I don’t want to bore everyone with all the details. Suffice to say that I am a third generation carpenter who took a loooong break due to health and life.
I’ll try and keep this to the question of portfolios only, but I am rather frustrated with the whole situation. I’m assuming building my portfolio will be the way to freedom.
Currently, I’m working for a guy who does remodeling while I try to get my business off the ground. Experience isn’t a problem- did this for 20 years before my break from the trade. Trained under my father who has now been doing it for 65 years.
When I was doing this before, social media wasn’t a thing (well, not much of one). We didn’t take pictures for a portfolio back then, not with being established at the time. Now it seems it’s part and parcel of the business. I have a few pictures from small jobs I’ve done but those account for maybe a dozen pictures at best.
The guy I’m working for let’s me take pics of the work we do, but the majority of the trim work is his doing and looks like garbage regardless of what I suggest or even attempt to do to fix it without his knowing. Essentially, doing it right take too long. I don’t even say that as an attack- it’s purely from the evidence at hand.
How can I possibly get a portfolio together for a website when what I end up with are pics like these?
It legitimately makes me furious seeing what he passes off as quality work. As an aside, I can’t even get him to pay me a working wage and get a 1099. All under the table for a fraction of what I should be taking home, but that’s another issue.
As for the pics, he didn’t even measure the angles on the frame for the casing to make sure it was square- he just assumed it was a perfect 90. It isn’t. The crown? I have no idea what he was even trying to do there.
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Caulk and paint make up for what a carpenter ain’t....
And as you show, sometimes it don’t.
I caught a lot of breaks in the early 70’s. Framing to start, some small town commercial trim outs which put the picture out in public. Lumberyard referrals as I paid my bills on time! Customer referrals, trade references and good luck put me in a position to gain a reputation or lose it. Partnered up with a couple similar guys and we learned and grew, separated and continued.
Sounds like you need to move on to someone that does quality work or take the dive into self employment and do more than sticking up business cards in the laundromat.
Best of luck!
I’m on my way to moving on my own. Trying to figure out some of the logistics- I have references that clients can talk to but I have little in the way of a portfolio to show.
Reaching out to the lumber yard I use isn’t a bad idea. Along with the local hardware store.
I thought about reaching out to the heads of condo associations to let them know I can do work for their members.
One more thing to confuse the issue.....
I’ve already got a truck and the tools, why not go on my own. He only pays me 12, I could charge 25. Damn, I should go on my own.....
Before you do, don’t forget to figure your cost of doing business. Way too many guys in the same boat have not and eventually find out when the truck is junked and new tools are needed etc. There is a cost to doing business and you have to figure that markup or you might be needing an equity loan to pay your quarterly taxes.
There used to be a bunch of threads on here dealing with that topic here, have a look.
Luckily I have some business acumen and finances in order. Learned that from my father running his own company for longer than I’ve been alive and I was involved in both labor and the business side. Were I smart I would have taken over his Ohio business when he moved to Penn.
I’m aware of many (though not all) expenses I need to look at including taxes, insurance, WC and replacement costs.
I’m not against finding someone else to work alongside for however long it takes to get going, I just want to be working for someone doing it right while I try to get things moving (could be a year could be five, who knows). Even if I were just the sub doing drywall and painting I’d be happy if the quality and commitment were there. I’d continue with small jobs on the side.
You’re in Ohio? Where abouts?
We’ve been happy here in Maumee since ‘89.
London- about half an hour west of Columbus. Great place. Trying to get established is a little harder. Most the jobs I help with are an hour away.
So close to Columbus you’d think would be a good location. Best of luck!
It sure is. It’s just about getting started again. Just finding clients.
Getting a relationship with a cabinet supplier whether a custom shop or a distributor doesn’t hurt. Any of those your side of Columbus? Cab install and trim out is a nice niche.
Yeah, my father in law knows a custom cabinet guy out this way. I’ll have him introduce me.