VOX POP:THE BUILDERS' holidays have turned out to be more "staycation" than vacation this year. For many construction workers and tradespeople, the focus is now on surviving the months ahead, according to anecdotal reports from construction workers' unions.
The holidays used to be a period when the industry abandoned building sites and headed for the races or more exotic climates, but this year some workers found themselves on extended holiday as a result of lay-offs - with others deciding not to spend their savings on going away as they face into an uncertain autumn. "Unfortunately lay-offs often centre around holiday times," says Eric Fleming of Siptu, who says workers across the industry have been affected by the property downturn. Ads on gumtree.ie posted by former construction workers looking for employment make for poignant reading. "Blocklayer, painter, plasterer, handyman" reads one posted by a Wicklow man with "years of experience"adding that he is "reliable, conscientious tidy".
Some do benefit from the situation such as homeowners looking to get once elusive tradesmen to do jobs. Onlinetradesmen.com says the average response rate to jobs posted by members of the public soared by around 33 per cent in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year.
Here, five people who have been affected by market conditions tell how they are faring.
The Builder
Keith Ward of Derrycrib Construction in Co Kildare
He had a builder's holiday worthy of the good old days. "I went on a Caribbean cruise with my girlfriend," says the 28-year-old, who took over his father's business five years ago. He hasn't felt the full brunt of the market yet, but the nature of the work has changed.
"A lot of people have decided not to move house, so they're getting work done instead. But they're watching what they're spending . We're doing a lot more renovation work and small extensions where it used to be more one-off houses."
He says the maximum spend tends to be €40,000-€50,000.
"I used to hire the same blocklayer or plasterer every time, but now I price three or four, and a lot of guys keep it to the bare minimum to get the job."
He has noticed a marked increase in the number of people investing to make their homes more energy-efficient.