Skilled Labor - Part 2

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am a big fan of education. I love to study and ask questions and let my intuitive nature run wild. But as I also mentioned earlier, too much of today's education is merely for education's sake. And while reading, writing and arithmetic are essential, many courses are impractical except for further study in that particular field. I use math and geometric theroms every day as a contractor. I don't use much algebra, functions or statistics, however.
My point being this: education has become geared for more education. It's breadth and scope being much more vague and lacking in practical purpose.  Those of us who would prefer to spend our days in the wood shop or welding room are viewed as slackers, not wanting to apply ourselves by slaving over hours of AP course homework. 
This paradigm doesn't stop at high school.  The same can be said of those who go to tech school, or who choose simply to start working as a skilled laborer right out of high school.  Those of us who have chosen to work in the trades are viewed as having "consolation" jobs.  The mindset of society seems to be that those who work in the trades do so because they are neither intelligent nor ambitious enough to work in a field requiring a college education.  Or perhaps they have a college degree and couldn't find work in their respective field so they work in "second place" jobs.
I, for one, have a 4 year college degree, and have not attempted to find work in my field of study.  I know several other friends and mentors in the trades who also have good degrees from good colleges, but choose to work in the trades because they are good at it, and enjoy it!
Those who know me know that I am big fan Mike Rowe, host of the show "Dirty Jobs" on the Discovery Channel.  I think he is a great host and it's interesting to see the various people and families that do the work featured on that show.  As I was doing some research a while back for this blog, I was thrilled when, perusing through some construction-related discussion forums, I stumbled upon one hosted at mikeroweWORKS  There I found a video of a speech Mr. Rowe gave to a congressional committee on this very topic - skilled trade labor!  It is a phenomenal speech; it was as though he was reading my mind.  Check it out here! (click the TV screen on the center of the page)
As Mike Rowe rightly points out in his speech there is an interesting trend going on right now.  Unemployment has been on the rise, or holding steady, yet there is a large demand for skilled laborers.   Read through any classifieds section in a newspaper and you're sure to find them.  The jobs are out there, but there are fewer and fewer people being trained in how to do them.  These aren't jobs that just anyone can pick up as a consolation job when they aren't able to work in their preferred field.  These are not jobs you can learn how to do with a classroom education.  These are jobs that are learned by doing; by being taught by someone who has done them for years.  Skills that are acquired the good old-fashioned way... apprenticeship!

Skilled Labor - Part 1

It is quite rare these days to meet someone who is in the same occupation as his/her parents were.  Family owned businesses that extend beyond the generation that started them are few and far between.  The goal of raising our kids these days seems to have the chief end being to send them off to a good college where they can earn a 4 year degree (or more) and pursue a career in a more glamorous field than what we are in.  Gone are the days when our kids worked in the family business, or even pursued the same profession of their parents.  This is especially true when it comes to skilled labor.  (For the sake of this blog I use the term "skilled labor" in the traditional sense of carpenters, plumbers, welders, iron workers, electricians, etc).

Let me begin by saying that I am not opposed to pursuing higher education.  I loved my collegiate studies and there are certain fields that couldn't exist without it.  However, as a society we have put far too great an emphasis on higher education at the cost of genuine apprenticeships.  I have always loved working with my hands, building things, taking things apart to see how they work and then attempting to re-assemble them.  Working in the trades has always had an appeal to me.

When I think back on my childhood some of my fondest memories were of early mornings. My bedroom was directly below the kitchen.  Every morning, very early, I would be awakened by the sound of my dad in the kitchen, getting ready for work.  I could hear him walking around, piecing his lunch together in his red and white Igloo lunch box.  And then, without fail, I would hear the whirring of the coffee grinder, soon followed by the aroma of coffee and the clanking of mugs.  My dad would leave for work when it was still dark outside, well before the rest of us would get up.  Whether it was raining, snowing, windy, sub-zero temps, or whatever, I'd hear him gather his things and head out to his work van.  Day in and day out, off to go work with his hands, doing his part in building houses.  He was the essence of manliness - worn work boots, flannel work shirt, full beard, thermos and lunchbox, calloused hands - that's what I wanted to be when I grew up.  Maybe not an electrician but for sure a tradesman.  A tough, rugged man who built things, who knew how things worked and why things didn't, who was tough (even a little intimidating at times) yet whom you didn't want to leave.  That's what I wanted to be, right down to the thermos and the red and white lunch box.

