A culture clash in roofing

[thundley4]

Main Line contractors, losing jobs to the Amish, cry foul. The Amish say they work harder.

PHILADELPHIA -- Main Line roofers say they are taking it on the chin from Amish competitors, who are getting a significant amount of work in Philadelphia's wealthy western suburbs.

Keith McLean, a Paoli roofing contractor, said he lost a job this month when his bid of $8,000 was $3,000 more than the winning Amish bid.

The 38 percent difference in price, McLean said, rendered him unable to compete. "My wiggle room is hundreds of dollars. I don't have three grand" to play with, said McLean, who owns Hancock Building Associates Inc.

McLean and other non-Amish contractors say the Amish, who come from Lancaster County and western Chester County, have an advantage because they do not have to pay Social Security taxes for themselves or their Amish employees and are eligible for a religious exemption from workers' compensation insurance, although not all take advantage of the latter.

"If they are going to come into our community, they need to conduct their business the same way we do," said McLean, who has been in business for 20 years.

Amish contractors said their biggest advantage is that they work harder and faster, and are used to Lancaster County's lower prices and wages. "From what they [non-Amish contractors] charge down there, they make a killing," said John F. Stoltzfus, who owns Countryside Roofing & Exteriors, of Strasburg, Pa.

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20101129_A_culture_clash_in_roofing.html

I can see that Philly will soon be lobbied by local contractors to make the Amish abide by prevailing wage laws or something.

[Opfor6]

I'm a former roofer that got out of the business because of losing business to illegals. I would have rather have lost work from an American that out bidded me than to illegals that shares an apartment with 25 other illegals ride 10 guys in a pickup and send all those US dollars to Mexico.

The misleading thing here is that the Social Security deductions and insurance nowhere come near the $3,000 that this contractor is claiming. The Amish live frugally and don't need the 72in flat screen TV with surround sound in their man cave, cable, internet, the swimming pool in the backyard of their MacMansion, the new truck every two years, the vacations, private schools, six cases of beer a week and the stainless steel BBQ grill that's big enough to do a side of beef.

Even if they made the Amish pay the Social Security deductions and what ever insurance the Amish can still out bid them.

[JohnnyReb]

I'm a former roofer that got out of the business because of losing business to illegals. I would have rather have lost work from an American that out bidded me than to illegals that shares an apartment with 25 other illegals ride 10 guys in a pickup and send all those US dollars to Mexico.

The misleading thing here is that the Social Security deductions and insurance nowhere come near the $3,000 that this contractor is claiming. The Amish live frugally and don't need the 72in flat screen TV with surround sound in their man cave, cable, internet, the swimming pool in the backyard of their MacMansion, the new truck every two years, the vacations, private schools, six cases of beer a week and the stainless steel BBQ grill that's big enough to do a side of beef.

Even if they made the Amish pay the Social Security deductions and what ever insurance the Amish can still out bid them.

Mennonites and some of the more progressive Amish have done the same thing to the grading (earthmoving business). They won't buy heavy equipment but they will buy a big new tractor and hook a scraper behind it and move dirt. Usually have their children driving them.