How many years have you been in the industry?
Jake: Well I’ve owned an historic home for 8 years and have worked on it for that amount of time. Professionally, I’ve been with the company for 2 solid years. It has been a pleasure and blessing to do something you’re passionate about.
Are you an early bird or night owl?
Jake: Early Owl
What were your first jobs?
Jake: Cutting grass, raking leaves, shoveling snow for my neighbor. Year round work that came with cookies (soft batch).
What’s the biggest misconception about your industry?
Jake: That newer is better. I’m not saying we should get rid of our hvac and go back to heating our homes with coal or refrain from opening up walls and updating our kitchens, but there is certainly more worth saving / restoring than there is replacing. This is true of many, many, many, things in our homes. IE. Windows, hardware, trim and millwork, sidings, brickwork, flooring, porches, balustrades, plasters and the list goes on. Not merely for aesthetics but economic and environmental reasons as well. For instance, my home has had several windows replaced 15 years ago now with what was at the time state-of-the-art double paned units. Guess what? They already need to be replaced…again. It’s sad, and I cannot tell you how inferior they are to the tried-and-true system of windows and storms that I still have that equally haven’t been touched for possibly longer than 15 years. There are old photos of our home with beautiful tapered columns off the front porch that were discarded for what I’m guessing was a little bit of rot that no one knew what to do with. We’re left with posts clad in hardie board and stamped grain. It’s not terrible but it’s nothing close to what once was. I wish previous owners would have taken the time to fix up these elements with the amount of character that was originally there. The truth is our historic homes were built with amazing materials that will last 100’s and 100’s of years if you take care of them.
What advice would you give your teenage self?
Jake: Build a greenhouse, have year round vegetables, eat more vegetables.
What’s the one thing people don’t know about you?
Jake: I really like to watch golf. It’s peaceful, I love nature and I love games/sports in general. Ironically, I have only played golf on a course maybe 5 times in my life but it was enough to know that I love it.
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
Jake: I don’t know that there is a best. If there is, it’s not coming to mind. I appreciate all compliments maybe equally. If it’s sincere, it’s appreciated. Most recently a field artillery officer thanked me for my professionalism and responsiveness. That felt pretty good coming from someone who would seemingly have a high standard for those sorts of things.
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