The Biggest Mistake I Never Made... Fixing My Screw up... :(

I screwed up on a massive stair build. In this video I show you how I screwed up, how I fixed it, and why no one will ever know....

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[coldfootfun]

I’ve been remodeling homes for 46 years and have been a self employed contractor for 35 of them. One of my early mentors said something that I’ve never forgotten. Dwight Nelson told me that all carpenters make mistakes but a craftsman always fixes them, no matter what it costs themselves. He also told me you always have to nail on the last board before the job is done. When I have one of those ‘ Oh no ‘ moments, I remind myself I’ve finished every job I’ve started and I’ll finish this one too. Great video, thank you.

[mjac]

Retired second generation carpenter here, age 72. My father always said "It's not a mistake until you can't fix it." a mantra I needed many times in my career. Your work is astounding, your attitude the best. Thanks for posting.

[bobobrien]

I'm a third generation carpenter have been building shop built stairs for 40 years so I could literally feel your pain!!! My dad used to say it's not if you make a mistake its how good are you at fixing them.( dad was a true Craftsman so didn't make many) we all make them and I think you're a gifted young man that can truly be called a carpenter!! Thinks for your channel and God bless

[mcccarpentryafter]

That feeling of panic and stress. There’s not a carpenter or self employed person watching this that doesn’t know that feeling when you realise something has gone wrong. You’ve made a mistake. It’s gut wrenching. I’m not sure which is worse the at first the loss of money or the customer finding out. When things calm down and you can think more clearly you go about trying to work out where you went wrong and it’s here when you recognise your mistake you work out the solution. I love being a carpenter, I don’t like making mistakes but would I change any of them, no I wouldn’t. Getting over the problem and finding that solution is also a great feeling. Another problem solved. What you learn from it is and about yourself gives you massive confidence for the next project.

Well done and thanks for sharing.
From Ireland.

[LeoDodier]

You have always impressed me with how humble you are, this just reinforces your character. Thank you for sharing.

[eileenheitman]

I’ve been a contractor/carpenter for 42 years and, believe me, I understand the panic you felt. I have made mistakes that put my mind into a vortex of doom. Thankfully, I’ve managed to solve the problems and did it undetected. Never was a solution dangerous, half-ass or unsightly. However, the belly aches and feeling of stupidity were epic. As you, or any crafts professional does, I shoot for perfection and hold myself to the highest achievable execution of quality. If one doesn't do this kind of work one will never know all the thinking/ foresight it takes to do projects like this. It’s very gratifying but not for the weak. time constraints...the “seeing into the future” as regards establishing an accurate estimate of time....the hours it will take....so I can be fair to myself and the customer when assigning an up-front cost/bid is, for me, the hardest part of the business. I can predict material costs very accurately. Estimating the time it will take is tough. To sell a job hourly is a rare opportunity. I can count on one hand the number of times that I have experienced the luxury of bidding hourly. I’ve taken on some ...in my mind...very complex jobs, explained the complexity to the customer, and was allowed to charge hourly. These same customers never bitched about the final costs and they hired me to to additional complex jobs for them. That all said, self employment is a maximal challenge. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I can’t imagine being an employee type. Thanks for sharing your experiences and thanks for your candid information. Merry Christmas. Dave Heitman in Omaha dba Dave the Carpenter. Semper Fidelis

[ebeck]

My dear friend, my dad was a carpenter all his life. He taught me that if you can fix it, it is not a mistake. I followed in his foot steps, only after a while, I found the I liked the finish work best. I was 16 when I started, and I am now 80. I still do a lot of handrail and stair well remodeling. I admire you and your talents and ability..Watching you Is fantastic. You are like 6 of the people that I taught, they all out shined the teacher. I am very proud of each one of them. Like you, they have taken what they were taught and greatly improved and expanded and improved. I wish you well in the years ahead of you and your family.

[mastershandcarpentry]

My Dad who was a Master Cabinet Maker Carpenter told me anyone who say’s they don’t make mistakes hasn’t worked long enough. There’s always a way out and to be humble. You can learn from the guy sweeping the floor. Keep up the good work graciously sharing your talent.

[sicpact]

Anybody that does custom work knows that feeling very well, I have walked into jobs and realsied very fast that my piece of work is the wrong size. I was always taught To never report the mistake until you have a solution.

[kevinoconnor]

I’ve been a carpenter for 47 years and I could feel the sensation in your gut when you tried to place them. Like a bomb going off. But when we’re composed the simplest answers appear. Ya did good and all is well

[LeeGabriel.]