As I grew up, I continued to emulate my dad - I set up a small workbench in the corner of the garage, acquired my own collection of tools and scrap wood to work on, etc.  I also enjoyed school as there was so much to learn and do.  Yet, as school continued through the years, it got more book-oriented and less hands-on.  Wood shop was obviously my favorite course in high school as it was where I could work with my hands and build things, exploring my passion for the trades.  But that was it, one hour of the day in wood shop.  The rest of the day's education was geared for... more education!  I love learning, but I love to apply what I learn and put it into practice.  I didn't want to sit in class and just theorize about stuff, I wanted to do the stuff... (to be continued)

5 tips for good communication with your contractor

As a builder/remodeler there are a variety of projects that I get to work on.  I have been blessed to work with many great clients and my experiences have been mostly positive.  There are certain things that I have learned from experiences, both good and bad, about communicating with clients and what helps those projects go well.  Here are 5 tips that I have found that help me as a contractor when they are expected by the client:

1. Make sure you have a good, written contract that you both understand.  A good, legal contract does not need to be confusing and complicated.  In fact, it should be simple and clearly state the details of the project.
2. Discuss as many of the details as you can before the work begins.  Have as many decisions made and ideas nailed down as possible on the front end of the project.  This allows both the homeowner and contractor to be aiming at the same target.
3. Bring up issues and concerns as they arise.  As a contractor, few things are as frustrating as getting to the end of a project believing that everything has been done satisfactorily, only to be met with a list of things that could/should have been corrected along the way.
4. Compliment your contractor along the way.  Knowing that the client is pleased with how things are going takes a lot of stress out of the project and is very encouraging to the contractor - increasing the quality of the work.
5. Give your contractor the benefit of the doubt.  If an issue should arise once the project is completed, don't assume that the contractor simply cut a corner and was trying to take advantage of you.  Rather, kindly bring the issue to his/her attention with the assumption that it was not intentional.  Most contractors are not trying to scam their clients or cut corners - most of us want our work to last and would gladly welcome the opportunity to correct issues whether they were directly our fault or not.

Having these expectations in place will help to set up good communication between you and your contractor - allowing your project to go smoothly and with less stress.

What are some tips you would give to us contractors for better communication with you, our clients?

Inspections & Permits & Codes... OH MY!

An unfortunate and negative stigma has developed among many homeowners and builders alike with regards to permits and inspections on their projects.  Often, when I am conversing with a client about a project and I mention pulling a permit, I am often met with a disgruntled sigh and a comment along the lines of, "Oh... we have to pull a permit?"  In fact, I have often had clients decide to completely forgo a project simply because it would involve a permit and inspection.

Builders do not help the situation by often making a stink about having to get their work inspected - portraying the image of a building inspector as a cranky government worker who is looking to make life miserable for everyone involved.  Permits are made out to be another attempt by municipalities to get as much out of the builder as they possibly can - and are therefore to be avoided, right?

In my experience, I have yet to have an inspector come to a job and be completely disagreeable and make a whole bunch of extra work for me.  In fact, all of my experiences with inspectors from various cities have been very pleasant and helpful.  Perhaps that is because I don't view them as coming to ruin everything, but rather, reassure myself and clients that I have done my work correctly.  By making sure I have everything ready to go, giving them adequate notice, and being respectful of their time and obligations, I have found that they are more than willing to reciprocate.  

