Leaving the army in 1968, I applied for apprenticeship training in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (otherwise known as “the Union”). I became a carpenter, working on such projects as schools, apartment buildings and houses. Also did a little high-rise work.
John Bridge
I tested for, and received, the Arizona General Building Contractor’s License, Class B. This enabled me to legally build skyscrapers, as well as houses. Never did get around to building a skyscraper. Thought about it a little, but nah…
With a partner, in 1971, I founded the Bridge and Elftmann construction company in Phoenix, Arizona. We were framing contractors and worked mainly on housing tracts and apartment complexes. At one point we employed more than sixty people and had three apartment complexes and a couple of housing tracts going simultaneously. I’m telling you, we were big time.
That was right before we went broke big time. Not that we didn’t have the technical wherewithal to do the projects, it’s just that we didn’t know much about what we were doing business-wise. I like to think I’ve improved in that department since that time, but it’s iffy.
I joined my older brother, a ceramic tile contractor, and became an apprentice once again. His words went something like: “Well, you screwed up carpentry pretty well. Come on out to the job and see what you can do with tile setting.”
I have remained a tile setter throughout most of the past three decades, but I did other things as well. I lived in California for three years, where I was a remodeling contractor and ran a plumbing repair service on the side.
My brother and I formed Bridge Brothers Construction to build homes on speculation. On our first project we did all of the work ourselves, from laying the foundation to nailing on the shingles — plumbing, electrical, you name it.
I’ve done just about everything there is to do on a house at one time or another. I have operated (successfully, I might add) John Bridge Ceramic Tile in the Houston area since 1983. I was chosen to do the tile work in the Home Magazine houses of the year for 1997 and 1998.
If there is a point to all this, it is that I’ve acquired the kind of technical knowledge that few people possess. If you want to know something about your house, you can ask me and there’s a good chance I can tell you in clear, concise terms what you need to know.
In 2006 I retarred. That’s Texan for what people do when they get to be about sixty-five or so. Actually, I only semi-retired. I still specialize in doing shower and bath remodeling on the West Side of Houston on a part-time basis. In 2002 I became a convert to the Schluter Systems method of shower building with Kerdi waterproofing membrane and I specialize in that during the winter months. In summers my wife, Patti, and I travel extensively, usually in the northern climes. We have a giant fifth wheel travel trailer we pull with a diesel dually. You can contact me at any time, though, by calling my answering machine at 281-550-1124. If you want me right away call the cell number you will be given. Otherwise, leave a message, which will usually be answered within a few days. Remember, I’m retarred. :)
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About
John Bridge’s Background and Qualifications
Where to begin?
Leaving the army in 1968, I applied for apprenticeship training in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (otherwise known as “the Union”). I became a carpenter, working on such projects as schools, apartment buildings and houses. Also did a little high-rise work.
John Bridge
I tested for, and received, the Arizona General Building Contractor’s License, Class B. This enabled me to legally build skyscrapers, as well as houses. Never did get around to building a skyscraper. Thought about it a little, but nah…
With a partner, in 1971, I founded the Bridge and Elftmann construction company in Phoenix, Arizona. We were framing contractors and worked mainly on housing tracts and apartment complexes. At one point we employed more than sixty people and had three apartment complexes and a couple of housing tracts going simultaneously. I’m telling you, we were big time.
That was right before we went broke big time. Not that we didn’t have the technical wherewithal to do the projects, it’s just that we didn’t know much about what we were doing business-wise. I like to think I’ve improved in that department since that time, but it’s iffy.
I joined my older brother, a ceramic tile contractor, and became an apprentice once again. His words went something like: “Well, you screwed up carpentry pretty well. Come on out to the job and see what you can do with tile setting.”
I have remained a tile setter throughout most of the past three decades, but I did other things as well. I lived in California for three years, where I was a remodeling contractor and ran a plumbing repair service on the side.
My brother and I formed Bridge Brothers Construction to build homes on speculation. On our first project we did all of the work ourselves, from laying the foundation to nailing on the shingles — plumbing, electrical, you name it.
I’ve done just about everything there is to do on a house at one time or another. I have operated (successfully, I might add) John Bridge Ceramic Tile in the Houston area since 1983. I was chosen to do the tile work in the Home Magazine houses of the year for 1997 and 1998.
If there is a point to all this, it is that I’ve acquired the kind of technical knowledge that few people possess. If you want to know something about your house, you can ask me and there’s a good chance I can tell you in clear, concise terms what you need to know.
In 2006 I retarred. That’s Texan for what people do when they get to be about sixty-five or so. Actually, I only semi-retired. I still specialize in doing shower and bath remodeling on the West Side of Houston on a part-time basis. In 2002 I became a convert to the Schluter Systems method of shower building with Kerdi waterproofing membrane and I specialize in that during the winter months. In summers my wife, Patti, and I travel extensively, usually in the northern climes. We have a giant fifth wheel travel trailer we pull with a diesel dually. You can contact me at any time, though, by calling my answering machine at 281-550-1124. If you want me right away call the cell number you will be given. Otherwise, leave a message, which will usually be answered within a few days. Remember, I’m retarred. :)