July 23, 2009
Check What's on Top... Or Look Out Below!
So here's one from the "While-You're-Here-Could-You-Just..." Department. I get hired to build things, but I'm often asked to do other stuff. In this case, it was move something. And by "something" I mean "the most massive piece of furniture ever."...Continue reading "Check What's on Top... Or Look Out Below!"
Posted by Mark Clement at 10:56 AM
July 6, 2009
Claw-Foot Tub for a Bathroom Remodel
Vita in Florida writes (My replies are in italics. I can also speak in italics, but only at parties:)...Continue reading "Claw-Foot Tub for a Bathroom Remodel"
Posted by Mark Clement at 10:23 AM | Comments (1)
June 22, 2009
Oil, Oil Everywhere
Hello, Mark. I'm once again turning to you for some DIY advice and guidance. Looking to re-stain my deck. What are the key elements (product choice, technique, process) to consider with this process? The last thing I want to do...Continue reading "Oil, Oil Everywhere"
Posted by Mark Clement at 4:55 PM | Comments (10)
June 8, 2009
Profanity (and More) on the Jobsite
Here's a newsflash: Carpenters swear like... well... carpenters. Some of the smartest and yes, most eloquent, people I know drop the "F-bomb" about every third word -- and that's before they really get going....Continue reading "Profanity (and More) on the Jobsite"
Posted by Mark Clement at 3:22 PM | Comments (27)
May 28, 2009
Professional Advice for a Tile Backsplash
Q: Hey Carpenter Mark, we recently had new kitchen cabinets and counters installed and I'm tossing around the idea of doing the tile backsplash myself. What level of difficulty would you rate this job? Things to look out for,...Continue reading "Professional Advice for a Tile Backsplash"
Posted by Mark Clement at 5:04 PM | Comments (2)
May 26, 2009
Talk About Incentives... WOW!!!
So I have sales on my mind -- big time. It's always important to be hustling for new work -- even in busy times -- but never has it been more important than now....Continue reading "Talk About Incentives... WOW!!!"
Posted by Mark Clement at 11:37 AM
May 25, 2009
Sweating the Small Stuff: Doing it Right, or Facing the Consequences
When you build something, no one is closer to it than you. Indeed, even though you're building it for someone else, deploying your effort and tools to a piece of wood imbues the work with some kind of far-out-right-on-Birkenstock-ish tacit...Continue reading "Sweating the Small Stuff: Doing it Right, or Facing the Consequences"
Posted by Mark Clement at 10:32 AM | Comments (1)
May 21, 2009
Writing for Realtors -- Get Your Foot in the Door
"Tough times make tough people." I read that in a great book about the World Series of Poker called The Biggest Game in Town by A. Alvarez (Seriously, even if you don't know a full-house from a roundhouse this is...Continue reading "Writing for Realtors -- Get Your Foot in the Door"
Posted by Mark Clement at 3:54 PM
May 18, 2009
Are Decent Plumbers a Vanishing Breed?
I think plumbing, like real estate sales, is one of those businesses where 10% of the people do 90% of the work. And right now I find myself in the unenviable position of trying to find one of the 10%....Continue reading "Are Decent Plumbers a Vanishing Breed?"
Posted by Mark Clement at 10:20 AM | Comments (6)
May 15, 2009
Tire Kickers & the Square Foot
Is it just me or are you giving a lot of bids to prospective customers who are simply shopping price, or, as the car-cliché goes, kicking tires? If so, has it changed how you operate?...Continue reading "Tire Kickers & the Square Foot"
Posted by Mark Clement at 3:45 PM
