Episode 97: What is Craftsmanship?
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
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craftsmanship is overall good quality and attention to detail to what you are making/building and having the inner knowledge that you did the best job you could do making something for someone else
You can't imagine how valuable I find all of these video's, yours, Matt's Build Show and yes i watched this old house. I am completely remodeling my small salt box house and expanding right now. THANK YOU for the value and knowledge you bring to the table! It's a game changer for me and quality is what I am after.
The definition, meaning or measurement of Craftsmanship is about how much the tradesmen cares about the work he/she produces. As a contractor I only work with people that truly care about the quality of the work they produce. The price of that work is a secondary concern. The right customer will always be happy to pay the right price for quality work and Craftsmanship.
Agree. With. You. 100%. Am. A. Flooring installer. And as. A. Finishing. Trade worker. I. Have. To. See.and. Deal. With. A. Lot. Of other. Trades. Bad. Craftsman ship.
Brent you’re 100% correct about substituting materials for bad craftsmanship. You see this in big box stores for sure and that is what translates to a standard homeowner as high end. I believe you can increase the number of 1%’ers one room at a time.
I believe the 1%er’s they speak of are the uberwealthy not those that merely recognize craftsmanship per se.
I participate in a forum for cedar strip canoe makers - from professionals to first timers. My own craftsmanship is appropriate for a canoe I am going to use heavily and the second was better than the first. Some in the community were asking the pros what it takes. At the level of a competent builder people don't value the craft. Someone that works for a living will maybe be informed of the cost of the materials and not value the effort to execute. So perhaps you can sell a well built canoe for $5000. To make a living at it - you need to have a level of craftsmanship so elevated that it sells itself. No flaws to be found. Material selection and slip matching of grain. Perfect fitting. Perfect fairing. Perfect finish. The clients don't bat an eye paying $90,000. But there are only so many hedge fund managers out there with that kind of money. It is so relatable to Brett's level of craft in homes. I don't think the answer is to build more $5M homes. I think people need to think differently about their homes - get rid of some of your stuff (who doesn't have too much crap), skip the bonus room, keep the design elegant and watch out for the choices that all at once add complexity, cost and risk. Save that budget for window trim that frames the view instead just covering the raw edge of the drywall. Add some flair to the stairway. Spec solid wood interior doors. If you downsize your stuff and are thoughtful about the spaces you really need taking 25% of the square footage out will make a lot of budget for your window package and trim carpentry.
That was a fun to listen lots of knowleage and fun to 👍 thanks
Matt of course a Ferrari has better craftsmanship, but the Honda Civic was an equally brilliant engineering feat because it allowed the average person to get a car they could afford that is safe and reliable. When you guys talk about $4000 humidifiers it's like you're talking to us from a different universe
You both are correct - CRAFTMANSHIP is 98% of the build. I do think builders should know and use the Janka Wood scores more appropriately, knowledge is power. Great video!
Your expertise is highly appreciated🛎️🙏
Great discussion with coffee this morning. Thanks! ☕️
Builders always complain about the lack of good help and worker shortages.
They need to do more to make an effort to train the next generation of craftsmen.
They always want to hire someone with experience but overlook the young high school graduate that is willing to learn.
Help train the next generation by providing summer jobs and internships for high school and college students.
Work with local schools and ask them about training programs for HVAC, plumbing, carpentry, electricians, roofers, and concrete work.
And the most important thing in all of this... the pay sucks and they provide zero benefits.
If it's union they'll get good wages, benefits, and retirement
I will add paying attention to heft of things, light, and quiet. I’m a finish carpenter who lives in a house built in 1920. My doors are wood, the doorknobs are brass, my subfloor is Doug fir. The original components have heft; they’re solid and feel indestructible. And even tho’ I have newer windows and drywall, my house still feels quiet.
Nowadays doorknobs are so shabbily made, you can bend them if you press too hard. The cardboard doors wobble and vibrate. Worst of all, new houses have a strange echo and everything feels too open and loud.
So I think details matter as does beauty and I’d start with upgrading doors, windows, and fixtures, and better soundproofing. Also, proportion. Today’s houses are completely out of proportion not to mention context.
Plaster walls hold sound well
Great points! Mass absorbs sound which would explain your observations…these new built hollow homes resonate!
Oh man, we’re talking crap about Hardie. I’m here for it. 😂
Sponsored by Hardie.
