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Driven By Professionals: An Interview with Marcus Nagtegaal (aka. Broski Builds)
As a family owned Canadian company that began in 1929, we know that construction professionals need products and service they can count on. Our slogan “Driven By Professionals” is the driving force behind all the products and services we offer. As part of a new initiative, we wanted to highlight some professionals in our industry who are doing some pretty incredible things. Each month we will be featuring two individuals in our industry to learn a little bit more about them and the type of work they specialize in.
This past week we chatted with Marcus Nagtegaal, a residential framing contractor from Edmonton, Alberta. Known as Broski Builds on social media, he posts videos about the projects he’s working on, as well as providing tips and reviews on products for others to see. In this interview Marcus discusses how he got into the trade and discovered his passion for construction, as well as his advice to anyone wanting to pursue a career in this industry.
Here is our interview with Marcus (@broski_builds):
1. Who are you?
My name is Marcus Nagtegaal, I’m 29 years old, married 10 years and a father of 5. I work in residential framing in and around the Edmonton, Alberta area.
2. What’s your specialty?
I’ve been framing from 11 1/2 years, mostly just generic “cookie cutter” homes. Some may say that’s kinda boring or overly repetitive, and in some ways they are not wrong. But actually it is a really good opportunity to drill down on the basics of framing and to refine a production style system to building. Which then in turn can be applied to any project you undertake.
3. How did you get into the trade?
Initially I got into construction while planning to take a year off after high school, to work and earn money to go to school for graphic design. But part of the way through my year I started dating my girlfriend, now wife, and also found I had a passion for construction and wanted to pursue that as far as I could and see where it would lead me.
4. What’s your favourite part about work?
My most favourite aspect of my job would have to be the building and sheathing of the roofs, ironically as when I started I was petrified of heights, and still am at times depending on the situation. But the feeling of satisfaction and completion at the end of the roof is what gets me through some of those moments.
5. What is one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the workplace?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has probably been the migration and transformation of my role in the company I work for, especially at what I thought was a relatively young age to be doing that. My employer started to take steps away from being onsite on a daily basis and I was required and expected to fill the void. This posed a lot of challenges for me as I wasn’t too experienced in managing people or the building from start to finish. But it’s also been the most rewarding, to be able to step into that role and fulfill the expectations others had of me, and to be able to set an example for my kids in that way as well.
6. What project/job(s) are you the most proud of?
There isn’t a particular job/project that stands out to me to be proud of, more so the way that the system I have been taught and have adopted/adapted to my way of thinking allows us to be so consistent in not only the way we build, but also in the timelines we can expect from ourselves, even with at times a shifting rotation of coworkers.
7. What advice would you give to someone getting into the trade?
For anyone who is interested in construction or wanting to pursue a career in it, I would encourage them to find someone knowledgeable to mentor them, and if you find that person, commit to it, even in some of the hard times. Look to the goal at the end, don’t be afraid to ask questions and admit that you don’t know everything. And continue to learn the trade and see it as more than just a job, that it can become a passion and takes craftsmanship, from small to large scale projects the fundamentals are the same. Learn them.
8. What do you like to do in your spare time?
On days when I’m not working, I’m usually hanging around with my family, playing games with my kids and when opportunity is available to go camping or hiking with them.
BONUS! Favourite Bissett Product?
My favourite Bisset product at the moment is the 30* framing nailer, as it’s the only one we have at the moment, close second would have to be the 1/2” sheathing stapler, thing runs like a beast! Very happy with what I’ve been able to use thus far!
You can find Marcus on Instagram at @broski_builds
Do you know someone who should be featured next in our series? Let us know!
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