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HI ll, its me exlrrp again. Ive been working mostly outside th past month, trying to make the place look not quite so WorldWarOnesy after the big cut. This means going around with the tractor and smoothing out all the 2' deepdivots and filling the big holes the huge machines left.
I'm also getting ready to go to Chile for the 7th time on Tuesday, family visit.
So I thought today I might just share with you a little of what I've learned over the years. I have been in construction since 1971, as a welder, carpenter, general contractor and home&building inspector, now (haha) retired. I've been doing remodels ---and other things--since the late '70s. This is some of what I've learned, mostly the hard way.
These are listed at random, not by importance:
-There's nothing too hard or complex to look up or ask for help on. A reasonably intelligent person can look up and figure out anything that can be done in a house.
-Tools have no sex: i.e. Everybody should know how to use basic tools.
-Build everything plumb, level and square. Don't wank this without a good reason
- Clean up is an important part of the job. Clean up every day. Its not just a safety thing, its a morale thing. Especially clean your tools after using them. An inch of prevention is worth a pound of cure
-the most important thing on the job is safety. The job you don't walk away from is a FAIL, your FAIL. Over the past 50 years I have learned and then forgotten how to use more dangerous, lethal and explosive equipment than most people ever know and I still have all 10 fingers and toes---people who know me may deny it but that's more than just luck.
-It's NOT unmanly to read the instructions. Always----ALWAYS---sit down and read the instructions FIRST!!! No Shit!! Do it!! your life will be MUCH better, things will work better, go together more easily. You'll know more about the product than most of the people who use it every day. My dad was the type that bragged about never reading instructions but I can do far more things a lot better than he can.
-You can learn a LOT from watching, also looking (h/t Yogi Berra)
-If possible use "Just In Time" scheduling of materials especially age affected stuff like calk and paint. Estimate the job then buy what you think it will take but no more. You'll probably run short in the end and have to run to Home Depot to get the last little bit but that's OK---you WANT to wind up with no extra material at the end of the job, especially things like almost full cans of paint. Failure to do this is why contractor's garages are full of junk like half buckets of sheetrock mud that get hard and must be thrown away.
-When hiring a contractor ALWAYS ask for references and check them. Someone who's good at his job and wants to make it his or her career will have the necessary license and insurance. Don't hire anyone else. Contractors are great starters but lousy finishers. Ask the references that you call if he finished the job with no problems.
-A verbal contract is not worth the paper it's written on. If its not in the contract, it just isn't. Understand any contract you sign, even if you have to get a lawyer to explain it. If you don't understand it fully, don't sign it!
-50% of contractors won't return your calls, 50% of the rest won't show up for the appointment. I'm not kidding, that's about the number. that's OK, they're just helping you decide who not to hire. Don't hire anyone that doesn't return calls promptly or that missed appointments. Its ok if they miss an appointment if they call to reschedule.
-Use the internet to look something up. I ran my tractor out of diesel fuel and had to bleed the fuel lines. A few minutes of youtube and it was a no problema.
-Do as much as you can on the ground, climb ladders as little as possible. Build subassemblies of things where possible, and then put them up. Paint as much as you can on the ground before putting it up, then touchup. This helps a LOT but takes planning beforehand.
-Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. if the job requires a permit, get one. But the good news is you CAN fight City Hall and I have done so and won. (not every time)
-DON'T FORCE SHIT!! If something's going hard step back and look. Shoot a little oil in it or something but don't force it!! You'll be sorry!
-The store Return lines are full of people who bought the cheapest thing they could get. Quality stuff costs more, just like quality people.
-Fail to plan and plan to fail. Start with a good plan and stick with it---change orders are what contractors send their kids to college with
-Latex gloves latex gloves latex gloves latex gloves latex gloves latex gloves latex gloves
-Always have an outside job and an inside job
-Step back from your work and look at it in perspective now and then---you catch a LOT of Stupid that way you don't see up close.
-Stay up on latest developments in your field. You NEVER know too much to learn more.
Oldtime carpenters use old time tools. Construction has changed completely in my lifetime.
-Understand the code of the thing you're working on: Building, Electrical, Plumbing,etc. I know for a fact that there are people calling themselves journeymen who don't have a clue what the codebook says. Be skeptical if someone tells you something is or is not code. know how to look it up yourself. Its not important to know the thing, only how to look it up. Again, there's books, videos, youtube, etc that explain these well. I am AMAZED at all the info out there now, wish I had it when I started
-Use your common sense. Those who don't use common sense should look for the matchbook that says "Truck Driver School."
See you all when I get back from Chile mid April. Hasta Luego baby!
What are you working on?