There are some places that teach carpentry, but that is not the norm for carpenters. Often young men and women may get their beginnings in high school where shop classes are taught. This is a great chance for helping untrained students get a feel for the trade. Even though training has become standardized for many professions, this one is mostly learned on the job. There were very many entry-level positions called “carpenter’s helpers.” These people work around experienced carpenters and learn the trade. Little by little they gain skill and eventually earn their marks as experienced carpenters.
Although there are no formal schools from which carpenters can graduate, there is a formal system by which they are licensed. This keeps a level of standards for those who call themselves carpenters. A union for carpenters has been formed and they have locations all over the US. It is the union that offers a test for carpenters. Once a carpenter has passed the test he or she can become a member of the Local Carpenters Union. Before the days of mass communication over the World Wide Web, the unions provided the members with contacts for jobs from contractors who had large jobs around the city or county. These contractors employed a large group of men and women skilled in carpentry to complete a new office building going up in town or a new neighborhood of homes that real estate developers planned.
Carpenters must have knowledge of building codes. Cities require a permit when changing or adding to the structure of an existing premises or building a new structure. Permits must be obtained before the changes or building starts, and often a city worker must come out to check the job to verify that codes were correctly applied during the work.
Carpenters are specialists when it comes to working with wood. They are skilled with many tools, small and large. Measuring lengths is a must to calculate material quantities for the job. Finish Carpenters are experienced at inside work like hanging doors, finishing windows, molding, building, or installing cabinets. When building homes their work can be demanding physically if they carry and cut wood for framing the house before the walls go up. Commercial carpenters build frames into which cement is poured; they also build scaffolding for large blue-collar jobs. Some carpenters build bracing for tunnels in underground passes and mines. This work is important to control the circulation of air at these work places. Carpenters are also needed in infrastructure work to build concrete forms for tunnels, highway bridges, and sewer construction projects.
This leads us to the revival. Real estate construction has slowed down and was one of the first slow downs indicating the economic crisis. When government money was rescuing large institutions cries went up from the blue-collar workers who were suffering unemployment. So, the government decided to institute plans to rebuild the infrastructure of America to provide jobs for out-of-work construction men and women. Government funding is set aside and jobs have already been awarded to large contractors who have bid for the blue-collar jobs. Projects will include rebuilding highways and sewer structures. Our bridges are also in for a face-lift to meet safety standards. Other government structures like schools are in need of repair and those projects on the government’s list.
Billions of dollars are being placed in the infrastructure projects to bring back work and leave a positive result for the investment. Our skilled men and women are being revived and they will continue using their training in the jobs’ infrastructure projects to bring to the nation. Jobs have already been awarded and are starting on the West Coast and in Hawaii. While the industry is shifting the workers from real estate, this change is taking the skilled workers with it and will be providing employment for the next decade.
Working conditions for carpenters are variable. Most work is done inside, but much is also outside in the heat and cold. Job sites vary with the work. For example, a carpenter on a housing project may be very comfortable, whereas a carpenter on an infrastructure site is exposed to very cold elements if working in the wind and the cold. There might not be places to get out of the elements.
Another issue for carpenters is relocation. Carpenters have to go where the jobs can be found. This means some travel and perhaps moving to another location. Moving can be a great experience, especially if the work is in a nice-weather environment and there is good housing and entertainment in the new location. A carpenter’s life can be ever changing.
