Hello This Old House,

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Scott Brown and I am the owner of Franklin Window and Door INC. in Carmel, Indiana. Firstly I would like to congratulate your organization for leading the charge on the skilled trade gap issue. I am writing you to inquire about getting involved in some fashion and hoping This Old House would welcome involvement. 

As the owner of a skilled trade company I of course have a vested interest in this movement for that reason if no other. Over the last 3 years I have been working towards the opportunity to start a residential fenestration trades school. I have made it my mission to get enough support behind this to make it possible to offer schooling that would teach young hands on men and women the skills necessary to accurately plan, measure, order, install and service residential window and door products within both local code and manufacturer specifications. This training only exists currently for commercial applications through the local unions and most of these specifications do not transfer to residential projects. The only real residential window and door training available today is Installation Masters, which is only a one week training which would possibly change some habits of current trades people to insure they have the basics down. “Flashing techniques, plumb, level, square etc…It would take a quick learner a minimum of 1-2 years of on-site training to be a true skilled installer. And the only way to get that training is to just go get a job. Unfortunately, this industry currently does not have and exciting appeal to the younger generation, so no one is filling these positions and learning this trade. In order to make this movement legitimate enough to draw a group of serious young people, I truly feel there would need to be some fashion of an associate's degree behind this training.

I have been “preaching this from my pulpit” to everyone I can get in front of. From manufacturer execs at companies such as Marvin Windows and Doors, Loewen Windows and Doors, ProVia Products, to board members from WDDA “Window and Door Dealers Alliance and WDMA “ Window and Door Manufacturers Association. Everyone I have spoken to has been very receptive and all agree that this is a huge problem that they would all love to solve. The issue is, no one knows where to start. They all say “We” don’t want to be the one to put money behind this while the other manufacturers reap the benefits with no investment. I say if you care about the future of the industry, then it’s time to work together and find a way to make this happen. 

I currently network with hundreds of dealers across the country who would jump at the opportunity to have a source to hire truly skilled trades people to fill the gap of future window and door installers. I have full confidence that job placement all across the country would be a fairly simple task to accomplish. This career would offer young people entry level opportunity, and within less time than a traditional college education. Also, they’ll come out making around $50,000 a year as a skilled installer and most likely job placement within a state of their choice. 

I am under no illusions that this will be a simple task to accomplish. We would need a lot of things to come together to make this happen, and I am encouraged to see TOH is already making moves in this direction. I am just hoping that between the relationship with the Mike Rowe Works Foundation / This Old House as well as some major manufacturers and trade organizations, that we can get a real conversation going that would move this opportunity in a direction that would create the opportunity for this to be realized. I am ready to do whatever is necessary to make this happen I just need some high up voices and some legs behind this so we can get some momentum.

Thank you all for your time and I look forward to some productive feedback!