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After 7 years in the computer industry, building out hundreds of servers and running many feet of copper wiring, I find myself wanting to be a carpenter. It’s always been in the back of my mind and everywhere I go, whether it be someones home or a store, etc….I pay attention to the details…how the trim was done, layout of the walls, wood flooring techniques, itself.
Having done a renovated a whole house myself awhile back, maybe it was a knack in me that got me hooked. What I would love to do is be do some nice trimwork, stairs, kitchen cabinets, shelving, etc.
For all you gurus out there, what’s the best way to approach getting into the field. I live out here in NYC. If you have any recommendations or links I can check out, it would be greatly appreciated!
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Run away, FAR away, runfast and dont look back!!!!
*Sounds like the 7 year itch to me.It would take another 7 years to learn enough to call yourself a good carpenter.Make sure that's what you want to do this time...Gabe
*search archives (particularly in business folder) for similar posts, which have lots of responses. keep an eye out for topics posted by Steve Merrette and Jamie Rich, both of whom have started good threads.
*It is a whole different ball game doing work for other people all the time as opposed to doing work for yourself. It is not glamorous, those cool looking tool belts you will be wearing can get heavy at times and falling off a ladder is hard on the body too. But if you are serious then IMO I would try to find an established carpenter who needs a helping hand. Most people I know can use help from a bright guy they can train. You will have to start at the bottom and don't expect to make a bundle of cash but you will gain a lot of experience.
*Ditto to what Carl Shaw said.Ed.
*AlanI have been in construction all of my life ( I'm 45) I have always had the desire to build things, nothing is more satisfying to me than seeing what I can create with my hands! i what's the best way to approach getting into the field?Take your time. Look for someone who's work is respected in your area. Look for these telltale signs:He's been in business at least 10 yearsHe's got clients from at least 5 years agoHe's got excellent creditHis clients and tradesmen are respected (the best in their fields)He sets his own standard of quality in everthing he does and is.Get him to hire you and show you the ropes. No matter how long it takes. It is your best college course and your time and effort is just tuition. If he's doing it right he'll be happy and successful. You'll be happy being around him and creating something you're both proud of. Always surround yourself with positive people.Tight linesTerry
*Alan,
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*after 20 years in the construction business I wish I was in the computer business!Hey Alan how much $ you makin? odds are its more than an apprentice carpenter. Be careful not to make a wong decision. (sorry couldn' resist)
*I did the math. I'm figuring I will be taking a 2/3 pay cut But at that same token, just 2 years ago I would go to work at 8 and leave at 3 in the morning at times. I guess everything in life has it's tradeoffs.
*Allen,What Carl said.........but I started in the trade by going to the library reading and studying a framing book before I went for the job.....about three years and I went on my own. I could have have made lots of money, but chose another life style. In this business you have many choices.......don't let those "run away guys scare you" being a carpenter is as good as it gets.
*Alan, I would want to be the last one to discourage anyone from doing what they want in life, but I would heed some of the posts above and think THREE times about giving up ANY stable job to go into construction. I started after earning a relatively useless college degree and now I've been doing it for 15 years, 9 of which are on my own as a self employed building contractor and I'm looking to get out. The hours are long, the work is not constant, you get really hot (I live in Florida) and tired and the pay is very low compared to almost any other profession except maybe slinging burgers. Many of my friends in the computer biz make 4 times as much as I do. Try keeping up with that at a social event... I'd take it up part-time or on the side and see what you think before I made any major jump. A few friends are fireman and paramedics and they do small jobs on their days off. They like it enough to do a job here and there but all of them tell me, there is no way they would do it full time. But if you are serious, you might also try posting the same thing in the Business folder as many guys there will be a lot more optimistic than I and will give you some good input. Good luck on your decision.Mike
*In that case, take a drive to all the open house projects and check out the work of the various finishing contractors, make a list of the ones that impressed you, and let your fingers do the walking until you hit paydirt.A lot of small firms could use some computer help once in a while also.....could be a win win situation in there somewhere...Gabe
*Alan, Just a quick brainstorm. Forget swinging a hammer but swinging some Cat 5 cable instead! I'm serious, I just network wired the house I'm building because not too many around my area do it and those that do are quite busy. I know a little about computers and networks having done that in a job long ago but you'd be a natural with your previous experience. You'd get the self-employment life you'd want and get to be around construction site and remodels yet would not have to start by holding the "doofus" end of a tape measure (by the way, what end IS exactly the doofus end?). I see you rough wiring a house and then coming back upon completion to set up the network. Leviton and other companies make everything you need. Man, this idea rocks! Hey forget I posted it as I just may try this business myself! If you try this and it works, please send whatever monetary contribution you can so I can convince my better half that all the typing I do here on the FHB board is worthwhile...Mike
*I actually do that on the side jobs as consulting brings in quite a bit itself. I hope you punched down all your connections and didn't crimp any plugs yourself! Networking houses has always been a marketing scheme myself but in NYC where land is scarce, there are not Alot of new houses being built. Most are just renovations of the like unless I go out to Long Island. I certify every job I do with a 6K cable tester. Alot of commercial jobs I've seen in mom/pop shops are terrible with kinks in the cable, crimped runs vs. a punchdown panel, etc.Personally, I think wireless is the next wave. They just came out with a 100mbs wireless spec!
