Theresa calls me Carpenter Mark. This is part of our journey

A long time ago, being a carpenter picked me. I didn’t pick it. And somewhere along the line building things became more about shelter than about simply delivering a project for a paycheck. This is that story.

It’s not cliche to say that what drives us is not building a house or a pergola or a deck—an inanimate object by itself—but building the home and the experiences the thing becomes.

That’s what being a home improvement carpenter is to me. Its taking some wood and turning it into a beautiful thing, something that becomes part of our humanity: A house doesn’t make you feel safe but it’s inside a house that works where you’re able to feel safe.

It’s not a woodworking project like the wagon in the video that makes someone feel love. It’s the love that goes into the wagon that creates the opportunity for love to exist.

Thanks for being part of what we do. It’s not just lumber. It’s love.

Mark

A licensed contractor, tool expert, wood and outdoor enthusiast, and elite Spartan Race competitor, he writes about home improvement and tools for national magazines and websites, and teaches hands-on clinics for other remodeling professionals. Check out his book, The Carpenter's Notebook.

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