Ben Kuilboer – the rock’n’roll drywaller. Besides running his own drywalling business, Ben is a family man, a guitar jammer, a coffee lover, and a Harley Davidson rider.

Benz Taping, Texture & Paint does all kinds of custom drywalling, and Ben is a man who takes real pride in his work and thinks out of the box to get the job done. Ben constantly challenges and improves on the way drywalling is done, to be more efficient and deliver a better result than his competitors.

Both Ben and his girlfriend Teresa are avid Harley Davidson fans, and they ride together whenever they get the chance. As the handyman he is, Ben does all the maintenance and upgrades on the bikes himself.

You can follow Ben’s daily work on his Instagram account, where he is very active within the drywalling community.

INSTAGRAM

“Balance is key in life, and drywall will try to take over but you can’t let it.”

Q&A

Q:

What is your favourite thing about being a drywaller?

A:

My favourite thing about my job as a self-employed drywall finisher is being able to learn so many different methods and all the new tools to try.
It really keeps me on my toes and keeps things from getting mundane!

Q:

How do you keep on improving your skills year after year?

A:

I am always trying to get better and try to learn from my mistakes, a great way to get help is by asking different people on Instagram it’s great community for the most part.

Q:

Favourite kind of coffee/brewing method?

A:

As a big coffee drinker I would say my favourite way of brewing would be to use a French press or stove top espresso maker and my most used coffee brand is Kicking Horse roasted in the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia!

Q:

How did your love for Harley Davidsons begin?

A:

I have been riding motorcycles for about 12 years, and I started out on a big black loud Harley that was in my dad’s garage. My two uncles and father all rode and do drywall, so I guess it only made sense for me to carry the torch haha. It’s a great way to disconnect and have some fun. Since purchasing my first bike I’ve owned 9 motorcycles including 7 Harleys, 1 KTM dirt bike, and a 1972 Norton commando.

Q:

Do you have any heroes or idols?

A:

As for heroes I’m really inspired by the band Tool; their music just resonates something in me and makes me think about the ways I can improve myself on a lot of levels. Maynard James Keenans powerful and deep lyrics paired with Danny Carreys epic drum rhythms tied together with Adam Jones amazing guitar riffs just formulate some healing and intellectual almost spiritual experience that never gets old on the job site and always making me think.

Q:

It seems like there is a huge online community for drywallers. What is so special about drywalling?

A:

In my opinion drywall is just one of those unique and artistic trades that not just anyone can do or would even want to because it’s a dirty and physically/mentally demanding job. This trade will test you time and time again just when you think you have it figured out something will change and you have to rethink and second guess everything. From the materials to tool manufacturers making changes in machines and all the different compounds we use there’s a lot that goes into staying on top of your game, but one thing that never changes, is my constant need for doing a good job because at the end of the day if I can’t feel good about what I’ve done, its not worth doing.

Balance is key in life, and drywall will try to take over but you can’t let it.

Q:

Is there any work projects which have had special meaning to you?

A:

I really enjoy doing custom houses as long as you’re working for a builder that isn’t cheap. After all drywall is one of the most important jobs in a house; it can make or break the final look of what you see every day. I really couldn’t pick a most special one because every job is a new project for me to try to do my best.

Q:

What kind of music do you play?

A:

I play a wide range of instruments from guitar bass and drums to jaw harp and mandolin. I’m self-taught so I play by ear and can’t even read music but i’d like to learn one day. Music is such an outlet to just relax and let out all the emotions that I don’t know how to talk about. It’s definitely a soothing and powerful meditation for me and I don’t play nearly enough but I guess that’s growing up and being “responsible”.

Q:

How do you use portable lighting in your daily work?

A:

As for Suprabeam I’ve been using their products for about 8 years and started out with a penlight and worked up to a headlamp. I use them on the job and when I’m going camping. I even pack one on my motorcycle trips so I never get caught in the dark!

Q:

Do you have a favourite Suprabeam product or accessory?

A:

I’d say my favourites are the V3pro rechargeable headlamp and I4r work light for sanding.

I really enjoy seeing Suprabeams innovations and constant strive for excellence.