OER: Construction

The construction trades provide a variety of opportunities to put specialized skills to work. Some of those situations require estimating the amount of building materials needed to complete the job. This program presents rule-of-thumb techniques of estimating material needs for a deck system, exterior walls, interior walls, roofing, electrical systems, and plumbing systems. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

This video instructs students on the how-to of floor and wall framing. Topics include girders and studs, installing sills, installing floor joists and subflooring, constructing shoes and plates, assembling exterior house walls, erecting exterior house walls, and constructing interior partitions. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

Explores both wood and steel construction including framing, layout, stud walls, joists, sheathing, girders, trusses, decking, reinforced concrete, and more. Shows subfloor, floor, and framework.

Watch basic plumbing installation for residential and commercial construction including pipe fitting and bathroom fixtures.

Discusses different types of foundations (slab, pier, post, t-foundations) as well as footings and special restrictions that apply (frostline, soil and subsurface conditions, earthquakes, flooding), and types of equipment used.

Whether it’s a country cottage or a Tudor mansion, it all begins on the drawing board. This program will show students how homes get built on paper, what kinds of considerations drive many of the decisions and choices, and how to read the blueprints. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

How much siding will you need for a midsize house? How much lumber will it take? In this program, students will learn a number of industry-standard techniques used to calculate the amounts of building materials for many common construction projects. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

Where a house is going to be built can be just as important as how it’s designed. This informative video looks at considerations that go into choosing a structure’s location, as well as that first big step on-site: breaking ground. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

Every house begins with a foundation, but you’ll need to determine what kind. This program explains the three types of foundations—basement foundation, crawl space foundation, and slab-on-grade—and uses a full basement foundation in a seasonal climate to illustrate basic techniques and concerns, including the use of footings, building forms, load-bearing values of the soil, and methods for pouring and curing concrete. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

Framing is the fundamental building block in many aspects of home construction. This program will detail the basics of many framing applications, including layout terms and principles, construction techniques, and standard framing plans. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

his video instructs students on the how-to of floor and wall framing. Topics include girders and studs, installing sills, installing floor joists and subflooring, constructing shoes and plates, assembling exterior house walls, erecting exterior house walls, and constructing interior partitions. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

Spans, hip and valley rafters, purlins, ceiling joists, and planking—all these and more are covered in this video which takes students step by step through the process of literally putting a roof over your head. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

Partitions and walls containing plumbing pipes or heating ducts often need to be constructed differently in order to safely accommodate these systems and meet building codes. This program details a number of common industry techniques used in these situations, including accompanying electrical considerations. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

Alternative framing techniques can reduce structural lumber requirements and costs, as well as offer design improvements, such as openings in steel-frame studs that allow for the running of plumbing or electrical systems. This video looks at some of the more popular industry options in terms of materials and construction plans. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

Sheathing provides a nailing base for siding and roof covering. This program examines various sheathing materials, such as plywood composites, particleboard, and shiplap, and illustrates their installation. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

This program covers all aspects of window and doorframe construction, including the installation of sills and flashing. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

For economic reasons as well as comfort, insulation is a key component to any home construction project. This program covers the essentials about weatherstripping, loose fill insulation, rigid insulation, R-values of insulation efficiency, installation of vapor barriers, and estimating materials for the job. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

Ventilation is an integral component of building design. This program will show students proper procedures for the installation of vent flashing and various types of ventilation ports. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

Today’s builder has many options when it comes to walls and ceilings—this video looks at some of the most popular, including drywall materials, such as gypsum wallboard, plywood, particleboard, and solid wood paneling, as well as plaster and cement board. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

This video highlights the methods and materials for installing doors, fitting trim around openings, and fitting trim at intersections of walls, floors, and ceilings. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

This program looks at plumbing in its two construction phases: rough-in, or initial installation, and final. Details of water systems and drainage, waste, and venting (DWV) systems are examined, as well as tools commonly used. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

In this video, students will learn how to install cables, wires, boxes, and devices to control current flow, such as switches, outlets, and circuit breakers. Particular attention is paid to safety and the standards of the National Electrical Code. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) comprise one of the major systems to be installed in a house. This video will guide students through application guidelines and installation of many of these components, such as furnaces, warm-air perimeter systems, air exchangers, and central air-conditioning. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

From wood to tiling to wall-to-wall carpeting, you could say this video gets down to brass tacks on how you can cover the floors in your house. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

In this video, students will find out many of the ways to apply the finishing touches when roofing and siding the house, as well as cabinetry, stairs, and exterior and interior painting. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

In this video, four young teens try their hands at home building and decorating on real work sites with experienced tradesmen. John, a professional mason, shows Nora how to lay bricks for exterior house walls and decorative yard sculptures. Andre, a contractor, teaches Misha how to construct the framing for a townhouse. Painter and decorator Pat instructs Camille on pasting wallpaper and stenciling interior walls. And Jim, a licensed electrician, shares some of his tricks of the trade with Peter. Concise and engaging, this video is an ideal introduction to the building-related trades.

Blueprints are made up of highly-specialized notations that tell builders, machinists, electricians, engineers, and others exactly how items are assembled and what materials to use. Because they are needed to coordinate work across a wide spectrum of trades, learning to interpret these specifications is crucial. From a blueprint’s basic elements to the distinct features of construction, electrical, manufacturing, and machining blueprints, this program gives viewers a detailed primer on types of blueprints and how they are read. Students will see graphics that illustrate what is meant by basic, auxiliary, and sectional views; discover how CAD is used to create blueprints; and learn which career fields benefit most from blueprint training programs.