garager
09-20-2007, 04:19 PM
Lets talk shop, I have been doing everything in residential since I was 18, now I'm 45. I have built the homes from floor to roof. I have done everything but Masonry work (small cement work, ya) and no Telephone and Electronic Services and I have never done Excavation either. Helped pour slabs a couple of times, but no block work.
Lets see, I have done Doors, Windows, Skylights, Staircases, Flooring, Tiling, Roofing, Trim Work, Painting, Siding, Electrical, Plumbing, Heating and A/c, you name it. I even had a Low Pressure Boiler License for 4 yrs or so. I have been through so many brand names and different materials and done every style of roofs that there are.
What I'm getting at is, I have seen a lot during my time in Construction. Most of the time I will try to do all the work myself (company), with exceptions for the work that I do not perform, as stated up above. I do try to stay up on all codes, but its too hard to read this stuff and remember what you read a year ago or 2. So I keep my code book and building books in my Office/work trailer. Well one day last year I was building a very nice home about 75 miles from here, further North.
The home owner goes into my trailer (which was OK by me) and see's my books. Later that day, he questions me about my ability to build an entire house. So after 10 minute of talking, I asked him, "well whats with all this talk about my abilities".
He saw my books and got paranoid. I said to him, "look man we went through everything before we started and you said great". He's seen pictures, called references, he listened to me talk house building. So then I asked him if he was disappointed so far, and "no" was his answer.
When the job was finally done, we sat down and had some beers and just reminisced about the whole house project. Finally he says to me "not once did I see you look at those books, so why do you have them in the trailer"? I said "for looks I guess".
Actually I do (did) go back and look at a few things, mostly codes.
Do you guys carry around your code books and or building books. Also how often do you pick them up and read them. I love to look and read about house building. From the rough framing to the finishing.
Its amazing what little things that are in these books that I have forgotten or just didn't think about. But if I do ever find myself questioning something that I don't think is right or looks wrong, I hit those books right away. So even a seasoned builder can have a memory laps... Sorry this was long, but I'm bored and it rained again all day....
Also what kind of books do you have? My 2 favorite books are,
Glencoe Carpentry & Building Construction by Mark & John Feirer
Graphic Guide To Frame Construction by Rob Thallon
These are great books, if you think you got a better one let me know.
Lets see, I have done Doors, Windows, Skylights, Staircases, Flooring, Tiling, Roofing, Trim Work, Painting, Siding, Electrical, Plumbing, Heating and A/c, you name it. I even had a Low Pressure Boiler License for 4 yrs or so. I have been through so many brand names and different materials and done every style of roofs that there are.
What I'm getting at is, I have seen a lot during my time in Construction. Most of the time I will try to do all the work myself (company), with exceptions for the work that I do not perform, as stated up above. I do try to stay up on all codes, but its too hard to read this stuff and remember what you read a year ago or 2. So I keep my code book and building books in my Office/work trailer. Well one day last year I was building a very nice home about 75 miles from here, further North.
The home owner goes into my trailer (which was OK by me) and see's my books. Later that day, he questions me about my ability to build an entire house. So after 10 minute of talking, I asked him, "well whats with all this talk about my abilities".
He saw my books and got paranoid. I said to him, "look man we went through everything before we started and you said great". He's seen pictures, called references, he listened to me talk house building. So then I asked him if he was disappointed so far, and "no" was his answer.
When the job was finally done, we sat down and had some beers and just reminisced about the whole house project. Finally he says to me "not once did I see you look at those books, so why do you have them in the trailer"? I said "for looks I guess".
Actually I do (did) go back and look at a few things, mostly codes.
Do you guys carry around your code books and or building books. Also how often do you pick them up and read them. I love to look and read about house building. From the rough framing to the finishing.
Its amazing what little things that are in these books that I have forgotten or just didn't think about. But if I do ever find myself questioning something that I don't think is right or looks wrong, I hit those books right away. So even a seasoned builder can have a memory laps... Sorry this was long, but I'm bored and it rained again all day....
Also what kind of books do you have? My 2 favorite books are,
Glencoe Carpentry & Building Construction by Mark & John Feirer
Graphic Guide To Frame Construction by Rob Thallon
These are great books, if you think you got a better one let me know.