Specialty Areas

Did you know that in a typically day’s work, a union carpenter, depending on his area of specialty, may have to scuba dive, hang from a harness hundreds of feet in the air, or work in a confined space no bigger than his or her body? Within the United Brotherhood of Carpenters — and in the Ohio and Vicinity Regional Council of Carpenters — there are eight main areas of specialties:

Carpenter

Carpenters are responsible, at least in part, for creating just about every building in your community. Homes, schools, malls and office buildings are built from scratch under the skill and experience of professional carpenters. To be a carpenter is to be a member of one of the oldest and most respected trades in the world. If you enjoy working with tools, if you like to see your work produce immediate results, and if you have a good work ethic, you can build a lifetime career in carpentry. Carpenters measure, saw, level and nail wood and other building materials. They install tile and insulation, acoustical ceilings, cabinets, siding and much more. They work with many tools and materials to build houses, schools, churches, and hotels, erect skyscrapers, hospitals, office buildings and prisons, and construct bridges, tunnels and highways. Carpenters make up the largest single group of skilled workers in the country.

Millwright

Millwrights sometimes work to specifications requiring tolerances to a thousandth of an inch. Millwrights are an elite group of construction workers who work primarily in metal and with machinery and equipment requiring precision. Millwrights install conveyor systems, escalators, giant electrical or gas turbines and generators. Millwrights install and perform crucial maintenance work on machinery in factories, and do much of the precision work in nuclear power plants. Millwrights are skilled construction mechanics who study and interpret blueprints, and then put their knowledge and expertise to the work drilling, welding, bolting and doing whatever else is necessary to assure that the cogs of industry are in perfect working order.

Pile Driver

Professional pile drivers expertly and efficiently maneuver huge construction machinery to drive metal, concrete, or wood piling into the earth during the early stages of construction. If you like working outside with large equipment, heavy materials, and sometimes under extreme weather conditions, then you’ll like the hearty occupation of the pile driver! Pile Drivers secure piling to hold back the dirt during excavations, or to set the foundation for skyscrapers, or to support docks, wharfs, and bridges. In some cases they work on off-shore oil rigs and as commercial divers involved in underwater construction. Pile drivers are also required to install heavy timbers and weld or cut large metal beams.

Floor Layer

Professional floor coverers from the UBC are responsible for installing all types of flooring materials, from carpeting and hardwood to bamboo, cork and even sports surfaces. Floor covering professionals install floor coverings in structures such as commercial buildings, schools, hotels, homes and churches. This is a specialized occupation with many opportunities. Floor layers cut, fit and install a wide variety of flooring materials. Work is often done based on specifications of architects and interior designers, and floor layers must be good at estimating materials and doing layout of a pattern before actually installing the material. Floor coverings are installed on all types of surfaces — wood, concrete, drywall and metal — so the floor layer must know the safe and proper use of many types of adhesives and fastening systems. Floor layers spend a lot of time replacing old flooring in furnished buildings, and must be neat and clean, and careful not to damage furnishings.

Residential Carpenter

New homes must be built for growing populations, and old homes must be renovated or replaced with new, more efficient ones. It takes a lot of skilled carpenters to create or renovate these structures expertly and efficiently. Residential carpentry is a challenging career because of the new building products, new styles, new tools and new technology which go into today’s housing industry. Housing contractors are always seeking good residential carpenters. Residential carpenters are also called “master builders,” because they are the primary craft workers on homes, apartments, and condos. They assemble and erect the framework of residences; they build the partitions, install the flooring, and do much of the finish work, often staying on a particular job until it’s finished. The residential carpenter is an all-around carpenter who has experience in just about every aspect of residential construction.

Lather

Lathing is a small but vital trade that employs thousands of people in the United States and Canada. It’s an ancient trade that goes back to the day when palaces and cathedrals were built with stone and plaster. At one time, lathers worked with wooden strips called lath; now lathers work mostly with wire and metal mesh to create the structures and various shapes that help create the wonders of theme park attractions and the ornate ceilings and walls of many buildings. In order to achieve the sometimes spectacular creations demanded of a skilled lather, these professionals use tie wire, screws, nails, clips, and staples to fasten metal studs, metal lath, and drywall. The framework built by lathers is eventually covered by plaster, drywall materials or other finished surfaces.

Cabinet Maker/Millworker

It takes incredible skill to create the details and fine craftsmanship found in the woodwork, cabinetry and décor in shopping malls, banks, theaters, hotels and office buildings. Cabinetry and millwork professionals are craftspeople who like to work with their hands and take pride in working with the finest materials and tools money can buy. These men and women produce wood products such as moldings, panels and furniture. Some create store fixtures made of metal, plastics, or glass. Others work on exhibits and display cases. To do that, cabinetmakers and millworkers are experts in operating a number of machines and tools such as power saws, planers, joiners and shapers.

Interior Systems Specialist

Just about every building in your community — from your high school to the mall to the restaurant or dentist’s office — was at least partially built by skilled interior systems carpenters. This is an expanding industry offering challenges to those entering the construction trades. It involves the installation of all sorts of modern equipment and material in commercial buildings, such as acoustical ceilings, raised floors for computers, metal framing, wall partitions, and office furniture systems. These specialized workers install construction materials and a variety of factory-produced systems in commercial buildings and public structures. Their specialized skills are brought into play as they assemble complex interior systems using technical data supplied by manufacturers. Saws and hammers as well as mechanic’s tools such as drills, wrenches, screwdrivers are used most often. Welding skills are also needed for assembly work.