Remember the saying "I've forgotten more about _______ than you will ever know?" That may not be the absolute truth, but I have learned some things in thirty-plus years in construction. Before I get to the point of forgetting most of that, it would be nice to impart some of it to other people. Most of the important stuff was learned at the expense of doing it wrong the first time. Maybe I can save you some of that futility.
At a very young age I learned the value of the wooden 4' level, only after I drove a nail through it. My dad made me aware of its importance in terms that were retained very well. It was common place for us to pull nails out of boards, straighten them, and reuse the nails and boards. One summer, before I was driving age, my dad planned the dismemberment of an old barn, transportation of the parts, and rebuilding a smaller one in another location. He had a truck that the Smithsonian would have like to had, but it served its purpose well. I knew after driving that all summer that any other vehicle would be like a Cadillac.
My dad always had projects going on. He barely got in the door from work before he went back out to work on them. Most of the time he didn't tell me what the project was going to be in the end. He must have thought I would learn more by observing and figuring it out. His work ethic influenced me to accomplish a lot of things that I wouldn't have attempted otherwise. He was my best friend and helper in anything I tried to do. I will always miss him.
After doing other things for a brief period in my young adulthood, the opportunity presented itself for me to work as a carpenter's helper. I had the fortune of working with a man who believed in doing it right the first time. That saved time later on as it wasn't necessary to relearn what he taught me. That brings me to this (scraping noise as I slide up the soap box). Try to learn it right from the beginning. You will always remember the first way you did something. If you do it wrong, it's just that much harder to develop the correct way.
I won't bore you with all the details of my resume, but will say that I have hands on training in carpentry, plumbing, masonry, roofing, painting, wallpaper, drywall, insulation, cabinetry, floor covering, etc. After that, I held project management positions where I estimated, scheduled, did bids, wrote policies and procedures, wrote contracts, supervised construction personnnel, etc. I've been involved with small jobs and jobs in the multi-million dollar range. From barns, to homes, to three story commercial buildings, I've covered some ground. But the best of all of it has always been the residential part. That is the place where people need the most guidance because they want to do it themselves.
Hope we can be of service,
W. L. Brown