I am a retired finish carpenter. I was smiling as I watched the video. Been there done that. It is interesting how the room can feel to hot all of a sudden. My friend and fellow carpenter and I have said a few times, “ You will never know there was anything wrong with this when I get done with it”.
There have been a few nights with a lot of tossing and turning, often with an solution in my head when I woke up in the morning.
My biggest scare was not a finish job. I had a sub pour a foundation on a job I was super on. The next day a city official called to tell me the porch was over the property line. I was drive when he called and I about wrecked my truck. I too am a Christian and out loud I said, “Dear God what am I going to do”? His response was, “You can’t cut the tree down”. It is hard to describe the relief. It was the city arborist for another job. He was calling to tell me that the old house, built before set backs was built on the property line and the tree belonged to the city.
I had a supplier tell me of a job where they supplied iron balusters. There were two finish carpenters working on it. One started on the landing installing and one started at the bottom installing, they were almost done when they realized they were given two different types of balusters and they didn’t match. That one had to be a tough one.
OK one more. A couple of my friends are master stair builders, that’s all they did was stairs. At the time it was probably a $35 - 40, 000 stair case that swept up from both side with ascending volutes. They were all done and one of them had gone on vacation. I was doing the rest of the finish work. The contractor came by the job and called a couple of us down to the foyer and asked us if we saw anything wrong with the stairs. After a little bit of staring we realized that one of the newell posts was the same turning but different spacing on the flats. The guys had been short one baluster. They called and ordered it delivered. It was only off by one number on the box. The newell was set in Bondo. It was another one of those you’ll never know there’s anything wrong with it when they got done
Killer job on the stairs by the way.

[craiguddstromcarpentry]

I felt some of that anxiety when you were explaining how you had discovered the mistake.
I overlooked how low a veranda beam was when I started deck framing. I also felt so stressed that I couldn’t think of a solution.
But, I slept on it, and came up with a solution that the client was satisfied with.
It’s was a good reminder to take a step back and look at the whole job before I begin, and I’m only as good as my last mistake.

[bwojak]

Spencer, I’ve been watching your show for a couple years now and I am in awe of your abilities for someone who appears to be young. I’m 62 years old I’ve been a carpenter for 40 or 45 years. A lot of framing early on and mostly finish for the last 20 years. From 1995 till about 2005 all I did was build stairs in tract housing and apartments. Without exaggerating I can say I have built between 600 and 800 sets of stairs. Including spirals, commercial, and residential. Both rough framing and right down to finish. Your solution for this problem was perfect spot on, watching the video when you first mentioned the problem I knew what needed to be done before you explained how you fixed it. Always remember it’s easier to pad out the landing or the second floor a little bit then to have your stairs built too long. Many times I always left myself a half inch of play so all I would have to do is pad my landing or my second-floor out with a piece of half-inch plywood.
I really enjoy your show and have learned a lot From all of your techniques. Also most of my career I have been a one-man band much like you, but it’s 62 years old now I need a little help. Oh well what are you gonna do. Keep up the good work.

[debbie]

I was super impressed at how you were able to get all the stairs into the house by yourself, you made it look so easy. And then to think to use the winch was another brilliant idea. Work smarter, not harder. You embody that saying. I love all the work that you do on your channel. Thanks, and keep up the great work.

[andylopez]

You said it perfectly, Its about how good you can fix your mistakes (or somebody else's) that makes you good at what you do. In my years of being an Autobody Refinisher (painter) I had to create an illusion so my customer couldn't see where I had painted, and Spencer I was good at it. I also had my Sunday's when I had to go to the shop and fix a problem that could not wait til Monday.
I still think you're one heck of a carpenter my friend. Peace and Love from Texas and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

[benshell]

That right there is what separates the men from the boys, so to speak. Make a mistake, fix it, and go on about your business. No blaming someone else, no quibbling, just "I messed up, so I'll make it right." Always respected you and your work, Spencer, even more so now

[robertarmitage]

What a stand up guy you are. always love everything you produce. this was the best cause we all have been there. thank you

[bobhunt]

The mark of a good carpenter is how you fix your mistakes. I've learned having a helper or second carpenter helps greatly to reduce mistakes as no one sees everything.

[Theonemx]

Hey Spencer. I have 5 months working for a Local contractor. He does concrete, framing and remodeling. I'm still in the learning process of course but Carpenters like you inspire me to keep on learning every day. The job itself is tough and sometimes the people you work with make it hard as well but the art of it is awesome and the sense of accomplishment after a good days work is always the greatest feeling. Thanks for showing us both the good and the bad of your day to day.

[troyc]

You're exactly the type of carpenter I would trust and have confidence in. You dealt with your error without compromising structural integrity at your own time and expense. A bonus is you have the honesty and integrity to admit to it. In my opinion there is no need to create alarm in others when it's not their problem or concern at that point in time. Mistakes always cost us something - time and money but there is always a solution which you just burden aka "eat". Nice job.