Let me show you a picture:

Now, I’ll ask you a question: Do you think you could do the work you see here?

You Can Learn How To Build!

I was visiting a business the other day and there was some construction going on. Some new rooms were being built, complete with a second floor storage area. I knew the owner was doing this work himself so I was surprised when I noticed professional quality and correct construction procedures.

“Did you used to be a carpenter?”, I asked while admiring the work. I was even more surprised when he said he had not. I pressed further, asking if he worked with a carpenter or his dad was a carpenter… there had to be a connection somewhere. Nope…none.

“Well, this is done pretty much exactly right. How did you learn?”, was my next question. His answer made perfect sense and it’s something I think everyone who dreams of a magnificent home (without the gigantic budget to match) ought to think about.

“I visited construction sites and looked around.”

Now, I’m not going to even get into the whole “trespassing on a designated construction site” issue. You figure that one out for yourself. But the point is that all you have to do is work yourself, one way or another, onto a construction site in-progress and it’s all right there plain-to-see. Especially if you know what you’re looking for.

How do you learn what you’re looking for? START! If you’re trying to build an intersection between two stud walls and you realize that you don’t really know how to do it the chances are great that if you later see that situation elsewhere you’ll recognize it. And you’ll learn how to do it!

How do they run the plumbing? What holds the walls down and the roof on? What’s the difference between framing an interior door and an exterior door?

All of these answers are plain to see without anyone telling you anything. Sure, you can Google it, but there is something to be said about seeing it in-person.

By learning this way, the man I was speaking with did good enough work that someone like me, with a very trained (and somewhat critical) eye, thought he was a pro. Even though he’s never worked as a carpenter in his life!

Just think of the possibilities!

(another thought just hit me… want real life experience? Volunteer with Habitat For Humanity or a similar organization. You’ll learn and do a good thing at the same time.)