I liked the fact my Dad and Mom took me to work in their apartments at an early age.
A number of advantages were given me that trade school itself couldn't match. Dad was a licensed electrician and all around handyman and Mom could do tile work, painting, wall papering and organizing. So as I grew up what ever skill was needed to fix, repair or remodel an apartment was passed on to me.
Soon I became the families repair and remodeling expert as a teenager. Having an uncle as a plumber and another as a Contractor, getting experience in the trades became a family matter. Learning slate roof repairs, tub replacement, tile work, inlay, vct, carpeting, siding, window and door replacement, deck repairs, plastering, dry-walling all became common place over those high school years.
When I finally moved out and began working for Bob Langevin in Methuen, my skills were only just being compiled. 7 years working with the skilled craftsmanship of this local carpenter taught me refinement, work ethic and cabinet making. No job we did was ever done without a care for the customers wallet and the end the fine finished results.
Having been doing every aspect of remodeling over the years, I can't imagine being a single skilled tradesmen. The great satisfaction of building and developing an interior space complete from start to finish can't be beat.
Over the years I've developed my business as a true handyman and skilled tradesman by doing a diverse field of work, from cement forms to cabinetry to curved garden structures. Some things like the form work are just brut strength as compared to the refined detail work of cabinetry. The refined work is far more pleasurable to do but to understand the entire jobs progression gives me a great respect for each individual craft.
I won't do form work anymore, I'll leave that to the younger guys, but knowing and doing every part of building has given me a great experience in being able to choose my sub contractors with an awareness that helps me set up projects to their convenience.
This spring I may get the oppurtunity to do a job that will combine many of these skills. Jacking up a poorly done addition to save it, escavate the calapsing foundation, pour new wetland footings, and save the structure from degrading into collapse. I'll Repair the oak floors, dry wall, roof and siding. A diverse amount of skill will be needed and I welcome that challenge.