Need Advise!

Stone Care NJ · 02-18-2008, 01:00 AM

Hey Joe and everybody, I haven’t been on here in a while and I just wanted to run something by all of you and get some advice. I’m at the point where I really need to figure out what I am going to do. I will tell you my situation. First of all, I love the natural stone business. My uncle has a very big and very successful fabrication company in northern NJ, about 20 minutes from the GW bridge. For the past couple of years, I have been going there once in a while and messing around the shop and even going on some installations with some of the crews. I really wanted to get involved with his business but didn’t know how. I finally realized that they did not do any service calls or restoration at all. They always referred there work to an outside company or just turned the work away. So I talked to my uncle and he and I thought it would be a good idea and he was all for it. Now, I have a full time job that I am very happy with and can't leave but wanted to do this on the side and on weekends being that I can schedule the work. I can even break away from my job if I had some sort of emergency. So, this was not a problem. So now, he was going to refer all the calls to me, and even suggested going into his archive of past customers and sending them a letter about the new business. Plus, he has so many connections with other fabricators that he said we can even get their work. So there is really nothing more I can ask for and i'm sure you can all agree. But here is the problem, and I’ll be honest, I don’t know what I am doing. I have tried reading everything and watching dvd’s but who am I kidding. Joe Huligar who I cant say enough great things about helped me. I was able to meet up with him and he showed me some things and gave me some pointers. My confidence was soaring after that and I was ready to go. I started doing simple things like chip repair ad sealing but then it was like a storm came. People were calling with things I had no idea about or how to do and I was really uncomfortable. I never seen these things nor have I seen how to fix it. It got to the point where I didn’t even want anything to do with it, but not because I didn’t like it (I love doing it!) its just I don’t have the confidence and I am really uncomfortable going out in the field and I don’t know what I am doing. Now, I want to ask all of you, if you were in my shoes what and how should I deal with this. I don’t want to let it go down the drain and I would really like to do it and be successful. Believe me, the only problem in the whole situation is the learning and experience part of it. I have every other piece of the puzzle except that. Joe, I haven’t talked to you in a while so your knowing about this now too. What should I do? I thought about maybe for now, working with somebody in the area as an apprentice to learn but I don’t know if that’s fair for that person and if they would want me just on weekends and maybe during the week sometimes. I am willing to train and take a slow approach into the business but what would be the RIGHT way to learn. I really have a gift here and believe me, the customers can become overwhelming. So I hope I didn’t bore all of you with this post and I hope I hear something back that will lead me to the right thing. I appreciate all of your help and I hope all of you are doing good. Thanks again and Joe you’re the best!

Anthony

cheesedog · 02-18-2008, 01:30 AM

i handle all of the restoration for my dads fabrication company, i was in the same boat. you have access to your uncles shop? get all the material you can and just bust your ass trying to figure out what it takes to work with each stone. does he have a showroom? if he does, i gaurantee somehting in there needs work, unless its brand new. take some ti[s from whoever you can, but theres nothing like figuring things out for yourself. i wouldnt have it any other way. figure out what type of stones need to be polished with heat, figure out which ones need to be kept on the cool side, stuff like that. it will take time, regardless, but its fun.

david bassler · 02-18-2008, 02:43 AM

Anthony

I got into the business by accident, because I couldn't find anybody to tell me how to take care of my newly installed granite counter tops. I asked around and met a lady that had a stone/tile store. She told me there a great need in our area for someone to do restorations/maintenance/protection of stone.

Before I thought to much about it, I had a ticket to San Francisco that week to a Stonetech seminar. I learned just enough to use their products and care for my stone. Protecting stone was just the tip of the iceberg. I was hooked.

Next I got Stone World magazine and got on mailing lists for chemicals, stones, tools ect. I read everthing. A started doing some work at that lady's show room learning what stone were which and a few repairs and installs.

