The Graphite Lab
The Graphite Lab
Sign inBrowse the Catalog

Trades We Serve

Built for the Trades.

Skilled trades aren’t interchangeable, and neither is our software. We know each one by the codes it works inside, the paperwork it files, and the pressure points only it sees, and we tune every product we ship to the specific trade it serves.

Appliance Repair technician at work

Appliance Repair

Diagnosis, repair, and maintenance of major household appliances including refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, ovens, ranges, and garbage disposals. Requires broad knowledge across electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas systems depending on the appliance type. Technicians must stay current with rapidly evolving smart appliance technology and maintain relationships with multiple manufacturers for parts access. High service call volume with typically short job durations.

Go deeper
Chimney technician at work

Chimney

Inspection, sweeping, repair, and restoration of chimneys, fireplaces, and venting systems. Encompasses creosote removal, flue liner installation, crown and cap repair, tuckpointing, damper replacement, and fireplace insert installation. Requires knowledge of combustion venting principles, masonry skills, and NFPA 211 standards. Seasonal demand aligned with heating season. Involves working at heights on rooftops with safety risks comparable to roofing.

Go deeper
Concrete technician at work

Concrete

Pouring, finishing, and repair of concrete for driveways, patios, foundations, sidewalks, retaining walls, and commercial slabs. Encompasses form building, rebar placement, mixing, pouring, finishing techniques (stamped, exposed aggregate, polished), and saw cutting. Highly weather-dependent work that requires precise timing during pour and cure stages. Physical, crew-intensive labor with significant material logistics and waste management considerations.

Go deeper
Duct Cleaning technician at work

Duct Cleaning

Cleaning and sanitization of HVAC ductwork, dryer vents, and air handling systems in residential and commercial buildings. Involves inspection with cameras, mechanical agitation of duct surfaces, high-powered vacuum extraction, and antimicrobial treatment. Addresses indoor air quality concerns from accumulated dust, allergens, mold, and debris. Often paired with HVAC service but operates as a distinct specialty with dedicated equipment and techniques.

Go deeper
Electrical technician at work

Electrical

Installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical wiring, panels, circuits, lighting, and power systems in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Includes service upgrades, EV charger installations, generator hookups, and low-voltage work. Demands rigorous safety knowledge, code expertise, and the ability to read and interpret complex electrical blueprints. Increasingly driven by electrification trends and smart home technology.

Go deeper
Elevator technician at work

Elevator

Installation, maintenance, repair, and modernization of elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, and accessibility lifts in commercial and residential buildings. One of the most specialized and highly regulated trades, requiring deep expertise in electrical systems, mechanical engineering, hydraulics, and computer controls. Dominated by a few large companies with smaller independents serving maintenance and repair. Long-term service contracts create strong recurring revenue.

Go deeper
Fencing technician at work

Fencing

Installation, repair, and replacement of residential and commercial fencing including wood privacy, chain link, vinyl, aluminum, wrought iron, and composite materials. Involves property line surveying, post hole digging, concrete setting, gate installation, and hardware mounting. Requires knowledge of local zoning ordinances, HOA restrictions, and utility line locations. Relatively accessible trade with lower barriers to entry but significant physical labor demands.

Go deeper
Fire Protection technician at work

Fire Protection

Design, installation, inspection, and maintenance of fire suppression and detection systems including sprinkler systems, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, hood suppression systems, and emergency notification systems. Serves primarily commercial, industrial, and multi-family residential markets. Highly regulated with strict code compliance requirements from NFPA standards. Recurring inspection revenue provides stable income alongside new installation projects.

Go deeper
Flooring technician at work

Flooring

Installation, repair, and refinishing of flooring surfaces including hardwood, engineered wood, laminate, luxury vinyl plank, tile, carpet, and concrete coatings. Requires expertise in subfloor preparation, moisture testing, material acclimation, and precision cutting for complex layouts. Different flooring types demand distinct skill sets — tile work involves mortar and grout, hardwood requires sanding and finishing, and carpet involves stretching and seaming.

