Blog details
Our stories dive deeper into construction trends, expert insights, and real-world project experience.
Oct 7, 2025
Summary (TL;DR)
Max a plasterer, painter, and YouTuber based on Australia’s east coast shares how he entered the trades, what he learned from mistakes, why young tradies must charge what they’re worth, and how technology like AI and 3D printing might (and might not) reshape construction. His big message: hands-on training, fair compensation, and practical incentives are essential to rebuild capacity in the industry.
Head over to our YouTube Channel if you want to watch the whole interview here.
From DIY Video to 8 Years on YouTube
Max started YouTube “just for fun,” filming a simple crack repair to help someone who couldn’t be there in person. That one video turned into eight years of content and a global audience.
“I just wanted to show someone how to fix a crack in a wall… then people started commenting back… I really wanted to make more.”
YouTube became a way to give back to the community, trade ideas with people “a million miles away,” and sharpen his own craft through filming and editing.
How Max Entered the Trades (and Found His Lane)
Like many great careers, Max’s started with exploration:
Short stints in landscaping and roof tiling
A pivotal moment seeing a friend painting indoors while he was freezing on a winter roof
A formal apprenticeship via a group training organization (not-for-profit), which provided host placements, tool allowances, and exposure to different job types across Brisbane
A long-term partnership with a plasterer doing insurance repairs—ceilings, bathrooms, and more—now 20 years strong
Takeaway: Early breadth builds lasting depth. Rotating through trades helps you discover what you love and where you can excel.
Mistakes that Made the Career: Don’t Undervalue Your Work
Max’s biggest early mistake was pricing too low for too long. The turning point came when a builder proposed a fixed price that was higher than Max’s own number—and it changed everything:
“One of my biggest mistakes is selling myself too short… too many freebies… Know what to charge once your skills are there.”
Why fixed price helped:
Clarity for the client
Motivation for the crew
Faster, better outcomes when scope is well-defined
Pro tip for new tradies:
Track your job times and materials religiously
Turn repet work into standardized scopes with a clear, fixed price
Save “freebies” for genuine hardship, not for insurers or well-funded stakeholders
Training the Next Generation: Start Earlier Than You Think
Max brings his 14-year-old son to worksites during school holidays both to learn the trade and to help film videos:
“You don’t have to wait. You can come now… I’d rather he works with me than at a supermarket. Three months on site and you take those skills with you.”
A smart path for teens (and career-switchers):
Try 3 months each in two or three trades (e.g., concreting, bricklaying, painting, plumbing).
Aim for competence in 2 years; craft mastery in ~5 years.
Use video (even on a phone) to document work; reviewing footage accelerates learning.
The Reality Check: Construction Challenges in Australia (and Beyond)
Max sees a housing shortage compounded by inefficiencies, supply chain shocks, and shifting costs. Government-funded projects are pulling labor, while fixed-price residential builders got squeezed when material costs jumped:
“Builders had to honor contracts and couldn’t raise prices… the house turned to a million dollars… builders lost money.”
Add in regulatory overhead (energy codes, permits, compliance) and taxation on turnover even when margins are thin—and many small operators feel boxed in.
Policy idea from the coalface:
Offer meaningful wage subsidies or tax rebates to small businesses that take on apprentices—enough to offset wages, sick days, college/TAFE days, insurance, and super.
Reduce friction so small shops can train without being penalized.
Will AI Take Trades Jobs? Not Anytime Soon.
Max is practical about technology: estimating is ripe for software and AI assist, but the on-site, hands-on nature of trades keeps them resilient.
“I don’t think AI is going to take my job anytime soon… someone still needs to move the machinery and do the work.”
He’s curious about 3D-printed houses (he even bought a small 3D printer), but he points out all the work before and after the print, pipes, services, finishes, still requires skilled trades. Carpenters can already frame quickly; printing may complement, not replace.
Actionable Advice for New (and Seasoned) Tradies
1) Charge what you’re worth.
Set fixed prices for common scopes once your work is consistent and quality is proven.
2) Track and learn.
Measure hours, materials, and defects; standardize what you can; review footage of your own work.
3) Build range early.
Try multiple trades for a few months each—then go deep.
4) Be careful with “free.”
Help genuine hardship cases, but don’t subsidize insurers or institutional clients.
5) Train, don’t wait.
Bring young learners onto sites safely and legally as early as possible; skills compound fast.
FAQs
Q: What’s the best entry path into the trades?
A: An apprenticeship with a reputable host + exposure to different jobs early. Group training orgs and strong mentors accelerate learning.
Q: Hourly or fixed price—what’s better?
A: For repeatable scopes, fixed price rewards efficiency and gives clients clarity. Track your numbers first so your pricing is confident.
Q: Will AI replace trades?
A: AI helps with estimating, scheduling, and documentation, but on-site work remains physical and contextual. Near-term: augmentation, not replacement.
Q: How can small firms afford apprentices?
A: Policy support matters. In the meantime, plan apprentice time into bids, use standardized tasks, and schedule learning around productive work.
Q: What should a 14–18 year old do today to prepare?
A: Spend school breaks rotating through two or three trades, learn site safety, and build a portfolio (photos/videos) of real tasks completed.
About Maxkil
Max is a Brisbane-area plasterer and painter who documents practical repairs and trade tips on YouTube. His channel began with a simple wall-crack video and has grown into years of educational content for DIYers and tradies alike.
If you’re pricing drywall, plastering, or painting work, Assemble Pro helps small contractors turn takeoffs into clear, fast estimates so you can charge confidently and protect your margins.
Quote faster. Win better work. Train your team on repeatable scopes.
