The hands-on process begins! - Blog - News

 I joined the students out in the shop, where Jeff promptly began making a mess...

We're standing out by the mock kitchens in the shop, where things are set up to be as true to life as possible. Jeff is discussing backsplashes, the widths of panels, and how to attach them. I don't have any personal experience with backsplashes, but they sound rather dangerous, and like something you might want to avoid whenever possible. Pricing is touched on, how to fairly charge a client for said backsplash, if one cannot be avoided. Full back panels: good. Narrow and short backsplashes: less good.

Jeff does his demo, with doorskin (wood that is about as thick as construction paper), hot glue, and sharpies. Naturally, the glue fibers get all over everything, as do splinters of doorskin. Demos are made to be messy! Once the demo is complete, the students are split into two groups of 4, and the groups take the materials, and template one of the mock countertops. They get to experience everything from unruly glue-guns (those things have a mind of their own) to lost sharpies to doorskin strips that don't want to cut smoothly, so they get a genuine feel for how it will be on-the-job!  

One thing I've learned already, is that templating does not have to be complicated. It should, in fact, be as uncomplicated as possible. Simple is better, work smarter not harder! 

The students are asking great questions, and some very interesting rabbit trails are touched on. A discussion springs up about seam placement, and the best way to go about aligning the seams, if the project calls for them. This is definitely not a boring lecture, it's very interactive! As each situation is brought up (What if they have a window above the sink? What if the wall is very uneven? What if the drawers are unusual sizes? What if the homeowner can't make up their minds?) possible solutions are discussed, the pros and cons of each. Who knew there were so many things to consider!

Finally, templates are made, and in place, mark-ups are complete, and the forms are ready to be built!

Next: Lunch time.... 

TIP I LEARNED: Treat every templating and/or installation job with an eye on the client's space. Don't scrape, nick, scratch or in any way mar their home/office/restaurant, even if it's in a place where it won't be seen once the install is complete! You want to leave each location in the same condition you found it in.