Drywall, Stucco & Paint Restoration & Remodelling

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. You could ask a series of trade questions.
For example when a prospective "Nailer" (guys that hang sheetrock); don't like to be called "Hangers", for some reason. Calls I may ask: "How would you call out while measuring, 34 and 3/4 inches. And I expect to hear back 34 and six. Hangers
always use 1/8ths of the inch! 34 and 3, 34 and 4 is a half inch. I can listen to a taper from the other room and tell without ever seeing his work: if he's a Journeymen by how he clicks his pan.

You could ask a plasterer.... What is Gypsum plaster? If he does not say Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Sulfate, or Calium Hydrate be dubious.

Many Painters don't know what the primer PVA stands for..!
Oh -Poly Vinyl Acetate...
Ask a taper what is Taping joint compound made from.
Oh - Vinyl and with a latex bonding agent in the All Purpose. Finish Mud has no latex!

Ask if they use Paper or Mesh tape. If they say Mesh.
Don't use them.

Ask a Stucco Mason what Add-Mixes he might use for differant jobs? Fiber glass shorts, latex, acrylic, Calcium Chloride. All should be in there! An ol' boy might even say lux liquid soap

He or she should be wearing "Whites" and have mud on shoes, and maybe a little in the hair.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Muds will easily come off anything without harm. They are not paint. And although a reasonable caution should be taken; we often mask things to "humor" the homeowner rather then educate them. So we often have to charge you for something that does not need done.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I do the jobs most can't or won't do!
I can make any two surfaces "appear" level, and match any Textures (Machine or hand applied!) even "soften" it to match the multi-coats of paint many houses have recieved over the years. i'm often not matching the original finish at all!
I will mask everything but the cat if needed! (and if he's slow? He may get it too!) I seldom need to sand except smoothwall class 3-5 systems. And that is very important when doing an occupied home situation!
I like small jobs which can be 5-7 rooms if I'm not being pushed by a hard schedule. But that is rare!
I can work any dys and any hours as needed to bring your project in on time, under budget, and with some truly outstanding finishes.

I have many Signiture Class Textures that are Mine.

People have told me their house SOLD because of them.
I am an Artist; working in the Gypsum Medium. And have all the passion and vanity of any Artist who is enjoying his project and Patrons.
A taper need only know what his mediums do. But a Plaster\Stucco mason must know the chemistry behind his materials. Even down to whats in the local water and properties and interactions of old and new materials.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I enjoy the challenge of many. I have a scale i use for myself (and bidding!) of 1-10. With 1 being say spotting nails\screws or such. And 10 being something i can't do.
So I enjoy the 6-9 range and will try and figure out the 10s later. I enjoy the push and doing something differant. I'm always learning even though it's been 43 years I've been taping and plastering. 35 as a pro. I started at 10...
But as political as it may sound I enjoy my Patrons (most anyway!) And have worked for Movie Stars, Senitors, Fed judges, Microsoft elite. Many engineers. And some fasinating people. I see great familys, and great kids (some still out there!). And I feel like I have made real friends after a few

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. I bought a radio at a garage sale once. It had a clock and soothing mode selection. You know waves, creek, and such.
Well one remodel I was working on in West Seattle had extensive plumbing going on in both baths.(opposit ends of the house!) there were access holes he'd cut in both floors. I had been on the job with the homeowner for several days while he did his plumbing and we got along well.

Somehow I came up with the idea to place this AC\DC
radio under the bathroom floor (way Back) and set it to babbling brook...

I called him in and said I thought I could hear water. He listened and could barely hear it, so went running off to the other bath.
I hoped down and turned it quit a bit and stuffed it way back under. He came back and I said, "I think it's getting louder!"

He agreed and lay down and started reaching around for a leak and found the radio as my wife and I burst out laughing.
I got a nice tip on that job; so I know he saw the humor!

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I can work in any conditions. No power, no water, holes open in floor-Fine! Tile guys under foot, nails not pulled and preped on old tear outs-cool. But it is all going to cause delays and time so it will cost you money.

Some coordination problems can not be helped. But try to keep the horse ahead of the cart... and save in many ways!