Construction Shortcuts Create Big Problems - I've seen plumbers poorly fastened pipes together, only to create water leaks that damage large sections of homes. I've seen electricians create fire hazards by splicing electrical wires in concealed areas and I've seen roofers improperly flash around skylights without any knowledge of the problems that they were actually creating.

What I Learned from Carpenters in the 1970s - When I started working in construction, the year was 1978 and carpenters usually brought their dogs to the job, had their radios blasting out loud music and there was plenty of alcohol that was consumed on a regular basis. These carpenters that I'm talking about, weren't really interested in safety or doing exceptionally good work.

Think Twice before Making Your Own Changes during Construction? - My grandfather was a carpenter and he taught my father and his brother the art of home construction. I was talking to my uncle one day when he said something that I would never forget. He said,” We are just assembling the homes, it's not our job to reengineer or design them.”

Don't Mix Alcohol with Construction Labor - When I first started working in the construction business, in 1978 it seemed like everyone drank alcohol on the job. These people seem to function pretty good, even though some of them were definitely under the influence of alcohol.

Abusive Homeowner Gets Mad at Contractor - Whenever we think of home remodeling or new home construction, we rarely think of the homeowner taking advantage of the contractor. It's usually the other way around, but this time the homeowner got a little carried away with the contractor.