Go deeper
Garage Door technician at work

Garage Door

Installation, repair, and maintenance of residential and commercial garage door systems including overhead doors, openers, springs, tracks, and safety mechanisms. Involves high-tension spring work that carries significant injury risk, requiring specialized training. Combines mechanical aptitude with electrical knowledge for modern smart opener systems and integration with home automation platforms.

Go deeper
General Contracting technician at work

General Contracting

Management, coordination, and execution of construction and renovation projects involving multiple trades and scopes of work. General contractors serve as the single point of accountability for projects ranging from kitchen remodels to ground-up construction. Requires broad construction knowledge, project management expertise, subcontractor coordination, permitting navigation, and budget management. More of a management role than a single-skill trade.

Go deeper

Glass & Glazing

Installation, repair, and replacement of glass products in residential and commercial buildings including windows, storefronts, curtain walls, skylights, mirrors, shower enclosures, and specialty glass. Requires precision measurement, knowledge of glass types and thermal properties, weatherproofing techniques, and structural glazing methods. Commercial glazing involves large-scale curtain wall systems requiring engineering coordination. Energy efficiency regulations increasingly drive demand for window upgrades.

Go deeper
HVAC technician at work

HVAC

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning installation, maintenance, and repair for residential and commercial buildings. Encompasses furnaces, heat pumps, central air systems, ductwork, thermostats, and indoor air quality equipment. Requires deep mechanical and refrigerant knowledge, EPA certifications, and the ability to diagnose complex system interactions between airflow, humidity, and temperature control.

Go deeper
Insulation technician at work

Insulation

Installation and replacement of thermal and acoustic insulation in walls, attics, crawl spaces, and basements for residential and commercial buildings. Covers fiberglass batts, blown-in cellulose, spray foam, rigid board, and radiant barrier products. Requires knowledge of building science principles including thermal bridging, vapor barriers, air sealing, and R-value calculations. Growing demand driven by energy efficiency mandates and weatherization incentive programs.

Go deeper
Irrigation technician at work

Irrigation

Design, installation, maintenance, and repair of irrigation and sprinkler systems for residential lawns, commercial landscapes, sports fields, and agricultural properties. Encompasses zone design, head selection and placement, controller programming, drip systems, rain sensors, smart controllers, and winterization. Requires hydraulic knowledge for pressure and flow calculations, understanding of plant water needs, and familiarity with local water conservation regulations.

Go deeper
Landscaping technician at work

Landscaping

Design, installation, and maintenance of outdoor spaces including lawns, gardens, hardscaping, irrigation, and outdoor lighting. Ranges from weekly mowing and maintenance contracts to full landscape architecture and installation projects involving retaining walls, patios, water features, and planting beds. Highly seasonal in northern climates with snow removal providing off-season revenue. One of the largest and most fragmented trades by business count.

Go deeper
Locksmith technician at work

Locksmith

Installation, repair, rekeying, and emergency opening of mechanical and electronic lock systems for residential, commercial, and automotive applications. Encompasses traditional pin-tumbler locks, high-security systems, electronic access control, keyless entry, safe work, and master key systems. Increasingly requires expertise in smart locks, biometric systems, and network-connected security hardware. Emergency lockout services drive significant after-hours revenue.

Go deeper
Painting technician at work

Painting

Interior and exterior painting, staining, and surface preparation for residential and commercial properties. Includes wall preparation, priming, color matching, specialty finishes, wallpaper removal, and protective coatings. Requires knowledge of paint chemistry, surface compatibility, weather conditions for exterior work, and proper ventilation for interior jobs. Labor-intensive with relatively low material costs compared to other trades.

Go deeper
Paving technician at work

Paving

Installation, repair, and resurfacing of asphalt and paved surfaces for driveways, parking lots, roads, and pathways. Encompasses asphalt paving, sealcoating, crack filling, striping, pothole repair, and overlay work. Requires operation of heavy machinery including pavers, rollers, and dump trucks. Weather-sensitive work with strict temperature requirements for asphalt laying. Commercial parking lot maintenance provides recurring revenue through sealcoating and striping contracts.

