r/Construction

Trade school is a scam, and the reason for that is because Trade schools don't provide adequate skills to the students that are willing to learn their respective trade nor do they provide anything useful or of essence regarding their careers on the trades.

I'm a student of a trade school myself and I specialize in electrical installations and while they do teach us a couple of stuff both theoretical lessons and hands on work they are very negligible and insufficient when you actually work that trade in a real job site providing no useful knowledge or manual skills.

Also those lessons in school are very boring, which not only means the students don't give attention so they don't learn anything in the first place but I've also noticed that these boring lessons drift away many students interest from the trade they've chosen because they develop a bad impression of those trades due to the long boring and uninteresting school lessons.

And I know you might tell me about certifications and licenses but they are also useless, I've talked to many craftsmen like plumbers and electricians that have have been doing these jobs for 50+ years, that have told me that they haven't graduated from high school they don't have any licenses for their trade jobs and neither has anyone ever asked them for a license at work, and one quote that a plumber told me and stuck with me was "licenses don't make the masters, work does"

And to top it off, I work construction myself and I can assure you that learning a trade at the job site is much more effective and much more enjoyable than at a trade school, the things I've learned it trade school haven't benefited me or any other student I've talked as far as work goes, doesn't make you get a job any easier and it doesn't learn you the trade.

To summarize it, like that plumber said, books don't make the master the work does.

any other users who are in construction (specifically bridge/road work) who feel trapped?? i think the money is whats keeping me here. been a bridge builder for a year now currently on a 12hr drive for work and i feel like the per diem and mileage reimbursement isnt worth the exhaustion at all. i miss having a work life balance lol just a little rant but i am so freaking tired. on one hand if i quit it’d be financial suicide but it may be worth taking a pay cut close to home for my mental health. what other trades are similiar to ironworking?

Hey guys located in New Jersey , recently got a location with asbestos flooring indoors building is old need some advice on how to remove everything properly without spending unnecessary amount

I’d love to hear from people in the aggregates or mining industry because I’m at a career crossroads.
After high school, I spent five seasons working in a quarry while earning my bachelor’s degree. I gained hands-on experience with MSHA safety, heavy equipment, plant maintenance, welding, production, and worked closely with both supervisors and crews.

I then transitioned into healthcare, where I’ve spent the last 10 years in operations leadership, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and project management. During that time, I earned my Master of Social Work with a focus on Organizational Leadership and became a licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker. I currently work remotely and earn about $80,000 a year, but despite taking on increasing responsibility, my salary has largely stagnated, and I’ve become burned out with the industry.
Recently, I was approached about interviewing for a Plant Superintendent position overseeing two aggregate plants. From what I’ve been told, they’ve struggled to find candidates with actual quarry experience, and they see my background as a unique combination of hands-on pit experience and a decade of leadership in another highly regulated industry.

The position pays $90k–$110k plus a company truck. Considering it’s a salaried role with responsibility for two plants—one nearby and another in a neighboring state—I actually think the range is a little low. If I’m fortunate enough to receive an offer, I’d likely negotiate somewhere around $115k–$120k based on the scope of the role, my previous quarry experience, and the leadership experience I’ve gained over the past decade.

For those already in the industry:
Would you make the switch if you were in my position?
How would you view someone with my background?
Is Plant Superintendent a solid path toward Operations Manager, Area Manager, Regional Manager, or other senior leadership roles?
Is $115k–$120k a realistic salary expectation for overseeing two sites?

This opportunity has me wondering if I’d be crazy to leave a decade in healthcare—or crazier to pass up the chance to return to an industry where I already have a solid foundation while bringing back 10 years of leadership experience in hopes this can lead to a better longer term career trajectory with better pay?
I’d really appreciate any advice or perspective. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

At work we often grab some unistrut and some trolley wheels to temporary hang sliding doors while the building is under construction. I want to to something similar at home for a 3’ wide 4’ high sliding gate, with the hardware and gate itself no wider than 1-1/2”, since it will nest into the existing fence. Unistrut is ugly though, anyone aware of more aesthetically pleasing hardware or should I just go with some exterior black spray paint

Talking to a porta potty guy

He told me the solution they fill the porta potty up with after cleaning is supposed to smell like bubble gum. He said all companies in my region use bubble gum scent for their solution.

