Tales From the Job Site by Michael A. Pesola

Author:Michael A. Pesola [Pesola, Michael A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Business & Economics/Industries/Entertainment
Publisher: Michael A. Pesola

Chapter 26

The Joke’s on You

My brother Tony has a very dry sense of humor. If you were not paying close attention you may miss it entirely; which brings me to the Pearce project.

Tony was running this job, a second-story master bedroom extension, and a remodel of the adjoining master bath including the addition of an elaborate skylight cut into an existing concrete tile roof. The pitch of the roof was very steep, which created a very tall light well that started from the ceiling and went up eight feet above. My brother also “flared” the light well as it met the ceiling, creating a dramatic look and causing more light to diffuse into the room.

In addition, the skylight had remote shutters, remote control with electric motors to open and close the skylight, and a rain sensor, which would automatically close the skylight when it started raining.

The Pearce’s were the type of couple that asked a lot of questions, many of them technical. My brothers, Tony and Tom, were happy to explain things to them. Tony had just finished installing the skylight over a special wood curb built on the roof, which had been flashed with a lead material so it could be molded around the curved concrete tiling on the roof surface. This in turn formed a shield or diverter, which prevented water from leaking into the house around the skylight.

Mr. Pearce, arm around his wife, looked up at the skylight and asked, “This is pretty amazing, Tony. Have you done many skylights like this before?”

Without missing a beat, and totally deadpan, Tony states, “No. This is our first one.”

Tom adds, “Mick said we have to learn how to do these sooner or later.”

The couple, silent for a few beats, looked at each other, and not entirely convinced, both laughed uncertainly and walked out of the bathroom.

Tom related the conversation to me at the end of the day as they packed up their tools.

“You’ve got to be kidding me, Tony. That’s not the kind of seed we want planted in our customer’s heads!”

“Don’t worry, Mick. I’m pretty sure they knew we were joking.”

Two days later it started raining hard. The guys had just shown up at the job. As they carried their tools in through the garage, Mr. Pearce came through the garage door, frantic. “The skylight’s leaking, Tony! Some of the drywall’s wet.”

“What are we gonna do, honey?” his wife asked, appearing behind him.

The contingent all climbed the stairs wordlessly, Tony in the lead. He walked into the bath and looked up at the skylight, rain pattering hard on the acrylic surface, but no apparent signs of a leak. Color slowly returned to Tony’s face as Mr. Pearce yelled, “Touché!” and they all laughed heartily, each for a different reason.

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