Q&A

Get to know me & find answers to FAQ's!

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

Brief phone call to discuss the basic job needs and make an appointment to view the work area (if necessary). Email (or call) with a final quote. For larger jobs I do a 1/3 Payment up front, 1/3 at midpoint and final 1/3 upon completion.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

Many years of practical work experience in various trades and multiple certifications and endorsements including numerous equipment licenses, lead abatement certification, OSHA certification, etc.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

I grew up spending most of my free time working on my childhood home, an 1800s Federal style farmhouse, with my father, a union electrician. It always needed some kind of attention. Later on after leaving the Army, I worked in various trades, looking for an employer, and work environment, that was satisfying and somewhere I could see myself building a long term career. After many years, and a few different employers I wasn't finding a good match, so I started working more side jobs with the intention of finally building a business of my own.

What types of customers have you worked with?

You name it, I've seen or done it! I've worked with pretty much all types of people and have learned one thing: people are all just people. We are all pretty much the same and are motivated by the same things.

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

I recently had the privilege of working at a large, well known production (craft) brewery here in NY. I had to sandblast a 30' deep, partially underground concrete tank, repair years of acid damage to the concrete surface with a special chemical resistant epoxy mortar and triple topcoat with different epoxy coatings, each with a different set of requirements. Overall, the job took about a week. It has always been a dream of mine, as a homebrewer, to run my own brewery, but unfortunately NY is a very complicated and expensive state for starting and running such a business, with lots of convoluted regulations. It was very cool seeing a working brewery in action and getting to talk with the great people working there! Getting some free beer to take home and try was also a wonderful perk ;-)

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

Avoid the lowest, and sometimes highest, bidder. You get what you pay for, and you don't want either substandard quality work, poor quality materials, or to be paying off some flashy contractor's extensive overhead costs while he bounces between a bunch of jobs he is not really 100% focused on. Ask lots of questions and don't accept vague, dodgy answers. Any good contractor will have no problem taking time to explain things to a customer, but also don't hover like a helicopter the whole time people are working. It can be unsafe and usually takes the contractor's focus away from the task at hand.

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

Customers should have a realistic, calculated budget for the work they need to have done, and prioritize what aspects of the project are most important, and which can wait, if necessary, to meet financial necessities. They should be realistic about the materials and finishes that they can afford and be willing to compromise to meet their budget. They should also plan for some delays and unexpected complications, with both their timeline and money. Something almost always comes up that wasn't originally expected or couldn't have been accounted for in the original quote. Customers should also ask their contractor about the exact scope of the work involved and expected workflow.