Build Difficulty
The Rookie
This rating is for those who have little to no experience with household tools typically found on a workbench, beyond a hammer & screwdriver! The materials supplied would be few and very simple to assemble. This job can be done by almost anyone and should always take an hour or less, including preparation and clean up.
The Hobbyist
This rating is for those who have little to no experience, but would be fine handling a few more material components and have at least a small level of comfort with the home workbench. A little thought combined with measuring and fitting is common at this level. The entire job should take 2-4 hours, including set up and clean up. Definitely suitable for beginners.
The Moderate
This rating is for those who are not intimidated by the requirement to organize and understand the assembly of a fair number of different materials and profiles. If you come from a ‘hobbyist’ background then you already have a level of ingenuity which will be able to anticipate assembly challenges. Problem solving may be a requisite for this level of build; the kind of problem solving that comes from a decent amount of experience. Precise preparation work, fitting and understanding the importance of the old adage “measure twice, cut once.” This type of job can take between 1- 3 days, including preparation and clean up, depending on the size of the project and your skill level. Planning for complications at this level is wise.
The Accomplished
This rating is for those who know their way around a workbench and are familiar with miter saws, reciprocating saws, framing squares, chalk lines, and rivet guns. They are not intimidated by complexity and intuitively understand that ingenuity will be part of solving the inevitable assembly challenges. They are able to read between the lines of instructions, using experience to anticipate solutions to potential roadblocks. They will be able to organize and prioritize a large number of materials and different profiles. They will have the kind of experience and a skill level that has regularly experienced high praise from others on finished projects. This build level will require more time, the ability to research, and a good understanding of tools used in the DIY world. They will have already experienced the pay off in doing these projects and know it to be usually worth it. This build level provides a finished product that should appear professional looking, and none of your friends will believe you did this! This type of job can take between 3 – 7 days, including preparation and clean up, depending on the size of the project and your skill level.
The Specialist
This rating probably needs no explanation. This would be contractor level experience with both materials and tools. Inherent in this level of difficulty is a higher probability of complications, delays, etc. It is recommended also that you already know how to do this kind of project (you are experienced) to understand when things are going right or wrong. This type of job can take between 5 – 12 days, including preparation and clean up, depending on the size of the project and your skill level.
Any indicator that falls in-between the above means it is slight less than or
more than the rating indicator either before or after!
