Working Alone: Replacing a Helper's Hands

Being able to accomplish common building chores alone makes life easier for all kinds of builders -- not just self-employed contractors. "Weekend warriors" can do a project without lining up neighbors or in-laws. Professional builders can keep working when some or all of the crew is out. Or they can leave the crew on one job and take care of a small task on another -- without dragging along a helper.

The advantages of being able to work alone are easy to see, but the techniques themselves are seldom obvious. In Working Alone, author John Carroll has compiled the techniques he has developed in over 30 years of solo building. In this excerpt, you'll learn about some clever solutions to doing work that usually requires a helper.