My Transition into Construction

Construction Terminology

I thought it would be an easy transition into my new position with Gunderson Construction…boy I was wrong!!  My entire life I have been surrounded by construction…my grandfather, father, uncles, and both of my brothers have worked construction their entire lives.  I thought “I am a smart, educated young woman and this will be a piece of cake!!”  It was not quite the piece of cake I had envisioned.

For my entire adult career, about 15 years, I had worked with children and adults with disabilities.  In July this year, it was time for a change.  I left my life long career to embark on a new one working for my dad’s construction company (Gunderson Construction).  I was not too sure what to expect, but I knew that I have always been able to overcome any challenges I have ever faced, especially professionally!!

The first few weeks, I studied blue prints, not too sure what I was looking at.  I continued rereading all the tiny writing and abbreviations, hoping somehow they would stick in my head.  Little by little I started to understand; not necessarily what the “official” terminology was, but my own made up definitions, like the platform for an air-conditioning unit on a rooftop was called just that…a platform.  My dad sure got a good laugh when I would try to explain what I was looking at!!  He would then ask me if I knew the “official” name (in construction you can’t just say the thingy-a-ma-jiggy).  It was because of these moments, I decided I wanted to write a blog on different construction terminology and my transition.  It seems every week there are new things that I am learning, and like most people who are not familiar with the construction world…some of the language can be quite confusing!!

During the first week, both my parents got a good laugh at me when I repeatedly said bituminous incorrectly, so that is my first word!

Bituminous: (as described by The asphalt institute):  “Strong cement, readily adhesive, highly water proof and durable. It is a plastic substance which imparts controllable flexibility to mixtures of mineral aggregates with which it is usually combined. Although it is solid or semi solid at ordinary atmospheric temperatures, Asphalt may be readily liquefied by the application of heat.”

 

 

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