My first career was that of a career soldier whereby at the end of my service with DND, I was a Structures Technician in Construction Engineers or in civilian terms a tradesmen educated and trained in more than one trade. For sake of simplicity we used to call ourselves Carpenters / Painters rather than trying to describe every skill set we were trained to perform. When the military school of engineering was located in Chilliwack, the first-year apprenticeship was over 6 months in duration as opposed to 8 weeks for our civilian counterparts coupled with a pass mark of 80%. Very high standards. There we were brought up top an equivalency apprenticeship level of the following:
All aspects from site layout, foundations, forming and placing of concrete for basements, framing, stairs/balustrades, siding, roofing, fascia soffit… all interior finishing, trim… including cabinetry… hanging of doors, installation and repair all forms of hardware including morticed locksets. Hardwood, VC tile flooring, ceramic tile, drywall (and taping of same) we even had to construct, and glaze old style double hung multiple pane glass windows from scratch.
All aspects of surface preparation or repair of plaster, drywall, wooden surfaces… using best approach for desired finish. Brush, roller or spray (HVLP & conventional air…)
Trained in most concrete work which included concrete, cinderblock and brick as well as ceramic tile… We did not get much into stonework beyond basic repair, re-pointing of mortar…
All the glass / mirror works we were trained to do has mostly been replaced with far superior building materials (avail at glass shops) and methods of installation but still nice to know particularly if involved in old restoration or historical renovations.
I also attended (S.A.I.T.) the Southern Institute of Technology to obtain the civilian trade school “carpentry apprenticeship”. When I left the military, I became woodworking instructor in Calgary for a couple of years to help offset the rent on my woodworking studio space (2,000 square ft shop space located in same building…) where I built commissioned pieces of furniture evenings and weekends.
Although my passion was woodworking and building furniture, sales and sales management provided me the extra revenues with which to begin the serious acquisition of both specialty hand and stationary power tools. I have managed and was privileged to be part of the management team for two of Calgary’s most prestigious renovation contractors and 1 luxury home builder.
Four years ago we moved to the Comox Valley so my wife could attend to the needs of her mother here in Comox/Courtenay (born here 89 years ago at the St-Joseph’s Hospital which I didn’t know). My wife’s father was a pilot and served here in Comox and Nancy actually graduated from Vanier in ’74 and always had fond memories of the area and all that it had to offer. She likes to garden so with the added benefit of far better weather… we purchased a small acreage in the Huband Rd area. So fortunate indeed to at long last to have a very highly functional woodworking shop and look forward to building more mission style furniture.
Hopefully that provides you a bit of an idea for who Frank is and what competencies and skills I can provide.
To conclude, I am able to perform almost any residential repairs or minor renovations including effectuating minor electrical and basic plumbing tasks as well. As indicated in an earlier text though I’m very fortunate to have already developed some very good working relationships in regard to plumbing and electrical that I can call upon at highly discounted rates which will still save you money.
Working off a ladder much higher than a standard bungalow isn’t something I enjoy if over 4/12 slope. I will however perform de-mossing and cleaning of eavestrough and downspouts provided its not to high a slope.