Page 12 - WM Donald Newsletter - Edition Six

On site in Texas
Phil Edgley worked for W M Donald as a setting-out engineer from 2008-2011. After a spell working in Houston, Texas, Phil has rejoined the company.
Who did you work for in Texas?
I worked for Andrade Concrete and Construction Inc. (andradeconcrete.com). Andrade’s main line of work is reinforced concrete. We built 50m natatoriums (or swimming pools as would call them!), retaining walls, commercial driveways and other structures. The company employed 70 - 80 people.
What were the main differences between working in Texas and Scotland? Probably because of the heat, work progressed at a far slower rate. There is definitely a greater drive in the UK to get things done. In Houston, the temperatures peak in the late afternoon, so work would often start on site by 6am and finish at 3pm.
It came as shock to me that the principal language on construction sites is Spanish! The majority of the workforce are Hispanic and many can’t speak English, so I initially had to resort to quick sketches until I picked up some basic language skills. There are parts of Houston where everything is in Spanish.
Labour is relatively cheap so the work was often more physically intensive with less emphasis on plant and equipment. They still typically use timber shuttering and then spend longer on finishing works. Americans still use the Imperial
Phil’s first project on his return has been the retirement village at Chapelton of Elsick where W M Donald is delivering all the infrastructure – roads, drainage, plot works, substructures – and finishing works.
At the heart of the village is a three-storey apartment block. Peri radiused shuttering was used to create the substructure for two distinctive stairwells.
Self-levelling concrete is being used for the slab works: ‘The self-levelling concrete is almost like water. If there is a hole in the foundations it will find it!
The pour has to be continuous so co-ordination of mixer deliveries is one of the keys to success.’
system of weights and measures. This took quite a bit of getting used to having only ever experienced the metric system. In the first year, I wasn’t eligible for any paid leave and so had to book unpaid time off if I wanted a break.
What surprised you about the Texas way of life?
In many ways it lived up to the picture I had in my mind from watching American TV shows and movies. Everyone carries a gun, owns a truck and drives everywhere. I had a 6,000cc V12 petrol truck and I could fill the tank for as little as £30. Driving was chaotic with virtually no lane discipline, although virtually everybody adheres to the 55mph speed limit.
The range of food choices on offer was incredible and eating out after work was almost the default setting. However, the scale of food waste made you feel uncomfortable and recycling was very low key. The Americans are incredibly friendly and welcoming, and there was a big triathlon scene which my wife, Laura, and I really enjoyed.
Being in America during the Presidential election was an eye-opener. We tend to assume a degree of media impartiality in the UK, but in the States the news outlets were very clearly Republican or Democrat.
What did you miss about Scotland?
No big surprises really: the countryside and the mountains, fish and chips, British humour.
Formwork - Completed Job
12
If a man’s from Texas, he’ll tell you.
If he’s not, why embarrass him by asking?