This old house with Bob Vila dad I still watch it today
If you visit Europe and find middle ages (1100 to 1600) you will find guild craftsmanship. This was the talleystick era, and a craftsman only had to work about 4 months per year due to no usury. The rest of their time was volunteer work, including building multigenerational cathedrals.
The need to know is the key. know what's the best and best way along with know the limitations of your abilities and materials.
I installed some Pell@ windows ~30 years ago. Aluminum over finger jointed doghouse grade wood. Over the years, water has found its way under that aluminum cladding. There's now a lot of bondo in some of those windows. Original windows in the house, Ca. 1880, albeit single pane with triple track storm windows are still going fine (They were re-glazed about the same time)
nobody wants to pay a higher price but everyone wants to sell at a higher price... thats where you need to find common ground so both sides feel like they are ok with the price...
That's the problem when homes started becoming profit centers.
@crusader0657 math is the same as always. Largest asset for the bottom 80% of Americans has been the primary residence for a 100 or 250 years.
Brent!! Love the classic details
Matt. I've watched many of your shows with many more to watch. I know you come out to Los Angeles, so I'm hoping you have some recommendations for contractors. I've spoken with many about work we'd like to have done and heard more BS then I'd care to think of. Thanks for any help you can give. I'm a working class guy, not the 1% high income.
Beautiful information, thank you❤
Pumicecrete is by far the best building material on the planet Pumicecrete is a mixture of pumice cement and water mixed and poured into a set of reusable forms walls are poured from 12"to 24" thick pumicecrete is fireproof termite proof rust rot and mold proof non toxic and has a high R value and good sound attenuation solid poured walls means no critters can live in your walls Pumicecrete can be built for a fraction of the cost and time and pumice is one of the few building materials that can go directly from the mine to the job site ready to use without any additional possessing and zero waste Google all the walls of my house are made of pumicecrete
Take care Ray
Craftsmanship doesn't have to do with the cost or the value of the house. Craftsmanship has to do with building the best with what you have and budget, and the level the house deserves. ALL houses deserve Craftsmanship. You just can't put the time and materials into some houses that you use for other, more expensive, houses. I think Brent sidetracked the discussion for a bit talking about 1 percenters--though that is where we practice the higher craft. I think there IS some value-engineering that could involve using certain higher quality products (natural materials if that is your thing), spending the money for a lower-end house, so that it isn't falling apart in a few years.
This is all true but doesn't take into consideration. Quantity, cost , time. There are 300, 000,000 people in US alone. They need housing. If we don't get raises in 10 yrs. can't afford well-built houses. Every year there are thousands of children graduating from high school. In ten to fifteen years they will be looking for housing . So you need thousands of homes /apts. to live in ,with or without partners.
That being said , what you guys are doing and saying is true and important. It's a shame that it's left to the 1% ters to get it done.
However, my moto is ," Shoot for the moon and you should at least , clear the roof. " Keep the dream alive!
First time I saw one was on this old house
Speed seems to be the root of the problem. We need to build houses faster and faster with materials that need to be produced faster leading to production environments. Efficient production processes require consistent materials that are not available today.
Choosing wood. You have to consider the carpenter trying to finish a project. They have to go to the lumber store and get the wood that they can. They can't always pick and choose, holding the job up for materials that just aren't available. That's the norm. The ideal is the builder who can find and stockpile materials that he or she really wants. A few, like Brent's shop, can afford that.
Question I seem to keep asking myself lately is “WHERE is the craftsmanship?”
You need a craftsman to paint your wall behind you, that break line at your faces is driving me crazy. The best faux is one you don't notice 👀😵💫😆✌🏼🙋🏼♀️👍🏻
I define it as: The opposite of crapsmanshit.
I'm on 47 years
👍👍
Does Mr. Hull believe the best houses were built 150 years ago? Solid wood is not always the best choice for a material and the wood available today is even less desirable. Isn't a craftsman simply one who is skilled in a manual occupation? Why does it need to be more complicated than that? Seems that back in the day, one tried to be the best so they were hired to do the job and could feed their family. Now, we hire anyone who will show up long enough to finish the job and accept what we get because there are not enough people to do all the jobs and we need a house yesterday. Lowest bidder wins, not most skilled.
Craftsmanship is like pornography. I cannot define or describe it well, but I sure know it when I see it.
Craftsmanship starts with the best building materials. If it's OSB, it's crap. Anything that's wood chips and glue is junk. Glu-lams, engineered trusses, no thanks.