When he told me the smell instantly clicked. I didn't recognize it beforehand but now that I think about it and know the name yeah it does kind of smell like bubble gum.

Does anyone know if they use bubble gum scent internationally?

What scent does your porta potty at work smell like when it's clean

I’m in California, currently doing billing, collections, and compliance for a small family-run construction subcontractor. I was hired to help clear a backlog, but once I started it became obvious the problems were way bigger than anyone admitted. A few real examples of what I’ve dealt with:

**•** The company has almost no documented procedures or systems. A previous person ran everything and left with all the knowledge in her head, so I’ve basically been reconstructing how the business runs from scratch.
**•** There’s around $250k in uncollected receivables across projects that no one had visibility into, no aging report, no tracking, unclear what was billed or paid.
**•** Their systems aren’t connected and haven’t been for over a year, so basic reconciliation takes forever.
**•** When I flag problems, the response is essentially “you brought it up, so you figure it out” no ownership, no urgency, no added support.
**•** They promised paid holidays when they hired me, then didn’t pay them.
**•** It’s a husband-and-wife ownership, and there’s frequent tension (weird comments from the wife) /arguing in the office that makes the environment uncomfortable.
**•** I was told I’d get help and clearer scope, but I’m wearing way too many hats for what I was hired and paid to do.

There have also been situations around how money and job costs get handled that didn’t sit right with me — things like being asked verbally (never in writing) to record costs in ways that didn’t reflect where they actually belonged, and being told not to pursue collection on certain amounts. It made me uncomfortable enough that I started keeping my own notes.

I make $28/hr here. I just got a signed offer as a project coordinator at an established structural concrete contractor for the same hr rate and it’s been my dream company, it’s on the project-engineer track, which is the actual career I want and what my degree is in.

My current employer also verbally floated eventually moving me towards PM and that there is room to grow since they are just starting (4yr old company) but given no training or structure exists there, I don’t fully believe it.

Here’s the complication: the new job has a pre-employment drug screen Wednesday that includes THC. I’ve used cannabis nightly for sleep for about five months, I JUST started because I told my doctor I was concerned of taking too many pills (insomnia issues) and he mentioned the use of cannabis. HR said the test is for THC, and when I mentioned sleep, she said a doctor’s note would help so I got a CA medical cannabis recommendation. But after talking more directly, she made clear I still have to pass; the card is context, not a pass. I’ve stopped now but I’m worried five days isn’t enough after daily use.
I decided to come clean because this is my dream job and I live in CA, been in the industry and I have never had this experience.

I haven’t given notice yet. I have a backup another backup interview (accounting side of construction) on Monday.

My questions:

**1.** Is it worth leaving the higher-paying job for the lower-paying one that fits my career better? Has anyone been in my position?

**2.** Can I realistically clear an active-THC test in this timeframe after months of daily use?

**4.** Should I hold off on resigning until I have the test result?

Any advice appreciated — feeling a little overwhelmed and want outside perspective.

honest question. been on sites for like 15 years and i swear every single mobile office i've ever stepped into has been garbage

either the layout is weird and you can't fit a table anywhere, or the power outlets are in the most useless spots, or the thing leaks when it rains. sometimes all three at once

we got a new unit coming next week for a big commercial job and i'm trying not to get my hopes up. but i heard through the grapevine that our project manager actually did some research this time instead of just buying whatever was cheapest

idk. i've been burned before

the thing that kills me is i've seen good setups in other countries. like proper mobile offices with decent ventilation and storage. but over here we get the cheapest bidder every time and then we complain about it for 3 years while management pretends they didn't notice

anyway i'll believe it when i see it

I am 22 yo and have a wife and young kid. I’m working at a plant right now making $30 an hour but capped at 84 hours biweekly. I’m thinking about throwing my stable job away in hopes that I can make more on the road. Anyone have any input I would appreciate it very much.

Today I had a weird dream that was construction related

I dreamt was I on a medieval construction site putting up scaffolding like my old job.

Anyways, the construction site was attacked and I took an arrow to the shoulder. I ended up fighting back with a sword.

It was a really cool dream at the start where I got to put up scaffolding with the lads but it got a bit too violent for me towards the end so I woke up.