Go deeper
Pest Control technician at work

Pest Control

Prevention, identification, and elimination of insects, rodents, wildlife, and other pests in residential and commercial settings. Encompasses termite treatment, bed bug remediation, rodent exclusion, mosquito abatement, and wildlife removal. Requires knowledge of pesticide chemistry, integrated pest management (IPM) principles, animal behavior, and environmental regulations. Recurring revenue model through maintenance contracts makes it one of the most subscription-driven trades.

Go deeper
Plumbing technician at work

Plumbing

Installation, repair, and maintenance of water supply, drainage, and gas piping systems in residential and commercial buildings. Covers fixtures, water heaters, sewer lines, backflow prevention, and gas line work. Requires understanding of building codes, water pressure dynamics, pipe materials, and waste system design. One of the most regulated trades with strict journeyman and master plumber requirements.

Go deeper

Pool & Spa

Construction, maintenance, repair, and renovation of swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs for residential and commercial properties. Encompasses pool building (gunite, fiberglass, vinyl), equipment installation (pumps, heaters, filters, automation), water chemistry management, leak detection, resurfacing, and weekly maintenance service. Combines plumbing, electrical, and chemical knowledge. Strong recurring revenue model through weekly and monthly maintenance contracts.

Go deeper
Restoration technician at work

Restoration

Emergency response and remediation for properties damaged by water, fire, smoke, mold, and storms. Encompasses water extraction, structural drying, mold remediation, smoke and odor removal, content cleaning, and reconstruction. Operates on an insurance-driven model with 24/7 emergency response requirements. Requires IICRC certifications, understanding of insurance claims processes, and specialized equipment for moisture detection, air scrubbing, and dehumidification.

Go deeper
Roofing technician at work

Roofing

Installation, repair, and replacement of roofing systems for residential and commercial properties. Encompasses asphalt shingles, metal roofing, flat/built-up roofing, tile, slate, and commercial membrane systems. Weather-dependent, crew-based work with significant safety requirements including fall protection. Involves structural assessment, waterproofing, flashing, ventilation, and gutter integration. Storm damage creates unpredictable demand surges.

Go deeper
Septic technician at work

Septic

Installation, pumping, inspection, and repair of septic systems including tanks, drain fields, distribution boxes, and advanced treatment units. Serves rural and suburban properties not connected to municipal sewer systems. Requires understanding of soil science, percolation testing, wastewater treatment biology, and environmental regulations. Involves heavy equipment operation for excavation and tank installation. Regular pumping cycles create predictable recurring revenue.

Go deeper
Solar technician at work

Solar

Design, installation, and maintenance of photovoltaic solar panel systems for residential and commercial properties. Encompasses site assessment, system design, panel mounting, inverter installation, electrical interconnection, battery storage integration, and grid tie-in coordination with utilities. Requires electrical expertise, structural assessment skills, and deep knowledge of federal and state incentive programs including the 30% ITC. One of the fastest-evolving trades driven by policy, technology, and energy costs.

Go deeper
Tree Service technician at work

Tree Service

Trimming, pruning, removal, and health assessment of trees for residential and commercial properties. Encompasses canopy thinning, crown reduction, hazard tree removal, stump grinding, emergency storm response, and arborist consulting. One of the most dangerous trades with chainsaw work, climbing, and aerial lift operation creating significant safety risks. Requires knowledge of tree biology, disease identification, and proper cutting techniques to avoid property damage.

Go deeper
Water Treatment technician at work

Water Treatment

Installation, maintenance, and repair of residential and commercial water treatment systems including water softeners, reverse osmosis units, whole-house filtration, UV purification, and iron/sulfur removal systems. Requires knowledge of water chemistry, local water quality issues, plumbing connections, and system sizing based on household demand and water hardness levels. Growing market driven by increasing awareness of water quality and contaminant concerns.

Go deeper