Installation Projects in a Tight Labor Market

Good help is hard to find. This is perhaps truer today than it has been at any time in recent memory. As of May, 2019, the unemployment rate in the U.S. has fallen to 3.6%. Significant job gains have been reported in various sectors nationwide, including in construction. While low unemployment and a strong jobs market generally add up to great news for the economy, these factors can pose a problem for those looking to undertake home improvement projects. After all, when you seek to hire professionals to help install new flooring or home décor, you effectively become the employer – and thus face the same hiring difficulties as employers the nation over.

So what to do? Put your dream project on hold?

Certainly not. With a strong economy and soaring consumer confidence, now is arguably the ideal time to dive in. The labor shortage needn’t create obstacles to the timely, cost-effective completion of your flooring or home décor project. It just requires a little extra consumer savvy.

So what’s the key? Buying easy-to-install products from a manufacturer that provides excellent customer support.

A Streamlined Process

All home improvement projects can be roughly broken into three stages: planning, purchasing, and installing. However, working out the details of your project directly with a reputable manufacturer means consolidating the planning and purchasing stages. It also means eliminating miscommunication and the additional time and cost associated with it.

As with the childhood game of “telephone,” the more people you have in the chain of communication, the greater the chances an important detail will get overlooked. Speaking with knowledgeable customer service representatives at the place of manufacture, or even with the technical designers themselves, helps to ensure that you can work out the details of your project without anything getting lost in translation. They can recommend the best materials and dimensions for your unique needs. This, in turn, simplifies installation, and guarantees you get a final product that will perfectly suit your space for its lifetime.

Purchasing customizable, prefinished products from professionals like those at Oshkosh Designs means you can work out exactly what you want ahead of time with trained customer service. These representatives know their stuff – it’s what they do, after all. They work closely alongside technical designers and production staff, keeping everyone on the same page for the duration of the project.

Furthermore, this coordinated effort streamlines the process, making turnaround times extremely fast. Even fully customized pieces are shipped in two to three weeks once confirmed. And because these products are so easy to install, contractors will be in and out, meaning your space will be back in order with a striking, one-of-a-kind piece installed in no time.

Nice Work If You Can Get It

You don’t need a degree in economics to see that, the simpler a job will be, the faster and more cost-effectively it can be accomplished. And putting in a ready-to-install product is about as simple it gets.

This could well shorten your wait time when contracting with an installer as well. After all, it is easier to hire someone for a 4-hour job than for a 4-week job.

And a more simple installation will certainly keep costs down. Complicated projects require a crew, but most ready-to-install pieces can be put in by a single worker or two.

On top of that, an uncomplicated job widens the pool of potential installers you can hire. Put simply, it’s harder to screw up. Any installer worth their shingle can follow a step-by-step set of instructions. And that’s what you get when you order customized pieces from a company like Oshkosh Designs.

The “Wow” Factor

Perhaps it goes without saying, but quality, artisan-made products look great. Purchasing customized pieces from expert craftspeople like those at Oshkosh Designs guarantees that you won’t get the cookie-cutter, assembly line look. You’ll instead have a one-of-a-kind piece to complement your space and show off to your guests.

For installers, this is an inviting prospect as well. The intricate detail and beauty of a hand-crafted piece is an added bonus when compared to the ease of its installation. An installer may then show off their handiwork and look good in the process. From manufacturer to installer to customer, it’s a win-win-win.

Do It Yourself

If you’re uncertain about hiring someone and you’re handy with tools, you can also undertake the installation yourself. Oshkosh Designs offers easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for the secure installation of all products.

We help the installer along by providing a template, router bit, and adhesive with every medallion order up to 60 inches. Most installations require a router and a few common household tools. Additionally, our outstanding customer support team is on hand to answer any questions that may arise.

If you wish to undertake a larger-scale parquet floor or wood wall project but would like to keep the labor to a minimum, Oshkosh Designs can accommodate. We offer several options that feature our patented Catena Tab-Fit System. These interlocking wood segments fit together like puzzle pieces and screw in place. They’re designed to fit securely with minimal alteration to the existing structure and no routing needed. It’s the ultimate in easy-to-install craftsmanship!

Of course, if you have a more complicated product to install or you’re not confident in your woodworking skills, it’s best to hire someone. There’s no sense trying to save a few dollars up front only to have to pay handsomely for repairs later on. When in doubt, call a certified professional.

Custom Fit

Finally, buying customized products narrows the margin of error for the installer. A premade, off-the-rack piece may need to be modified to fit a space, or a space modified to accommodate it. Not so with custom work. The piece is literally made for the space. And since the majority of measurements have already been taken when ordering your inlay, it reduces the number of preparations the installer has to make.

With custom work, you’re obviously not limited to the specifications given in a product description. Love a design but see that the dimensions are too large for your space? Order it smaller! Smitten with a pattern but not crazy about the color? Change the material! Have your own unique design that you’d love to see made into a reality? Send it over!

Before production begins, we’ll send you a detailed technical drawing specifying the exact dimensions and materials to be used for the project to be certain that everything is just right. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting – and getting exactly what you want.

To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with standard inventory. But when your vision doesn’t fit neatly into a box, it’s reassuring to know that you have the option of customizing. It guarantees you get just what you want – a memorable, eye-catching product that will last a lifetime.

Labor of Love

The key to any successful home improvement project – from planning to purchase to installation – is finding professionals who care. At Oshkosh Designs, we want you to be satisfied with every stage of the process. So contact one of our customer service professionals today to see how you can make your dream project a reality.

Experienced, knowledgeable, friendly help is easy to find – right here at Oshkosh Designs.