A key factor is that I strive to build everything correctly and to code the first time; in fact if I am guilty of anything, it is over-building.  (FYI, building codes are minimum standards, so "over-building" is not a bad thing)  I'm not afraid of an inspector looking at my work because I have nothing to hide.  I often look forward to inspections because they give me a chance to learn more about the expectations and reasons behind local and state codes.  I would much rather find out that I missed something, or that something was done incorrectly, during an inspection than 3 years later when there is much more at stake.  And from a client's perspective, what could be more reassuring than having a building inspector come out and confirm that everything your builder has done is correct?

Permits may seem like just another government fee -and certain cities really need to reconsider their methods of calculating their permit fees - but planning for it from the beginning and recognizing it as a necessary part of the process, will go a long way in removing the unfortunate fear that it has created in the minds of builders and homeowners alike.  Do it right the first time and you have nothing to worry about.

I'd do it myself, but...

One of the things that I frequently hear from potential clients when we walk through a project is: "I'd do this myself, but I just don't have the time."  Sometimes they'd go a step further and add, "I used to be a painter when I was in college."
Perhaps it is the male ego, or perhaps it is simply a way to fill the silence - I don't know.  But I often wonder why potential clients feel the need to make such justifications for having a professional out to look at a project.  I've never had a client say that to me when we are walking through a second or third project.  There's something about that initial consultation that seems to necessitate a justification from the potential client as to why they are considering enlisting the services of a professional.
Sometimes it can come across as demeaning, as if to say, "my time is more valuable than yours - therefore you do the drywalling."  Other times, it seems to portray a lack of knowledge as to just what is all involved in a "little bathroom project."  It could more rightly be said, "I'd do it myself, but I have no idea what I'm doing."
The vindication of it all comes when, at the end of the project, the client is left impressed with the level of quality and professionalism, and says, "you do really great work, I'm glad I hired you!"

Common practice is not always the best practice

One of the things I ponder frequently, particularly when I am doing demolition work, is, "what were they thinking when they built this?!?"  My pondering does not stop their, however.  It is followed by the thought that someday, decades from now, someone may be demolishing some of my work and think, "what was that guy thinking when he built this?"
It is easy to question the common practices of the building profession of yester-year.  Why would you ever paint with lead-based paint?  Why would you use asbestos?  Etc.  Yet, I have to give my predecessors in the building trades the benefit of the doubt that they were using the best, safest products that were available to them at the time.  After all, lead-based paint is an extremely durable and quality product-still used in many industries.  Asbestos is a great fire-blocking, insulating material - it will function well for years to come if left undisturbed.
We do the same today.  We use the best products and practices that are available to us.  Screws have replaced nails, acrylics have replaced alkyds, we use lumber that is sustainable, energy that is renewable, and run job sites that are safer.
One obvious advantage that we have for us today is the advances in science.  We know much more about products now than we did before, and we can engineer stronger, safer, lighter products than people ever imagined possible.  Yet, what we do lack is long-term studies of these materials.  After all, it wasn't until people started getting mesothielioma and lead poising, decades after working with those products, that their use was questioned.  Lead paint was banned for use in homes in 1979, but look at all the recent attention it has been getting.  Think of all the homes that were built during the most recent housing boom (before the 2008 down turn), that were built with relatively new products and techniques.  Will all those homes someday be considered terribly unsafe?  Will latex paints be the new lead?  Fiberglass the new asbestos?  I guess only time will tell.  In the mean time, we as builders will remain committed to using the safest, strongest, and best practices that we can.

Thank You

I recently decided to start a blog as a way for me to share my knowledge and thoughts regarding the remodeling industry, home improvement trends, and ideas on creating a healthy living space.  This is my first post, and I find it appropriate to post it on Memorial Day.
On this day we remember the men, women, and their families who have sacrificed to ensure that the freedoms and liberties we enjoy will continue into the future. It is because of their service and sacrifice that individuals such as myself can pursue our dreams of owning a business and choosing the career path that aligns with our passions.  No other country affords its citizens the entrepreneurial opportunites that this one does; and no greater opportunities for financial freedom and generosity can be found than those in a society where individuals are free to pursue wealth and success by serving others.  The men, women, and families of our armed services ensure that those liberties are preserved - and it is with a grateful heart that my family and I say thank you.