My first love has always been framing. It’s what I do best. As such, I tried hard to learn as much as I could. I took for granted that every framer knew how to set stairs or frame a hip roof.
When I went out on my own, I learned that that wasn’t always true. For one thing, I was surprised at how many crews couldn’t set stairs.
When I shifted gears and was trimming and putting in stair rails ( Two things I do as well as Frame but don’t like nearly as much) I tried marketing the install of the stairs themselves. I didn’t get many bites because setting the stairs was always part of the framing package.
When Uncle Sam came calling in 2001 I sold my business such as it was to a friend of mine who I had recently taken on as a partner. One last bit of advice I gave him was to push the stair installs. to me anyway, there was money in it if done properly.
I was disappointed when I came home in 2003 to find out he hadn’t persued it at all. Matter of fact, he hasn’t given it much thought since then either.
I get a call on my cell phone today. It’s my old partner. Seems the influx of not exactly legal crews has some builders upset that thier stairs are screwed up on almost every house. So now, they want him to install the stairs too.
Problem is, that he isn’t exactly confident in his ability to set some of the more complicated ones. So, we’re gonna schedule some installs and I’m gonna take some leave and we’ll get him brushed up and confident again.
To me, in an area where spanish is the primary job site language and prices have been in a downward spiral, the fact that someone cares enought to look to have it done right is a tiny little ray of hope.
Now if these same builders would look at how poorly the rest of their houses are framed…………..but that’s another battle.
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the fact that someone cares enought to look to have it done right is a tiny little ray of hope
Great! and good for you and your partner.
It always amazes me when a "carp" can not do basic stair work, seams to me to be one of the more fundamental tasks to being a carpenter.
Maybe there is hope after all!
Doug
Goud,
I have read more than once in architectural history and in a book on interior trim carpentry, that the hieght of the craft is displayed in stairs and mantles. Only the best carps available on each job were given that job.
So you and I would be doing that sort of thing, and thinking what you expressed.But in reality, looking at it from other perspectives, it is easy to see why more carps do not know how. I mean, all it takes to get a job as a carpenter in good times is a nail bag, hammer and the ability to tell the difference between the two, and to avoid hitting yourself with the hammer too often.;)
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What part of the country are you in? Up in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado you wouldn't believe what you see and what is left out by those that can't follow a print. Most built for those with mutiple homes, inspectors have their hands full. Layout a stair, not likely!