Jill of all Trades: Hands-On How-To Classes

Jill of All Trades offers a variety of home maintenance and repair classes. We currently offer the basics of electrical, plumbing, carpentry and painting — the four main areas of home maintenance skills needed by all homeowners who have an interest in completing their home maintenance projects. As we move forward, we will continue to add classes that will include tile setting, flooring, soldering copper and locks, to name a few. All classes are taught at the Jill of All Trades classroom in San Francisco.

We are taking a break from offering our current home maintenance workshops in order to consider different classes related to taking care of your home. Some of the choices are: 2–hour workshops during the week after work, shorter workshops on the weekend and a combination of all four basic workshops spread over a couple of weeks. Please give us your input and sign up to receive our emails. We will send an email of the new class schedule in March, 2012. Thanks to all of you who continue to support us. — Danielle

For more information about our classes email us or call 415.861.5764.

Class Schedule

Minimum 4 students per class. Please arrive 15 minutes early to sign-in so class can begin on time. All classes are taught at the Jill of All Trades classroom in San Francisco.

Class Descriptions

Basic Carpentry Workshop
Dates and times to be determined

This workshop is for anyone with little or no carpentry experience. This hands-on class will introduce you to basic carpenter skills and tools. You'll learn how to measure and calculate the amount of wood and other materials that you need to make a small planter box. This project will be completed without the use of power tools. If you have a tool belt and some tools, please bring them with you. Bring a battery (cordless) drill if you have one, it's the only power tool that you can use. Please note that this is basic carpentry workshop. You will be sent a list of tools and materials that you'll need to bring to class. Some materials will be provided.
Click here for testimonials.

To sign up for our classes email us or call 415.861.5764.

Instructor
Danielle Hupp, founder of Jill of all Trades, will teach this class.

All classes are taught at the Jill of All Trades classroom in San Francisco.

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Basic Plumbing Workshop
Dates and times to be determined

This is a hands-on class about how and what to repair in your home. Learn where to find the shutoffs, how to repair the toilet tank, how to relight the water heater, and how to repair most common types of faucets. You'll also learn when to call in the professional. Included will be a discussion and demonstration of the tools needed and lots of opportunities to practice the skills. A handout will be provided and all tools and materials will be on hand. Students are encouraged to bring their own tools and any safety equipment they may already have at home.

Fix those annoying plumbing problems with the proper tools and professional techniques that our plumbing class walks you through step by step! Resolve to stop paying expensive plumbing bills that could be fixed in less than a few hours! This plumbing class is for those that have the desire to fix it right and save money. No prior plumbing experience is needed and all questions are answered to meet your unique needs. Hands on instruction and a skilled instructor guide you through faucets, toilets and more! So stop wasting your time, money and water, and resolve to master a new set of skills after just one day! The cost of the class is less than the cost of having a plumber replace 1 faucet in your home! Don't delay, this class will fill up fast!
Click here for testimonials.

To sign up for our classes email us or call 415.861.5764.

About the instructor
Naomi Friedman is a licensed Plumbing Contractor living in Berkeley. She has taught basic plumbing since 1983 at various schools in the east bay.

All classes are taught at the Jill of All Trades classroom in San Francisco.

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Basic Electrical 2-day workshop
Introduction to Your Power
Dates and times to be determined

We will cover the basics of your electrical system beginning with where the power comes in from PG&E into your meter and circuit breaker panel. We will talk about circuit breakers and fuses and how to determine how much power you have in your house. I will give you information about old knob and tube wiring and how to troubleshoot it. We will discuss general and specialty lighting, plugs, GFCI plugs (Uses and how to install and troubleshoot), three-way switches (how to install and troubleshoot), code requirements, smoke detectors, outdoor and garden lighting, basics on remodel work, among many other things. Wiring displays will be viewed and discussed. This is a hands on class and you will be required to have basic hand tools. We will do mock ups of how to install a switch, a light, a plug and a three way switching system, a GFCI, and others as time allows and you desire. This is your class and I welcome questions.

As mentioned above you will be required to have certain hand tools in order to do the hands on work. Once you register you will be sent additional information one week prior to class to give you a chance to purchase tools and/or call Cheri with questions. She will have professional hand tools available at cost should you choose to purchase them from her.

About the instructor
Cheri Cochran is a working licensed Electrical Contractor living in San Francisco. She has been teaching Electrical Wiring workshops in the Bay Area for 20 years.

To sign up for our classes email us or call 415.861.5764.

All classes are taught at the Jill of All Trades classroom in San Francisco.

