How Many Trades Are You Proficient At?

Handymanservice

How many different trades do you perform in your business? Even if you are a specialty contractor, I am curious hard many trades you are comfortable doing work in and are proficient at?

As a handyman, I am fairly competent in the following areas:
Basic Framing
Concrete placement, forms & footings - mostly flat work or monolithic slabs, never done a stem wall or basement.
Minor Electrical, I have wired whole houses, but I would not do that today.
Minor plumbing, I have performed many re-pipes, ran many systems, installed new bathrooms, etc. I would not do that today though.
Roofing and simple flashing, never anything complex, but multiple complete roofs.
All drywall and finishing/texture levels.
Decks, fences, Pergola's, gates, etc.
Minor painting, mostly interior (by the room) or touchup on exteriors. I have never painted an entire exterior (nor do I want to).
Maintenance and Repair of all systems in the home.
Arc, Mig, and gas welding.

What do you do that is outside of your "trade?"

__________________
"You can shear a sheep every year, but you can only skin him once!" Remember that when dealing with your customers and pricing.

http://www.yourhandymansite.com

480sparky

I'll profess I feel fairly competent in electrical, but I can handle my own in plumbing, roofing, framing, drywall and trim work. I've also done brick/block work, pouring 'crete, siding and gutters.

Not that I have anything against the other trades, they're just not my cup of tea.

__________________
Site : the area or exact plot of ground on which anything is, has been, or is to be located.
Sight : The power or faculty of seeing; perception of objects by use of the eyes; vision.
Cite : To mention in support, proof, or confirmation; refer to as an example.

Cdat

All I can say is when the inspector came to look at my plumbing skills after I added on to my house, he didn't believe anyone but a master plumber did the work.

Must of been drunk or something, 'cause I thought I did a ****ty job.

Winchester

I feel pretty good about my deck building, residential electrical, tiling, and hardscaping abilities.

I can do trim work, build cabinets and desks, install hardwood flooring, and many other things. However, I know I'm not nearly as good and probably a hell of a lot slower than guys like Leo, Gus, basswood, etc..

__________________
Ryan

Warren

Proficient at: Framing, roofing, siding, drywall (hanging only) decks, basic finish carpentry.

Worst trade for me is PLUMBING!! Always ends up costing me more and requiring multiple trips to get parts. Why do they need so many different fittings anyway??

tinner666

Done all that and more, Handyman.
And built engines, built and repaired boats. Manufactured trailers in my shop. Done some masonary. And more.

__________________
Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

JumboJack

I do my own framing,residential electrical (worked side by side with an electrical contractor for six years),drywall,trim/finish,flooring,tile.
I don't do any plumbing or painting.Only minor stucco and concrete.No HVAC.

__________________
in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

JonM

I was always good at recess....

genecarp

I once bought TOYS ARE US (toy) for $12, and 6 months later sold it for $18.G

__________________

Darwin

1-champion poop thrower

RizzoMaryland

I'm still working at perfecting my first trade.

__________________
"An idea is salvation by imagination"
Frank LLoyd Wright

Magnettica

Electrical only. I wouldn't day I'm "proficient" at carpentry.

__________________
Electrician service in Rahway, Cranford, Clark, Westfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Roselle, Roselle Park, and New Jersey | Same day electrical service and repairs | Licensed and Insured Electrician in Rahway

woodchuck2

I try to stick with just electrical work but i also do general home maintenance. For my business i advertise residential wiring, generator installations, small excavation, tree cutting/removal, snow plowing/removal, lawn mowing, painting/staining, pressure washing, roofing and decks. In this area you need to be diversified to survive. I also do minor concrete work, some drywall and trim work, install drop ceilings, welding, etc.
I used to be an auto technician and i also worked in a body shop so every now and again i get someone asking me to fix their car, boat or tractor. For the most part i will do anything to keep working and pay the bills. Maybe this is why i am still busy when most folks are slow.

Dan V.

I'm a remodeler so by definition, I have to be able to do a bunch of different things. I love doing tile and stone work, but I'm more proficient at general carpentry. I've done hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, plumbing (never plumbed a whole house, but have done numerous tubs, sinks, water heaters), electrical (again, never wired an entire house but can do basic wiring and both 120 & 240 breaker installs). Painting (all interior - my least favorite trade), drywall, both hanging and taping and deck and walkway building and vinyl siding. I've also done a few complete roofs, but agin, not my fave.

Don't do carpeting, windows or landscaping. Not because I can't; I don't want to or am too cheap to buy the tools & equipment necessary to do it right.

__________________
I spent most of my money on booze and women. The rest I just wasted.

www.forwardsolutions.net

rbsremodeling

define proficient

__________________

HomerJ

I'm a GC, so I don't know anything.

I just stand around with my thumb up my ass, make subs wait around, and neglect to pay any of them when the job is done.

__________________
Northwest Indiana General Contractor
Northwest Indiana Remodeling Contractor
Indiana Bath Remodeling
Indiana Kitchen Remodeling

Trim40

Finally a GC who admits it

CScalf

My best, Roofs, siding, windows, gutters, framing, trim...I would like to think that I am "good" at just about anything, but not the best by any means.

__________________
"Your problem does not constitute an emergency on my part"

Handymanservice

Webster's Definition - Proficient, well advanced in an art, occupation, or branch of knowledge

My definition - What trades can you perform well enough to sell to your customer, as a professional installation, and make a profit, instead of subbing it out.

__________________
"You can shear a sheep every year, but you can only skin him once!" Remember that when dealing with your customers and pricing.

http://www.yourhandymansite.com

BuiltByMAC

I've made the choice to continually increase the depth of my construction knowledge, not the breadth.

Mac