Noob, NO really I'm a noob! HELP!

[Aaron Lamb]

Hello everyone,
I'd like to check in and ask some serious questions. Well where to start? I have worked in the restaurant business since I was 15, well i'm 23 now and realized that I need a career change. I have decided to join my girlfriends family business, (construction) I have had much interest in this business but havn't had the chance to learn the trade until now. I am not new to building just building with wood, my brother and I have regularly built and raced rock buggys and datsun cars. In a few weeks I will be working for my girlfriends Uncle and apperently he is a major player here. He sounded very eager to hire me and train me, from what I understand he has recovered from stomach cancer but it keeps coming back, he has built a sucessful business but dosn't have anyone to rely on if something where to happen to him that would prevent him from running his business. Now, I have great business experiance and a BS from CSULB, but very little construction exp., my question is I need to learn the in's and out's of construction. I don't want to wast any of his time or $$$ so any advise you can give me would be great. Any suggestions on other Forums or books would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Aaron

[mreynolds]

I have been studying up since last spring. One source that has been really good for me is fine home building. They have detailed books on each of the specific trades and articles written by professionals in their respective fields. If you check the links down the left side of the page there will be several good topics for you to get started with. :D http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/index.asp

[Rich]

Your best resource will be your business background. The construction part is easy if you surround yourself with knowledgeable personnel. As you work more with them you will pick up the ins & outs of the physical act of constructing. The best way to learn is hands on training - get out there and place concrete and frame, etc.
Some books that will be helpful for you is anything on Construction Management (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=homeconstruct-20&keyword=construction+management&mode=books), estimating (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=homeconstruct-20&keyword=construction+estimating&mode=books), and get a book by Francis Ching regarding construction (can't recall the name) - real good visual reference with good common sense construction methods.
And ask all the questions you want on the forum - very knowledgeable people here.

[Rich]

Here is that other book
Building Construction Illustrated (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471358983/homeconstruct-20/002-3619158-4688860?dev-t=D68HUNXKLHS4JY%26camp=2025%26link_code=xm2)

[Aaron Lamb]

Wow, thanks for all the info. Keep it coming! 8) I will be checking out those books soon and can't wait to start what will hopefully be my career.

Aaron

[Rich]

I was asked the other day "What is your dream job - what would you want to do everyday?"
The only answer I could come up with was construction. Construction is a very rewarding job - everyday there is something built, and everyday it's something new. Never a dull moment.
Like I said before - any questions you have ask away. Would be more than happy to answer.

[grumpydasmurf]

Nobody mentioned anything abotu reading prints. Perhaps this topic is discussed in the books, but this is a necessary skill. I was trained for 3 years in H.S. on mechanical and architectural drafting.

[Rich]

I was kind of lumping that in with the hands on training with employees. But yes that is an essential skill to know what is going to be constructed. Reading blueprints isn't that difficult if you know what typical drafting conventions are.

[Aaron Lamb]

I'm ordering some books now from amazon.com, i'm getting Graphic Guide to Frame Construction and Building Construction Illustrated, 3rd Edition!
I can't imagine a more rewarding career than one of a contractor, you have the ability to start with little capital and in 20 or less years potentally build a million dollar business. Furthermore you create buildings that will be around far longer then yourself.
I know what I will be doing my 1st day, just getting measurements and and making cuts with a compound miter saw. It should be easy I have built roll cages with complex bends, miter cuts, and notching, so hopefully this skill will transfer over. 8)
Well it's 11:30 time to get to sleep!
Thanks!
Aaron

[Rich]

An excellent place to start Aaron. I've built structures from a doghouse in my backyard to a $129 million dollar civic center in Denver. And without a doubt it is the most rewarding job I've ever done.
Another necessary skill that nobody has mentioned is Communication. You must be able to communicate to your clients and your subcontractors. Along with that communication is how to manipulate people through communication. Manipulate - that sounds bad but in my experience I've seen many people that are very very successful builders with little to no experience in construction. But they are excellent communicators that can convey ideas to anyone easily and are able to instill confidence in those people to do the things that need to get done.
The best way to get that experience is by sitting in meetings with others and see how each reacts in certain situations. The more people you are around the more you can pick and choose the methods that work for different people.

[mreynolds]

I have to say that was one of my biggest revelations, how import it is to be able to communicate while building. Although I am not a contractor, I have an assistant coach that works for me who is. This guy built his own business, employs about 10 people in our small town and does really good work. What I always remarked at was his people skills, he is so easy to talk to. But you come to realize that there are so many trades involved you have to have the same kind of skills that a good coach would have to get the job done.

[utahcutter]

I have to agree communication is an absolute neccessity. I don't deal much with our customers, but I know we have good project manager's and bad ones. The good ones communicate their ideas to our customers in a way that is easy to understand. The bad ones cause everybody more work in the long run because they don't get the right ideas across to everybody else. It can be very frustrating for all sides. Not being able to communicate those ideas well, also makes it appear that you don't know what you're doing, even if you may be the best in the world at it.

[Aaron Lamb]

I guess a communications class at the local university will also be on the "TO DO" list. I am a firm believer that if you cant eaisly explaine somethin then you don't understand it very well! I'm sure that a customer would feel very much the same especially when $$$ is on the line!

[Rich]

Exactly.