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NEW! Basic Tile Workshops
TBD, How To set a floor

SATURDAY CLASS
How to set a floor
There are many unique and intriguing tools of the tile setting trade. In this class we learn how to use a hand cutter, biters, wet saw, dry-cut battery operated Makita, story poles, straight edges, chalk lines, undercut hand saw, screw guns, framing squares, beating blocks, margin trowels, spacers, grout float and notched trowels. We will discover how to use a “story pole” and how to "square–up a room" in preparation for laying a ceramic tile floor. We will gain knowledge on how to prepare the substrates and how to install the proper underlayment board. Students will be given hands on experience with trowels, mixing up of materials, “beating” in the tiles and lastly, grouting between the tiles, using sanded grout. Tools and materials will be supplied.

SUNDAY CLASS
How to set a vanity
We will learn about the various trim pieces in tile, such as radius bull nose, surface bull nose, double bullnose, v-cap edging trim, beaks, cap corners etc. We will install plywood tops to a cabinet, use a template to cut the wood out for a top-set sink. Then use a screw gun, notched trowel and thin set to fasten down mortar board to the plywood top. Next we will use a framing square and straight edge to install the v-cap trim pieces. We will use a layout stick to determine the best deck layout and then set the tile, using a hand cutter for straight cuts, and, biters to cut around the top set opening for the sink. We will install a radius bull nose splash with beak trim at the outside edge and then, lastly, grout everything, using non-sanded grout. Tools and materials will be supplied.

Instructor
Kim Stoddard is a licensed and bonded Tile Contractor who has been in business for 30 years.

Tuesday Tool Talks
TBD, 2012, 6:30pm - 8:30 pm $25.00
You can purchase a gift certificate for a friend or family member.

Tuesday Tool Talks was created to take the mystery out of the proper use of tools and the materials needed to complete your project. Most of the time we become frustrated with projects when we don't know how to use a tool properly or what materials we need. Knowing what you can do and can not do with a specific tool or material will make the project move along smoothly. After this workshop you will leave feeling safe and confident in completing your projects. Please bring your tools and home maintenance ideas for discussion and evaluation. Bring your list of questions you would like answered. We will discuss the tools needed for specific projects. Some power tools specific to each trade will be demonstrated. Safety is always first when using power tools. Proper instruction on the use of power tools will keep you and others from injury.

Painting: How to Paint Interior/Exterior
TBD, 10:00am - 3:30pm, $125
Ever wonder how you manage to get more paint on you than the walls? Or, why the paint on the wall looks awful? In this workshop you'll learn the importance of using good quality tools and materials, including selecting the proper roller, brush and correct type and finish of paint to complete the work. You'll learn how to calculate how much paint you need so it doesn't go to the dump. You'll learn the skills necessary to complete your project and the right methods for caulking, patching, sealing, and priming. You may bring your painting tools for evaluation.

Click here for testimonials.

To sign up for our classes email us or call 415.861.5764.

Instructor
Instructor Ali Abong has been painting for 28 years. She attended Seattle Architectural Finishing School and became certified in Architectural and Decorative wall finishes. She has traveled doing her work and finds it very rewarding.

All classes are taught at the Jill of All Trades classroom in San Francisco.

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Basic Electrical 1-day workshop
Introduction to Your Power
TBD, 2012 One day Electrical Workshop 9:30 - 4:30pm, $150

We are offering a new class at Jill of All Trades. Due to consumer demand I am offering a one day introduction to your electrical system class. Cheri will discuss the power coming into your house, the circuit breaker panel and/or fuses and how to properly size circuits, especially fuses. She will talk about safety issues including installation of GFCI plugs, AFCI protected circuits, grounding, smoke detectors, evaluating old knob and tube wiring, etc. She will cover some code requirements for new and remodel projects. She will cover some design and installation techniques as well as how to interact with contractors should you choose to hire one. The class is constructed as give and take. Questions are encouraged and welcomed. There will be some hands on demonstrations and an opportunity for you to do a bit of hands on work. Cheri will have professional tools available for sale, at cost, if you are interested. We look forward to seeing you in class. There will be more specific information when you sign on to the class.

NOTE! For those who have taken the 2-day workshop this would be a refresher class for you.

About the instructor
Cheri Cochran is a working licensed Electrical Contractor living in San Francisco. She has been teaching Electrical Wiring workshops in the Bay Area for 20 years.

To sign up for our classes email us or call 415.861.5764.

All classes are taught at the Jill of All Trades classroom in San Francisco.

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To sign up for our classes email us or call 415.861.5764.

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