Rant: That old guy on Oak Street who watched me lay his whole living room floor

I was doing a job in a 1920s house near downtown Denver about 2 years ago, and the homeowner, a retired carpenter probably in his 80s, just sat in a folding chair and watched me work for 6 hours straight. Around hour 4, he said 'you're doing it wrong, sonny' and showed me this old trick with a knee kicker that saved me like 30 minutes on the seams. Has anyone else had a customer who actually knew more than you and made you feel like a rookie?

2 comments

2 Comments

sandra_bennett591mo ago

Stings the ego a bit"? I don't know, seems like a good deal if he saved you from a fire hazard. I wouldn't call that a sting, I'd call it a free lesson.

karenh561mo ago

That one time in Arvada, I had a retired electrician watch me wire his basement lights for like 5 hours. He didn't say a word the whole time, just sat there drinking coffee in his old work boots. Around hour 3, I messed up a switch loop and he quietly told me I was crossing my neutrals, which I totally was (embarrassing). I felt like such a kid, you know? But honestly, I'd rather have someone like that catch my mistake than leave it wrong and have a fire hazard later. It stings the ego a bit, but those old-timers have forgotten more than I'll ever know.