My crew and I were thinking about what tips we could share with any new young contractors, one that they don’t already know (because God knows, it seems like they know everything else). Looking around, I noticed a lot of gray hairs on my crew members … if there was hair at all. My crew consists of men in their 50s and 60s, and me. I’m 62, and have been a builder for a long time, over 40 years, and like the rest of my crew, I’ve put a lot of miles on my body while doing it. Then it struck me. How are we still able to do it?
I have a lot to say about that. Diet, regular exercise, good rest, regular use of eye and ear protection, and so on. But when it comes to deck building, or any remodeling projects we’re doing, there is one product we’re never without. Kneeling pads. Eh? What’s that you say, you young whippersnapper? Kneeling pads! We have many. They make the work better and the day go more smoothly, and – perhaps most importantly – in the future, you’ll still be able to get back up after you’ve made it all the way down there.
You can find kneeling pads at garden centers, flooring stores, or on that newfangled computer thing. Or just ask an old timer. The one I’m using on this job is by Marshalltown, which cost about $27.00. Whatever you decide to use, remember to always bring the pad with you in your truck or trailer; the tool you have is the tool you’ll use.