Adjusting labor rates cold weather

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Cletis

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This time of year i adjust labor rates from 1-2x due to cold weather and how it slows people/machinery etc down. For ex. If im bidding a 600 amp service upgrade when its 12f outside i multiply labor by 1.3x to give a bid. Does anyone else do this ?


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why would it take longer when it is cold? people work faster when it is cold so they can get back inside quicker where it is warm. therefore, you should reduce the amount of labor not increase it. :)
 
petersonra said:
why would it take longer when it is cold? people work faster when it is cold so they can get back inside quicker where it is warm. therefore, you should reduce the amount of labor not increase it. :)
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LMAO, that response is as logical as any Cletus question. :D
 
Cletis said:
This time of year i adjust labor rates from 1-2x due to cold weather and how it slows people/machinery etc down. For ex. If im bidding a 600 amp service upgrade when its 12f outside i multiply labor by 1.3x to give a bid. Does anyone else do this ?


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Makes sense. I'd probably even go 1.5 - 1.75. Around here 12 isn't bad if it isn't windy.
 
Everyone here is sorta smart and knows things take longer in cold so why not adjust labor to match unless you like losing money. We were doing a typical 200 amp upgrade other day in 6f with ice/snow everywhere. It took way longer due to frostbitten fingers and dropping/searching for 10/32 hub screws etc. im thinking it took twice as long as it would have in summer


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I've wondered about this myself, Cletis brings up a valid point. Exterior work does take longer in the cold than it does in the warm months. I have adjusted for it on some bids (I think I went 1.3 times what I would have in the summer) and it has worked out well. I think I have lost a few jobs to other contractors due to it, but the way I look at it, if I can't make my target margins it isn't worth doing. I'll do something else I can hit my margins on instead.
 
Cletis said:
Everyone here is sorta smart and knows things take longer in cold so why not adjust labor to match unless you like losing money. We were doing a typical 200 amp upgrade other day in 6f with ice/snow everywhere. It took way longer due to frostbitten fingers and dropping/searching for 10/32 hub screws etc. im thinking it took twice as long as it would have in summer
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that is why we don't do service changes in january.

however, and i speak only for myself, not everyone on the forum,
i do appreciate you doing them all winter long, so i don't have to.

get back to work, and hurry. i'm referring all my outside work to
you.
 
JFletcher said:
Then the heatwave weather rates would have applied to the bid, and it's a wash. :D


Working in 115*+ heat index isnt super fast either. No service changes in January? Gimme that over attic work in August anyday.
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So there is an adder no matter what time of year it is then:happyyes:

Spring or fall - you don't get as much done because all you can think about is how you would rather be fishing or something like that:)
 
JFletcher said:
Then the heatwave weather rates would have applied to the bid, and it's a wash. :D


Working in 115*+ heat index isnt super fast either. No service changes in January? Gimme that over attic work in August anyday.
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kwired said:
So there is an adder no matter what time of year it is then:happyyes:

Spring or fall - you don't get as much done because all you can think about is how you would rather be fishing or something like that:)
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The truth is that everthing does need to be considered when giving a bid to get a realistic idea of how long a job will take.

Attic work in January may go a heck of a lot faster than in July or August.

If you have to park a half mile from the job and tote tools and materials up four flights of stairs that's going to slow things down.

Workers think they would rather be fishing or doing other things the whole year so this is just normal working conditions.
 
We're in northern IA, yes work is more costly in extreme cold, but we also pay less overtime due to shorter working days. Not saying it's a wash, but worth considering.

Also work can (for some EC's, not us) be harder to find in winter, which keeps winter rates down.

In general though, if we had rate adder for "weather" then our clientele would balk and call someone else. The flipside is, if it's too cold we just make them wait a few days for better weather, and that's usually acceptable.
 
Gosh, I feel for you guys, having to work outside in those weather extrems. We had -38 F this morning in interior Alaska :happysad:. worked inside all day doing maintence and paper work. :)
 
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