I don't know why more people don't go into the trades. There's a shortage of qualified trades people in Canada, which means they're in high demand, the work pays well, and it seems to be a direct pipeline to stardom for those with the requisite know-how and charisma.
The latest star to claim a spot in the firmament of celebrity contractors is Igor Shamraychuk, the savvy and sometimes surly hunk from the TV show, Restaurant Makeover. For those who haven't seen it, the show is about restaurants (usually in the Toronto area) that are being overhauled from the "back of the house," the kitchen, to the "front of the house," the dining room. The restaurant owner and the show split the cost of the reno, which tops out at about $30,000.
In the kitchen, a celebrity chef will take the house chef under his or her wing, teach them some new techniques, and revamp the menu to reflect the latest foodie trends.
In the dining room, an interior designer will create a plan to breathe new life into the space aesthetically.
This can be quite a challenge given some of the "before" spaces I've seen.
Igor (professionally, he uses only his first name) is responsible for implementing the design plan, which can involve complete demolition and rebuilding of the dining area as well as chef-driven upgrades to the kitchen.
And they do it all in six days. Yes, they actually do stick to that schedule for the construction end of things. Consequently, the more involved the design changes or the more unrealistic the concept from Igor's perspective, the more the sparks fly.
Naturally, I jumped at the chance to interview Igor, quizzing him about several renovation topics, starting with the obvious: his relationship with designers. I was curious given the drama that ensues when there's a disparity between a design vision and the practicality of making it a reality in six days. Despite all that, he firmly believes it's best to work with designers when renovating.
His reasoning tied into my next question, which was about the biggest mistakes he's seen homeowners make. One is that "they go out and buy everything they like but then they can't put it together in a way that works because it often doesn't work together. A designer can help with that."
Designers can also save clients money by discouraging indiscriminate buying and helping them stick to a plan.
Based on his years in residential construction before joining Restaurant Makeover, Igor says the second-biggest mistake homeowners make is going cheap on materials and contract labour.
"First of all, don't go with the cheapest contractor," he urges. This reminded me of what John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, reportedly thought seconds before takeoff: "Oh, my God. I'm sitting on a pile of low bids!" In essence what Igor advises is, don't make your home a "pile of low bids."
Then there's the buying cheap materials side of it. Igor says he hates it "when a year (after a reno), a homeowner says, 'Oh, if I could only go back I'd have gone with a higher end,'" whatever it might be. You fill in the blank.
"A home is the biggest investment most people ever make," Igor says. "They should buy the best quality they can afford, or even that they can't afford [at the time] so they won't be sorry later."
His biggest challenge is finding good subtrades people — those who have the right education, know the standards, have a good work ethic, and show up on time. "So many people think getting into the trades is easy but it's not easy work. You need to know what you're doing. You need training."
It can be highly satisfying work, however. On the show, Igor is design and construction manager, which allows him to have a hand in every aspect of the renovation. From electrical to plumbing and carpentry to tiling, there isn't a trade he hasn't tackled.
For someone who confesses he gets bored easily, the variety of work is ideal, as is the chance to build beautiful things.
Add to the mix a constantly revolving bevy of sometimes high-strung but always talented designers and who would have time to get bored?
Young people, especially those just graduating from high school or college, should take a closer look at a trades career as a viable option. Just think where it might lead. As Igor and others who came before him have demonstrated, the sky's the limit.
Restaurant Makeover airs on HGTV, the Food Network, and the Fine Living channel. Go to Igor's website at www.igorknowsall.com for show times, a list of FAQs, and a contractors page offering Igor-vetted recommendations.
