We can thank the division of labour into specialist tasks for vast strides forward in terms of productivity and quality. The Greek Philosopher Plato did the groundwork in 380 BC when he asked which skills were most important for an ideal society,

“Well then,” said. “How will our ideal state supply these needs? It will need a farmer, a builder, and a weaver, and I think a shoemaker and one or two others to provide for our bodily needs. So that the minimum state would consist of four or five men…”

Industrial psychologists report job satisfaction improves when an employee has a given task, as opposed to being retained as a do-anything gopher. We recognize these distinctions in almost every aspect of our lives. We purchase ice hockey sticks from sports stores, and we ask orthopedic surgeons to repair broken bones.

However, in our industry there is a noteworthy exception. This exception is the go-anywhere, do-anything general builder (AKA local handy man / female handy person to be politically correct).

Please Don’t Get Us Wrong, These People Play a Valuable Role

Having ‘jack of all trade’ types comes in handy for small jobs. The average professional would rather do what they do best, and leave adding a garden tap or building a small garden wall to a generalist. We employ our people on a permanent basis. We take on large jobs to keep them busy (although we do make exceptions for regular clients).

We Cannot Recommend a Generalist for Siding, Soffits & Gutters

No contractor can provide every service without sacrificing quality, delivery, scheduling, etc. This is a practical impossibility considering technology creep. Every month we receive requests to sort out botched eavestrough, soffit, and siding jobs. Ours is a complex task, because we conceal screws and brackets as the job completes, and the customer cannot easily inspect after we are gone.

Calgary customers choose us because we are specialists in what we do, and how we run our business in terms of insurance, guarantees, and cash flow. We plow a narrow furrow, and we only bid for projects where we are convinced we can make a difference in quality and price.

Our market reputation speaks for itself and we can afford to be selective. Please do not take on a generalist to do siding, soffits and gutters. Without at least calling 403 829 1661 first, and allowing us to quote a price that may pleasantly surprise.