With the advent of the internet and online learning, hands-on training seems less necessary when a quick online course can provide people the same information. But is it really the same? I’m sure most of the restorers reading this are thinking nope, it’s not the same! You can read all the manuals you want, but until you physically dry a structure yourself, you don’t fully understand the work required. It’s the difference between being book smart and street smart – and in the restoration industry, we should want to be both.
Flood houses offer great hands-on learning experiences for contractors across the U.S. A quick Google search revealed, at least for me, a surprising number of flood houses across the country – most of which are owned and operated by restoration companies, both franchise and independent. On the same token, there are full-blown academies like Reets that offer training for beginners and experts. With the fast-paced industry we’re in, it can be difficult to imagine sending key team members off for a few days for training – but in the long run, training will pay dividends. According to Caron Business Solutions, hands-on training accelerates learning, provides links between theory and practice (so they know what the S500 says, but do they know how to apply it?), increases engagement, and provides a safe learning environment so mistakes can be made while learning and practicing, rather than in the field.