I OVERTHINK everything so YOU don't have to - OR - how I work [good value examples]

[Picture shows a small framed wooden structure in the woods with Karol Kosnik standing next to it on a ladder ]

Chapter 1 - How to do hardwood flooring, properly.

No I cannot frame your new house. 

It is partially because I am a mediocre framer - I take too long; I over think it; I am NOT experienced enough to frame commercially. Plus, there is already an experienced framer in the family, my brother Stan - different personality type**.  I don't hold it against my father when he told me 'This took forever,' and I quietly ate my pride, he, my father, was the assistant on this particular one. 

Efficient framing is a 2 man sport:

 - one is 'the Beast' - leads; measures and is quick with the gun; extensive experience allows them to make quick-judgment calls without pausing - 'NO, no piece of lumber is perfect so get over it.'

- 'the Assistant' - equally important; cuts ON-DEMAND - accuracy is paramount as errors multiply in construction; 

CHapter 2 - Ok, so that's framing BUT you wrote about flooring...

That's true and I did that for a purpose. This was done to illustrate that one cannot be an 'efficient master of all'. We can only be master of things that are 'in-tune' with our personality type. Have you ever thought about that...? How personality types affect the work outcomes in trades...?

I personally do because that is an absolutely critical component to the success of any construction project where multiple trades are involved. Any trade that consistently does good quality work finds that work rewarding beyond just monetary remuneration - this is where it matters. I keep a little 'Black Book' of business contacts - trades that I have randomly met, befriended and was impressed with their work - THESE are the people I want to reach out to for a professional opinion; THESE are the individuals that I want to involve on my projects. 

To be continued...

**I wrote this before ------>  'the accuracy sensitivity scale' as I call it is like this:

Framers work to what I call a 'strong quarter' - trim carpenters work to 1/8 or less....

Swedish Socialism - it's ON!

Picture shows Karol Kosnik's recording studio for his new SCHOOL and PODCAST - Swedish Socialism. It shows two Ikea trestles MITTBACK supporting Ikea's SINARP slab, which is of excellent quality and makes for a very sturdy worksurface. The desk is covered in KOMPLEMENT felt liners for increased comfort and to reduce sound reverberation while recording audio for the podcast. Standing on the desk is a hacked PAX box - it is shortened and strengthened with additional quality elements that extend its lifespan - lifetime box integrity warranty. The PAX box features custom elements including a pair of doors on top. Below the doors sit 2 solid, historic wood drawer faces. It is all illuminated with a large professional light. 

Chapter 1 - What is Swedish Socialism...?

----> SwedishSocialism.com  - some courses FREE, some courses $$;

----> It is on a platform called TEACHABLE;

----> Learn SKILLS, gain KNOWLEDGE, and UNDERSTAND the proper process of home improvement

If you are going to start with something then start with this:

The first thing I improved upon was the base - islands were solid, easy, and super-level. Kitchen cabinetry became easy, fast and accurate - even out the gaps, trim it out, add some custom elements and it looked like a million bucks. 

----> It is a LIFSTYLE - once you understand how to leverage the IKEA eco-system for yourself your LIFE will CHANGE - I promise that! 

** Ikea Hacker Lifestyle **

Furnishings, Food, Fashion + FAMILY

We are at this fascinating intersection in time - a housing crisis; runaway inflation; lack OR hard to access skilled, traditional workmanship; absolutely outrages pricing on basic interiors that lack functionality. 

Royal Bank of Canada [biggest Canadian bank], predicts that there will be some serious skills shortage that will lead to run-away pricing on basic home improvements - try to get something 'fancier' done!

And how about just plain straight up 'HOW TO' knowledge and understanding of how to get things done... like flooring...? It costs a ton of money and which one should you choose? What is a 'good value proposition'...? What is a good compromise...? What is the OPTIMUM SOLUTION, because that is what you want.

Today everyone captures your data and wants to be the middle man en-route to sell you something: a product or a service. Whole industries sprung up as 'gatekeepers to reputation' - hahahaha! what a JOKE! One of the worst painting experiences I have had professionally is currently a top rated painter on HOME STARS - it was easy, he promised me something that he did not do, a critical step in the process, literally the whole ceiling came down, F*CK is mildly put it, I blame myself because I wasn't there to hold his hand when he was painting. 

OR how about this one ----> made me FURIOUS! 

One of my closest friends, used to live just up the street from me - the unpredictability of home renovation forced him to up-size his house just before his second one was born few months back. 

He literally moved a week into the ~newly renovated~  house and had the baby. Within the next week, his heated bathroom floor tiles started popping off - both floors.  No warranty on the job because the tiles were done by a 'friend of the previous owner'. 

Yea.... 'friend of the previous owner' - you cannot imagine the trouble it is to fix this situation, how disruptive it is, how expensive it is...! 

The title says it all: Everything you ever wanted to know about floors, but DIDN'T know you need to ask...! ps. I did that floor in the picture - it's my favourite of all times. 

More COMING