how to get into site work

Discussion in 'Carpenters' Talk' started by chippyboy88, Feb 12, 2008.

  1. chippyboy88

    chippyboy88 New Member

    hi there

    ive been working on my own for a year now, with a company for a few years before. ive been working on the general domestic jobs and now want to get into site work. got nvq2, cscs and cis reg. all the 110v gear and own transport. im only 19 so dont have the years of experence behind me.

    any help on where i can go to find the work, ways to get into it. any help appreciated.

    btw in based in suffolk

    cheers
     
  2. lamello

    lamello New Member

    Dont want to sound like a killjoy or nothing but you cant possibly have enough experience to be out on your own at 18.
     
  3. lojo

    lojo New Member

    if you can get onto a new build site, perhaps 2nd fix pricework, you cant do alot wrong if your ok with basic carpentry, it will get your speed up and teach you how to avoid the *

    Just walk on to a few and ask

    [Edited by: admin9]
     
  4. chippyboy88

    chippyboy88 New Member

    cheers lojo for that.

    im fine with the basic 1st and 2nd fix stuff, floors, studwork, doors skirting etc it the more tecy stuff like stairs etc that i havnt had any experience on.

    i guess it would be a visit to the site office and see the site manager?

    cheers
     
  5. kaintheo

    kaintheo New Member

    If you see the site manager he will almost always give you number of the carpentry sub contractor which can help but it means visiting every site.

    Try to google it and find some.

    I know a firm if you are around the hampshire, dorset and wiltshire area.
     
  6. Kaintheo, any chance you can give me the details of that firm?

    i am still looking for a firm to take me on as a second year apprentice, but every one isn't interested (small ish firm's)

    so i am now just about to start going around big firms, and see what i can find.

    sorry for the thread hijack!!!

    cheers.
     
  7. bigwavedave

    bigwavedave New Member

    Go to various sites, ask the agent for the subbies number and give him a ring. Subbies like the direct approach. Don't bullsh1t him, tell him exactly what you can and can't do and what you want to do.

    You will have some of the cr@p jobs but that is par for the course.

    We have taken on two improvers since the new year because they showed up and asked.

    Good luck.

    Dave
     
  8. bigwavedave

    bigwavedave New Member

    Oh yeah and get yourself a generator, no good having all those tools if you can't use them.
     
  9. kaintheo

    kaintheo New Member

    Good shout bigwavedave,

    A genny is a must for most 1st fixing/roof work.
     
  10. chippyboy88

    chippyboy88 New Member

    thanks got that info lads. il have a look about
     
  11. chippyboy88

    chippyboy88 New Member

    thanks for that info lads, il have a look about
     
  12. Padai

    Padai New Member


    im fine with the basic 1st and 2nd fix stuff, floors,
    studwork, doors skirting etc it the more tecy stuff
    like stairs etc that i havnt had any experience on.



    If you want to go out on your own this won't cut it - you'll need to be able to do the lot. Most people won't be impressed if they take you on as a subbie only to find you can only do half of the work they give you.

    Suggest you carry on working for somebody else on an employed basis until you've got enough experience to take on the full range. Then have a go. You'll be a bit older and wiser by then too so less likely to get shafted.
     
  13. damo

    damo New Member


    im fine with the basic 1st and 2nd fix stuff,
    floors,
    studwork, doors skirting etc it the more tecy
    stuff
    like stairs etc that i havnt had any experience
    on.



    If you want to go out on your own this won't cut it -
    you'll need to be able to do the lot. Most people
    won't be impressed if they take you on as a subbie
    only to find you can only do half of the work they
    give you.

    Suggest you carry on working for somebody else on an
    employed basis until you've got enough experience to
    take on the full range. Then have a go. You'll be a
    bit older and wiser by then too so less likely to get
    shafted.

    Sorry, I disagree. IF the O.P can carry out tasks as mentioned to a high standard then why should he rite off site work all together. Floors, studwork/framework covers some of most common types of carcassing work you will get on a building site. Other than building stairs and timber roof framing, I cant really think of anything more difficult than that. If you can hang doors, fix skirting and architrave then youve near enough cracked second fix.
     
  14. bigwavedave

    bigwavedave New Member

    Take no notice of Padai.

    People that spout that sort of stuff have probably never worked on a big site (but will no doubt respond that they have).

    I have carpenters working for me that do everything, I have some that only second fix, and some that only do joist/deck, roofing and stairs. The guys that only do the joist/deck, roofing and stairs work started as a chippy labourers straight out of school and that is all they have done. But they do it well to a very high standard and earn a lot of money doing it. The same goes for one of the second fixers, however most of the second fixers stick to second fix work because it is what they prefer.

    If you are going to work on site there is no problem in specialising in one or two areas.

    Get out there and give it a go. It is probably the easiest way to earn a lot of money as a carpenter.
     
  15. chippyboy88

    chippyboy88 New Member

    cheers guys, i made a few calls today so will get some results fingers crossed.
     
  16. kaintheo

    kaintheo New Member

    Bigwavedave is right,

    The site I have at the mo is quite a biggen and we don't have any chippies that do everything.

    We have 1st fixers, 2nd fixers, a roof gang and kitchen fitting/2nd fix gangs.

    And before this we timber frame erectors too. None of these were actually carpenters apart from the foreman and a select couple that new their eggs.
     

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