*Gabe's got a good point. Your computer skills could get you in the door.Just be careful they don't sit you in front of a screen all day.Make a deal like "Four days carpnetry - one day computer" and make them stick with it.Good luck,Ed.
*Hey Alan,I just thought I’d through in my two cents. As Jason indicated Both Steve Merrette, and myself have asked this very same question. How to get started in the construction business? I have been away from this message board over the past few weeks as I have been busy at work. There is a ton of information here. It will take some time to get through, but read it, I have learned a lot. Also, there are many people here that are very helpful, and do their best to give you their honest advice. As for making a career change, I am in the same boat as you. I am a financial analyst, I have a business degree and I have done a ton of “home improvement” projects as well as small additions, full kitchen and bath remodels and lots of decks. Originally I was going to leave work this spring and go out on my own. I have been working on a business plan, researching my market, trying to identify an area I want to specialize in etc. However, give the current economic slow down and the tragic events of September 11, I have decided to hold off on my spring kick off. My new game plan, for anyone who is interested, is to keep my current job and purchase a multi family home in the next few months. Hopefully one that needs work. I live in a condo that I purchased real cheep and renovated and it can be rented out for about $250 more than my monthly expenses, mortgage, home owners, and taxes. Based on the multi family homes I have looked at, I should be able to at least buy one, live in it and between the rent from the condo and house, have no housing expenses. My plan it to then purchase a second rental home and then a third, and so on over the next few years. This way I will have a means of generating income without “going to work.” I am hopping this plan will allow me to try to make a go of starting a construction business and not have to worry as much in the beginning about making a certain amount of money.Alan, I live in Orange County New York, which is about 60 miles north of NYC. If you have any question, feel free to ask. I may be able to give you some in site or point you to someone else here who can.Best of Luck,Jamie Rich
*Go to work for someone else first but still keep up with your present techie stuff. Everything has its downsides. EVERYTHING! Seems like you don't start getting into the better money work till you are 40 years old or better and by that time your body aches all the time from the hard work.
*Alan, here is my two cents worth, first don't listen to the nay sayers, second as horrible as things have been in NYC, there will be a recovery period and rebuilding, thus the need for skilled labor and apprentices, check with the locals/halls and get on the books, if ou want to go the union route.Don't sell yourself short, for example, I have a long time friend, who went to school for diesel mech., worked at his brother's well established machine shop, went out on a limb and attempted to complete a boat building project (40 footer) that his dad started, which led this gu down the path of working with another friend building cabinets, for such customers as residential, and corperate such as Nike Town Stores. He and the other friend parted long ago, the friend who maintained the course has built up his business, done work for the LaJoll Art Museum, Nike Town USA, individuals with and without big wallets (like mself/without)....Microsofties(Some very big wallets). My point is this, maybe stick with your day job( as an income source, cut back a little on the hours spent there, and start working on small projects in the area of intrest, and as our work gets better, your exposure will increase, people will refer and so on..... Heck, get our self a compound miter box saw, table, some basic tools, and just start hanging molding, mabe make some boxes or cabinets out of our basement or garage, and start networking with all of those computer folks you know, they need tables, desks, cabinets in their offices or at their homes. Start small and dream BIG. ou can do it !
