NEW! Faster Search Option

The Middler

The Middler (post #166431)

MarkAReed on Tue, 04/12/2011 - 08:19 (updated 04/12/11 - 04:10)

Woodworker's Cafe

Hey folks,

This is a little different from what you would expect to see here, but a nice way to see what it's like to be me,

A Contractor and a Cabinet Maker in Lake Forest, IL.
....who loves to write. I hope you enjoy it.

The Moore Project
Architect: John Richert, Owner of Crossroads Blue Sky

This project included installing a new kitchen, 5 bathrooms, a custom "drive in" in master bedroom closet and huge kitchen pantry, 2 mantles, a locker cabinet, a 16 x 8 ft. tall, home theater cabinet, a TV cabinet in the family room, built in book cases, and a wine room.

We installed arched door trim and big columns, 12" tall, baseboard and 4 1/4” poplar crown, picture molding panels and chair rail, stair rails and 8 ft tall, 1 3/4” thick, 4 panel poplar doors with 6 7/8” jams. VERY HEAVY!

Everybody had a good time working on this one. The weather was perfect, no mistakes, nothing broken, and we made good time. What a blast!
Great clients too.

But, after this one, I think I am through with bidding on framing houses. I will submit a bid for installing trim and cabinetry only, or I own the job.

Not complaining one bit.
I just can’t compete with European Contractors that pay their 24 yr. old lead carpenter 18.00 an hour....... Great guy, by the way.

But, that’s what I pay my laborer that sweeps the floors!

I can spend 12-16 hours on a complicated framing estimate like this and not get the job because I’m 2000.00 higher than my polish friend.

Most of my crew specializes in trim and cabinetry and average between 25- 32.00 an hour. They are better framers and know how important it is so the doors, cabinets, hardware and trim go in smoothly and on time.

But, we all want to make 75 grand a year with a company truck, paid vacations with benefits, and this is what happens.

Building in America has changed.

Instead of pulling out what hair I have left, I have adapted a new concept.

You can have two guys that have the same skills but they are not worth the same. It has less to do with speed and everything to do with FINISHING.

So I like to also categorize a worker as a starter, a “middler”, and a finisher. Like the guy that is a good trimmer but leaves three things incomplete for the punch list, or worse, someone else has to roll out tools and finish it (a sin).

He may be a good finish carpenter and fast but he is not a finisher, the most important category.

If you identify the middler, check your expectations, manage the critical path while using it as an opportunity to teach with kindness, it changes everything. Everybody wants to learn but nobody likes to be yelled at.

But, If they don’t care, that’s different.

The European framers on this house could be considered middlers.
Nothing wrong with that.

”The world needs ditch diggers too.” - Caddy Shack

Instead of cursing them under my breath, during the whole trim job, dealing with out of plumb door jams and out of square vanity walls, no blocking for cabinets, crown and towel bars, badly crowned or warped studs in the kitchen wall, I go to the job site before the drywall is installed and check every door opening and header height.

I have a big 3×4 ft folding framing square for the bathroom corners, and I string line the middle of the kitchen walls.

I became the finisher and now I “own” the job. No one else to blame.

I imagine we all have a little middler in us.

But, with kindness and by example, our peers should lead our young apprentices to be finishers on the job,

and therefore, in life.

I wish you all the best this year. Keep the faith.

Mark - Grayslake IL.