Profession house builder

House builders erect, maintain and repair houses and similar small buildings using either traditional or modern techniques and materials.

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Realistic

Related professions building, construction

• Architect
• Blocklayer
• Bricklayer
• Building repairer
• Building wrecker
• Construction block mason
• Construction company manager
• Construction contractor
• Construction designer
• Construction operative
• Construction or building inspector
• Construction work planner
• Fence erector
• First line supervisor construction workers
• Glass decorating sandblaster
• Insulation worker
• Iron worker
• Jointer
• Kit worker
• Prefabricated buildings erector
• Project manager civil engineering
• Project manager construction
• Quantity surveyor
• Town planner

Knowledge

• Roofing techniques

  Techniques used to form the upper covering of a building according to specific materials such as ceramic tiles, wood shingles, slate, metal, concrete of plant stalks.

• Building materials industry

  Supplier, brands and types of products and goods available on the market of building materials.

• Building codes

  The set of guidelines that determine the minimum standards for buildings and other constructions in order to protect public health and safety.

Skills

• Inspect concrete structures

  Visually inspect a concrete structure to see if it is structurally sound. Check for different types of cracks, such as those due to reinforcement corrosion, impact damage or high water content.

• Install wood elements in structures

  Install elements made of wood and wood-based composite materials, such as doors, stairs, plinths, and ceiling frames. Assemble and affix the elements, taking care to prevent gaps. Inspect the work and notify the responsible person in case of problems.

• Create smooth wood surface

  Shave, plane and sand wood manually or automatically to produce a smooth surface.

• Perform roof maintenance

  Inspect the roof or facade cladding to assess its general state and identify any damage, recommend and perform maintenance and repair work such as fixing broken shingles, replacing flashing, clearing debris and securing the gutters.

• Follow safety procedures when working at heights

  Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.

• Design floor

  Plan a floor to be created from different types of materials, like wood, stone or carpet. Take into account the intended use, space, durability, sound, temperature and moisture concerns, environmental properties and aesthetics.

• Create floor plan template

  Lay out the floor plan of the area to be covered on a suitable medium, such as strong paper. Follow any shapes, nooks and crannies of the floor.

• Use safety equipment in construction

  Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.

• Assess construction compliance

  Determine whether a construction complies with laws and regulations.

• Plan construction of houses

  Draw up blueprints for the construction of houses and other types of buildings. Calculate and estimate the required materials and coordinate and supervise activities of workers executing the several construction techniques needed for the building process.

• Install construction profiles

  Install a variety of metal or plastic profiles used to attach materials to each other or to structural elements. Cut them to size if called for.

• Prepare building site

  Draw up building plans and prepare building sites for erecting buildings or other structures.

• Prepare surface for hardwood floor laying

  Make sure the base is properly prepared. Flatten out any uneven surface by applying thin strips of wood called firrings, sanding and refixing any loose or creaky boards.

• Read standard blueprints

  Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.

• Inspect roofs

  Inspect the condition of an existing roof. Check the state of the weight-bearing structure, roof covering, insulation, and accessibility. Take into account the intended purpose of the roof, including any accessories to be installed.

• Check compatibility of materials

  Make sure the materials are fit to be used together, and if there are any foreseeable interferences.

• Work in a construction team

  Work as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible manner.

• Follow health and safety procedures in construction

  Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.

• Maintain construction structures

  Repair and maintain existing construction structures. Inspect the construction site in order to keep these structures in a safe and sanitary condition, and compliant to safety standards and regulations.

• Seal flooring

  Use a suitable sealer to seal a floor, preventing damage from fluids and other spills.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB