Careers in ConstructionUnit 1

Construction Industry• One of the largest industries in

America

• Divided into four major divisions– Residential• Light construction

– Homes– Small Buildings– Uses many prefabricated components

– Non –Residential– Highway and Heavy –Municipal

More than two dozen skilled trades!

Career Levels• Three career levels– Craft• Carpenter• Painter• Plumber• Bricklayer• Electrician

– Journeyman if in union

Career Levels– Technical• Drafting• Building techniques• Surveying

– Professional• College degree required (Project manager)

Employment• 1,100,000 Carpenters currently

employed

• 14.8% in construction employment

• Carpenters specialize in certain areas

• May learn the trade without formal education

What to spend on housing and location• Should not exceed 2 ½ times family

income• Could the sun be used as an energy

resource?• Are schools, community, jobs, and

recreation nearby• Is the lot shallow or deep• Is the neighborhood relatively stable?

• No more than 25% of monthly income should be spent on all housing expenses including mortgage payments, utilities, and repairs.

Legal Documents

• Survey– Shows boundaries of the property

• Deed– Proof of ownership

• Abstract of title– History of deeds and other papers

Purchasing and Estimation• Plans may be purchased from companies that

specialize in stock house plans• Stock plans are the least expensive way to

purchase plans• Architects receive 5% of building costs for

designing a home• A potential buyer can multiply the square footage

of a home by the cost per square foot in the area to estimate the cost of the home

• To get an accurate cost a contractor may bid on the home

Mortgage Loans• Actually a lien on the home– Security for the lender– Lender receives property if the buyer does not

make payments• Mortgages can run from 12 to 40 years• Closing costs are costs for paperwork to close on

a loan• Payments for taxes and insurance on the property

are held in escrow by the lender until payment is due

• Contractors are paid a certain percentage before the home is constructed

Building Codes• Establish minimum quality and safety in housing• Three major building codes

– Uniform building code used in the West– Basic building code used in the Midwest– Standard building code used in the East

• Electrical code throughout the U.S.– National Electrical Code (NEC)

• A building permit is required before construction• A building inspector periodically will visit the job

site at key points during construction• A certificate of occupancy will be issued if the

home has no problems after inspection

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