*Hi Alan,The trades...residential re modeler..uh oh!Do it dude..and don't look back, ha ha.Hit the 'burbs and not long island..How's bergen county, nj? Get a van and go..The city is 2 much pia..Stay inside, stay small, be clean and fussy..And charge! Enjoy the workDan-O
*Alan, if you are entering the trade, to be a tradesman, then go for it.If you are entering the trade, to get into the business of the trade, think twice. You can make a lot more money picking up construction debris...I like Jamie Rich's plan...blue
*Alan, I really like what I do, it can be a very satisfying career. I just hope you aren't to fond of money because finding a good contractor who will pay a good wage is really hard.there is no perfect job work hard,pay attention, read, think logically about what you are doing, and learn how to perform miracles and you will go far in construction.Mr. T. a.k.a. BA (I pity the fool who goes into construction) (not really)
*Jamie, Just what the construction industry needs, a way for more people to generate an income without going to work. As I see it this is the primary problem with todays' economy. I could elaborate in detail but I have to go to WORK tomorrow and actually earn a living, plus produce enough profit to satify the boss!Mr T
*"Wanting to be a carpenter" (and it sounds like you want to be MORE than a carp) does not have to translate into the necessity of being an employee, which is probably antithetical to doing creative work anyway, because as an employee, you'll be creating other people's visions instead of your own, supposing there is any vision in the project at all. If you want the variety of work you describe, from stairs to flooring to cabinetry, get another house to play with and invest in it/yourself from funds created from your wiring gig. You'll have time to ponder how to finish the wainscot or change a light that doesn't suit you--a lot more satisfying than humping plywood as The New Guy. Also, where i live, i can do work on my own domicile that i would have to hire a licensed person to do if i were building for someone else, so i get to keep it interesting with plumbing and wiring as well as gluing and screwing. Consider taking advantage of the amazing federal capital gains tax write-offs available for a person gets who lives in a house for two years before selling--a gold mine for someone willing to move every so often.
*SplintergroupieI hope he can afford all of the construction mistakes he's gonig to make doing it your way. He's going to pay tuition one way or the other. Why not work for someone who knows not only how to build, but maybe how to run a business. Both are invaluable skills that any craftsman will share. All he'll ask for is a hard working employee who respects what he has to share. I just hate to see another screwed up construction project, with a bankrupt do it your-selfer.
*i Why not work for someone who knows not only how to build, but maybe how to run a business. No reason, except finding a mentor is like finding gold. Would that Alan were so lucky because employers, myself included, are basically interested that their employees make them more money than they cost; this is generally antithetical to providing novel and stimulating tasks. Alan is interested in a variety of work, more than he would likely see working for one employer or one trade, so i suggested a self-directed program might suit his object better. There are lots of ways to learn from others without being on their payroll--or time clock.As far as construction mistakes, i see more of these committed due to bottom-line mentality than i do by persons who "pay attention to details", as Alan describes his style.
*Mr T, Jamie is describing two different business's. Passive income is derived from the fruits of hard work done in another time. The profits are a combination of hard work, skilled effort and risk. I'd hardly call that i "generating an income without going to work".blue
*Thanks BlueJamie
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After 7 years in the computer industry, building out hundreds of servers and running many feet of copper wiring, I find myself wanting to be a carpenter. It's always been in the back of my mind and everywhere I go, whether it be someones home or a store, etc....I pay attention to the details...how the trim was done, layout of the walls, wood flooring techniques, itself.
Having done a renovated a whole house myself awhile back, maybe it was a knack in me that got me hooked. What I would love to do is be do some nice trimwork, stairs, kitchen cabinets, shelving, etc.
For all you gurus out there, what's the best way to approach getting into the field. I live out here in NYC. If you have any recommendations or links I can check out, it would be greatly appreciated!