I had no one to teach me restoration; so I bought books on restoration/stain removal ect. I found more disinformation than useful information. So I new I was going to have to teach myself (I didn't know there was any where to go to learn). I soon learned more what not to do than what do. The school of Hard Knocks is full of self taught information.

There is so much to know and you will never be an expert; as in your own mind. One day someone may call you that but you will know there is more to learn as you've learn.

Follow Cheese Dog and Huligar as well as all the other posters here and on other forums too, and you will not make as many mistakes as I have, and have teachers in the shadows willing to help you.

I didn't know about these forums until about 3-4 months ago. Now I learn and share information as I see it.

Your on you way to our addiction.

Soon Anthony, someone will be asking "Need Advice"

Later Man!

Stone Care NJ · 02-18-2008, 03:05 AM

Thanks Dave for the info...its getting my hopes back up. I appreciate the remarks on how people started out so i can see the different ways. After i typed that whole paragraph i spell advice wrong...i was laughing.

Stone Care NJ · 02-18-2008, 03:11 AM

Also, Do any of you think you can give me a list or write up on what i should be starting on and diffrent things to try. I can use the shop whenever i want and make as much of a mess as i want. i think it would be good to have certain experiements/projects to overcome and i can start there. What do u think? If any of you are in the area and can stop by one day, please let me know and see what we can work out. Thanks

Huligar · 02-18-2008, 03:26 AM

Anthony, you have my Number, you know where I live, and you are more than welcome to post any upcoming jobs. The few guys that post would tell you what to look out for and give you 3-4 ways to get the job done.

david bassler · 02-18-2008, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stone Care NJ

Also, Do any of you think you can give me a list or write up on what i should be starting on and diffrent things to try. I can use the shop whenever i want and make as much of a mess as i want. i think it would be good to have certain experiements/projects to overcome and i can start there. What do u think? If any of you are in the area and can stop by one day, please let me know and see what we can work out. Thanks

Scratch, break, etch, stain, seal something. The try to fix and protect. Grind/hone/polish the scratch, mend the break, hone and or polish the acid burn, poultice remove the stain, and test different protecting sealers. Do this on many stones. Just to start!

And a very important use of your hands is to touch every stone you can get your hands on.

Get as many catalogs on tools for the stone trade as you can. Call them about senario job your on and ask what and why.

Topshop · 02-18-2008, 12:13 PM

This - like any other business is just plain having the balls to say "I can do that" and the confidence to try something. You have the HUGE advantages that you have plenty of work whenever you want it, plenty of stone to practice on, and a great resource like Jo only minutes away. That is way more than most guys can even dream of having. Take advantage of it, tale off the skirt, and make the money that is waiting for you.

hoboal · 02-18-2008, 12:30 PM

Hi Anthony Welcome Back... My story is very simular to David B's story and the advice he and the dog'ster has given you is excellant, and i would move forward on it..... As i've stated in the past to other members in your area, you are in a great part of the country where you have so much resources most trademans would kill for. And on top of that you have Jo telling you if you need help anytime he's there for you. It doe'sent get anybetter then that man !! Life is all about taking chances and if you really set your mind to it YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOURSELF as did the members on this forum.

Hobo

Steve Patrick · 02-18-2008, 09:01 PM

Hey Anthony!
Welcome back to the forum. I know where you're coming from w\being a bit apprehensive starting up. One thing you have to remember is that you don't have to take every job thrown your way. Take the ones you're comfortable with at first and advance as the experience comes along. Mix that with practicing on the difficult stones,stains scratches and etches you'll be ready for the on site jobs.
Here's one of the cool things about the NSRA forum (as Jo mentioned)- if you're unsure how to approach the job, post it with pics you'll get a response from the pros.If I'm unfamiliar with a certain surface or stain- whatever, I'll book the job for a later date and get advice here, figure out the procedure and get it done. A little slower than Topshop, Cheesedog or Huligar maybe...

This forum has pulled me out of a few jams just by studying the methods posted. I also keep a notebook with info that might come handy in the future. Print out the poulticing guide. And keep posting!