After 13 years of computer programming (sitting at a desk), I’ve had enough. I recently completed a complete renovation of my kitchen and loved every minute of it. Also have completed a bathroom renovation and other small projects on my 1866 home. Now that the seeds of a dream of making a living enjoying what I do – working with my hands vs. banging my head on a computer keyboard all day. I’m looking for any suggestions/tips/encouragement/discouragement from the pros on starting a renovation business. Education… Pitfalls… Good Books… Any comments…
My experience is limited but I’m very confident in work I’ve done and encouraged.
Thanks
Replies
I don't want to discourage you gerald. Here's what I've gleaned in 30 years. Experience is a big part of renovation. You can learn yourself or hire on with a company. The latter is faster if you're quick to pick up knowledge. In reno you see the way things were done in the past. This is way different than what you see in new construction where practices are ordered or code mandated. Don't get me wrong, studying construction basics by book or class is a good background to the trade. Real life construction experience is a must. This tells you how to do what you read. Reno, you use the background to solve the problem. Best of luck.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Find a two year trade school for carpentry. Some times called tech school, technical school, technical college. (depends on how fancy they want the degree to sound)
What you get there is information offer in systematic way by a person that was lead carpenter, superintendent or GC. That wanted to get off the road.
You will be building one or two houses in the two years of school. They will be teaching building code, OSHA rules, how to work safe, estimation, print reading, construction math, how to set forms, use all the tools, frame, roof, trim work, design, there is a section on the business side of the construction also.
By doing the school route with the two years of school and then working for a GC for one year. You will know as much or more then the person who has worked for a GC for 6 or 7 years with out the school.
Gerald Gerald Gerald!
My first paying carpenter job was by a church for a framed and paneled dunk tank when I was 16. 34 years later and I still sometimes wonder why I didn't get a better education.
I shut down my contracting 3 years ago and now teach stagecraft at a local community college. I have 6 hours of college education.
While the pay is half what I was making the stress is gone. I don't freeze in the winter or burn in the summer. In the evenings I can actually use my brain for myself.
Tips? What can you do? Read some of the old post, especially where they get rowdy over HO's,(homeowners).
The stress,late nights,long weekends and upset wife are just the beginning.
Just like I would do for my clients, I present the realities of the task ahead. Knowing the possible difficulties ahead they can make better decisions.
By knowing the potential troubles are you ready for the challanges ahead?
If so I truly wish you a kind path.
Despite what I said I truly miss it still. I love my craft and I'm very proud to be a carpenter as my father, grandfather and greatgrandfather were.
Sometimes what we truly love is not good for us.
J.ust A G.uy W.ith A H.ammer
Edited 8/19/2003 10:23:37 AM ET by JAGWAH
Gerald...Not to discourage you but..One kitchen doesnt make a carpenter. Think about this long and hard. Doing things for yourself is one thing. Working for someone who is paying you is another.
Darkworks: No Guns No Butter squilla and the bling bling.
There's about one thread a week about someone wanting to go out on their own. Look through the old threads, or search on the word "started" and you should get a couple of hour's worth of reading.
How Can I Miss You if You Won't Go Away?
Get a job with the best, most expensive full service remoder in your area. Tell them you want to sweep floors and work your way up, starting pay is not an issue.
While your there, get in good with the top carpenter on the crew. Buy a van. Stock it with the same tools he carries. Learn what he knows. Always be the first to arrive and the last one to leave. Learn to break out the materials and equipment needed from day to day. Have that done a few minutes before the official start time when possible so that the more experienced guys will be able to get right at it. Ask the foreman if it would be ok for you to stay late and clean up so that the crew can work on production right up until quitting time. Pay attention to everything that goes on around you. Offer to clean the office on your day off. Note how the office is run. Memorize all the documents associated with how this business is run.
Always take the dirtiest most difficult work and do it with a smile.
After three to six months ask for a raise based on your performance to the amount that you feel is fair for the service that you provide. Every six months review your performance and ask for raises accordingly.
If you want to work for yourself eventually, save as much money as you can. Write a business plan complete with pro forma finacial statements. Some say you will need 10% of gross on hand at all times. I think 25% is closer.
Meantime, get a subscription to JLC and FHB at a minimum. Buy their cd roms and read the last 10 years of both magazines. Read through this forum from top to bottom, and daily from here on out. This site is an excellent source of wisdom and information with the exception of my contributions.
When you feel you have learned as much as you can from one company, and have risen to the highest possible position move on to the next.
I think you should spend an absolute minimum of five years (fast learner) before going in to business yourself but probably more like ten with exposure to all facets of the construction process. I don't think its possible to experience enough in less time to start in business yourself. This is part of your capital investment.
Ideally, it would a great experience to rotate through the trades working for subcontractors. Frame, trim, siding, roofing, mechanicals, masonry, etc. You may never learn production methods working on remodels. Maybe do this before working with the remodeler.
Take some coursework in design, business etc. along the way.
Having said all that, Alot of us haven't done it that way. But I wish I did. I learned alot by mentoring under other builders as a subcontractor in various trades, and by watching and fixing their mistakes and some of my own. I always said if I got real slow, I'd go work in some of the trades that I have less experience in. And now I'm in a position where if the time ever became available I could probably finance myself to do it.
You can always just hang your shingle out and go for it, but trust me, its and expensive, inefficient process to learn on your own.
Tom
Edited 8/19/2003 3:12:49 PM ET by Tommy B.
In the end, one doesn't learn from books or class rooms. One learns on a crew. Go to work for a company that specializes in what you want to do, and dig your heels in. Do this until you hate everyone or feel so broke that you could scream. Then quit and work for yourself. Option 2 is get on a crew, fall in love with the company and run it one day. But get on a crew, get on a crew, get on a crew.