GCSE Construction the Built Environment Craft Occupations in

GCSE Construction & the Built Environment Craft Occupations in the Construction Industry

Many people in craft occupations within the construction industry are employed directly by the main contractor to carry out construction activities such as building brick walls, putting on a timber roof or plastering a wall. Common examples of directly employed labour would be Bricklayers, Joiners and Plasterers. Other skills are usually sub-contracted from the main contractor and are delivered by teams of specialist people working together such as Plumbers, Electricians, Domestic Gas Engineers, Tilers, and Dry Lining Specialists.

Skills required by Craft Operatives You will need: • the ability to follow written and spoken instructions • to be comfortable working at height • excellent teamworking skills • to be able to follow technical drawings and plans • mathematical skills to calculate quantities and angles • the ability to pay close attention to detail and mark out accurately • the ability to work in a well organised and accurate way • a good level of fitness • customer care skills • the ability to follow safe working practices

Skills required by Craft Operatives Working hours, patterns and environment You will usually work a basic 39 -hour week, often starting early in the morning. Overtime at weekends and evenings may be required to meet deadlines. Seasonal work is common and overnight stays may be necessary. The work can be physically demanding and you will often be working at height on scaffolding. You will wear protective clothing and equipment such as safety helmets and boots. The work often involves carrying fairly heavy loads.

Learning Activity: • research two craft occupations referred to in this presentation • identify essential skills, roles and responsibilities of these two craft operatives • prepare a mock interview for one of the two identified job roles

Bricklayer As a Bricklayer you will need to: • measure the work area and set out the first rows of bricks (courses) and the DPC. • mix mortar with a mechanical mixer. • lay the bricks on top of each other and apply the mortar with a trowel. • be able to shape and cut bricks using hammers, chisels and power tools. • check that courses are straight using spirit levels and plumb lines. • work on a particular section of a building alongside other bricklayers on larger jobs.

Joiner As a joiner you will need to: • prepare a quotation for the cost of the joinery work. • carry out first fix joinery work on site such as setting a door frame or putting on the roof. • carry out second fix joinery such as hanging doors. • install joinery components and kitchens. • screw fix plasterboard to ceilings. • fit the skirting board or architraves.

Plasterer As a Plasterer you will need to: Do repairs and restoration work on houses and on large commercial developments such as schools, hospitals and hotels. You will normally work in a team carrying out: • solid plastering (applying wet finishes to surfaces and putting protective coverings like pebble-dash on outside walls) • fibrous plastering (creating ornamental plasterwork such as ceiling roses, cornices and architraves)

Plumber As a Plumber you will need to: • install water, and heating systems. • find and fix faults. • install and fix domestic appliances such as showers, cookers, and washing machines. • service air-conditioning and ventilation units. • deal with emergency call-outs for boiler breakdowns or blocked drains. • install and service solar-powered heating systems.

Domestic Gas Engineer As a Domestic Gas Engineer you will need to: • install appliances and systems. • carry out planned maintenance checks on systems and equipment. • test controls and safety devices to make sure they are working properly. • find and repair gas leaks using computerised fault finding equipment. • replace or repair faulty or old parts. • order new parts. • keep records of work you have carried out. • give customers advice about gas safety and energy efficiency. • You will also give customers quotes for jobs.

Electrician As a Electrician you will need to: • work in a range of areas, from bringing power to peoples’ homes to big engineering projects. You may also work with renewable technology, such as wind turbines, 'smart' heating systems and solar power. • install power systems, lighting, fire protection, security and datanetwork systems in all types of buildings. • check systems to make sure they are working efficiently and safely. • make and install control panels to operate the electrical systems inside buildings. • install and maintain street lighting and traffic management systems.

Dry Lining Specialist Dry lining methods are used to create the walls and rooms in a building. They also hide wires and pipes, improve a room’s acoustics, create space for insulation and smooth out uneven walls during renovation work. As a Dry Lining Specialist you will need to: • measure and cut plasterboard to the right sizes and angles. • fix panels to timber, metal frames or ceiling joists using special screws. • cut panels to fit around doorways and create openings for windows. • seal joints using filler or adhesive. • tape over the seal either by hand or with a taping machine. • apply a thin layer of plaster over the tape (skimming). • sand down the area to make ready for painting and decorating.

Tiler As a Tiler you will need to: • mark out an area to estimate the amount of tiles and adhesive needed. (otherwise known as setting out) • cut tiles to size and shape with hand-cutters or benchmounted tools. • prepare surfaces by levelling off with plaster, sand or cement. • fix the tiles and apply grout before finishing off. • repair or remove the previous surface before the setting out stage. • work with various building materials.