty technician. This position reports to
Create p…[Read more]

I’ll give you my initial response and maybe you can help me formulate a better one. 
 
I’d definitely miss the drive that comes from hard work that results in benefits to my bottom line.
I’d miss the flexibility that being self employed allows me (though this is only true in theory)
I’d miss implementing my designs.  It’s very re…[Read more]

Lorie,
 
Who do you contract to install your work in Seattle?
 
 

If you’re looking for plant databases, in the PNW, look at nursery associations.
 
Oregon Nursery Association  (http://www.oan.org/) has a searchable database for growers and wholsalers in Oregon and a few in surrounding states.
 
Also Washington ( http://www.wsnla.org ).
 
 
 

Oops…This^^^ is mine.

I’m an RLA and own a design build company.  I use this spreadsheet program.  Amazing results.  Comprehensive and easy to adjust margins, labor rates and material cost. 
 
Hands down one of the best estimators out there and developed by someone who has been in the business for many, many years.
 
http://www.landscapingestimator.com/index.html

Ah!  No footing or rebar!  Beautiful!

Thanks, Mark.  I’m thinking now of pouring a footing, building a CMU wall for a backing and fixing the steel to the wall.  This way I can get away with thinner steel and still maintain the structural integrity of the wall.
I welcome any further ideas…

I’m talking about anchoring it laterally to prevent overturn.

So, how would you support a cor-ten wall?  Tie into a reinforced footing?  Deadmen?

So why should those who serve the citizens have it better than the citizens they serve? Why should they have better job security? Why shouldn’t they have to contribute to their health care and retirement like everyone else? Why should they be sheltered from the kind of job competition that people in the private sector face every day?
 
With more…[Read more]

Not to mention working conditions…remember the Tiangle Shirtwaste Factory Fire?  Have you ever read Upton Sinclair?  The Jungle?  Dickens?
 
Looking back at relatively recent history, we have so many reasons to unite.  I’m a fan of capitalism, but unchecked, corporations only have one thing at heart…to make money.  Not to ensure life, liber…[Read more]

That sucks!  But I can’t imagine that this experience speaks for all engineering firms…

I downloaded Bricscad and screwed around with it.  Very similar to Autodesk.
 
Thanks for all the input.