Commercial Construction Inspections
Description:
Description: I am working on the City Creek Project in Downtown, SLC mainly as a concrete inspector. Whenever there is a concrete pour whether it be columns, deck floors, walls, etc. I am on the jobsite close by to make sure that the concrete being used is up to the standards needed for the job. I am certified to do this. I perform various tests that tell me if everything is correct. I test this concrete from a wheel barrow that the trucks pour concrete into to make sure the concrete (before it hardens) isn’t too wet or isn’t wet enough, that it isn’t too hot or cold, that it has the proper amount of air and then I make 4”x8” cylinders that we let harden for a specified number of days that we will later test to make sure it at least reached the minimum required strength.
Another type of concrete that I test is called ‘grout’ which is a lot more liquid and there aren’t rocks in it, only sand or pebbles. I get a sample by dipping the 4”x8” cylinder into the mixer and take it back into the lab which is two blocks away. I then test the temperature, the density, and then place the grout into 2”x2” cubes to harden that we later test for strength.
I also inspect soil nails which are rods 1” in diameter with varying lengths from 4’ to 10’ that can be connected together to go into the ground. They are usually installed at 10 Degrees into a wall or 90 degrees into the ground. There is a bit at the beginning that shoots grout as the nail goes down to form a concrete cylinder around the soil nail.
I also inspect soldier pile installation which are holes dug into the ground at 90 degrees about 18” – 24” wide. They are first dug out with varying depths and then pumped full of grout. Then a steel I-beam is placed in the hole for the concrete to surround it. Once the concrete hardens, one side is excavated out to a certain depth and then half of the concrete is chipped away exposing half of the I-beam. This is done so that timbers can be placed in between two I-beams creating a wall to hold back dirt (a retaining wall).
After I inspect or sample anything, I then have to write up a technical report about what I observed/inspected/sampled so that my employer, contractor and owner can know what I did and if everything was done according to the required specifications.
How I got the idea / found the employment:
How I got the idea/ found the employment: I found this internship by going to a BYU Career Fair which was specific to the School of Technology. I then talked to a lot of companies and gave them my resume. I made sure beforehand that my resume looked very professional and I even got humbling tips from my college counselor on ways to improve it. I then printed it out on an off-white colored paper that was thicker to stand out from the other resumes that are always white and flimsy. I then had a few interviews and this interview was the last one that I went to. I was persistent, determined and passionate about finding an internship and the Lord blessed me as I prayed for one. The job description wasn’t exactly in the particular aspect of Construction that I wanted to be in but it was work, they paid well, it had to do with construction and it would open up new doors for me in the future. By simply being on this project, I was a leader among my colleagues as none of them worked on a job with the same magnitude as mine.
Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:
Travel from BYU: Since I live in Provo, I didn’t want to drive myself to work everyday because it is a long drive and I am tired in the mornings and after work. I then looked at taking the bus and the bus pass from BYU only cost me $120 for the ENTIRE YEAR! This saved me lots of money, gave me an opportunity to sleep/do homework/etc. and it didn’t add but 30 minutes more a day traveling. Becoming Certified as an ACI (American Concrete Institute) Technician: I had no experience at all with concrete but this company trained me from day one on how to do all types of inspection work. Plus, once they train you and you pass a test that the company pays for, depending on the difficultly of the test, you get a raise from $0.50 to $3.00 per hour. I was hired on at $11.50 and got a raise to $14.00/hour within 3 weeks by passing the ACI test. Plus for overtime work, you get paid time and a half which made me earn $21.00/hour for every hour during the week that I worked after 40 hours. Technical Report Writing: I had no idea how to do this but I was trained and they were very patient with me in this process which made it easier.
What I learned:
I learned a great deal about the beginning aspects of construction from excavation to holding back tons and tons of dirt to concrete placement in many different shapes to construct buildings that will be 36 story’s tall. I had no idea how to do any of this since I had only worked on Residential home projects. Homes are miniscule in comparison to the size of the 5 towers I helped build. The total story’s for the 5 towers will be around 110. That is a lot of concrete. I would never take back what I learned here and because of it I am walking through new doors that never even would’ve been available to me if I hadn’t taken the job. The Lord has truly blessed me in my love of Construction. I learned how to work with all different fields of construction whether it be the owner, the main contractors, 20+ different sub-contractors, and the public in understanding, advertising and informing.
Construction Laborer
Description:
I was a construction worker, working at a site for a future enrichment facility. The crew I was working on had all kinds of tasks, as we were the odds and ends crew. We would build anything that the office workers needed (from a new holding rack for the engineers to a sniper tower for the security guards). It consisted of hard manual labor while putting together new trailers for the office workers. It is a hard manual labor job, which only those who are willing to work out in the sun for long hours and learn about the backbone of America should do. I earned 18$ an hour/ 27$ for OT and an extra 50$ a day for Per Diem
How I got the idea / found the employment:
I needed money for college so I took the summer off and went to New Mexico with my dad. He helped me acquire the job, because he was a trainer for one of the companies at the construction site. However there are many construction crews that are for non skilled laborers and they are always looking for fresh blood to help build up this country. However; to be hired it is required to take a 16 hour safety course in which if you do not pass the test in the end, you are not hired. I truly believe anyone that stays away in the class will pass it.
Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:
Starting my first hard manual labor job was very difficult. I dealt with a lot of men who were not happy people and found any excuse to yell at me. However, motivation and determination were all I needed to succeed in this job. Every time I built something new or completed another project I felt so fulfilled and happy. It was a very rewarding job.
What I learned:
I learned a lot about myself during this job. I had already served a mission, but I had never done anything like this. I learned how to be more self reliant and how to deal with people that don’t like you. I learned how to take care of my own household and truly learned how to work.
Construction/Ironworker
Description:
As an iron worker you are involved in the construction of various sized projects. When a concrete structure is made it requires a reinforcing that adds to its stability and strength. As in ironworker you place, and tie rebar together to provide a skeletal framework for the concrete structure. This job involves strenuous physical labor but is rewarded by a higher than usual wage. You would normally work for a private contracture and depending on the size of his crew work with a number of other ironworkers.
How I got the idea / found the employment:
When I was 18 years old I had just graduated from high school and was looking for a job for the summer. My cousin had been working for his neighbor who owned a rebar company. My cousin had just moved away and so an opportunity presented itself for me to work there. Although I was able to get the job from a family connection, anyone would be able to find a similar job through employment agencies who network the unemployed with job opportunities.
Challenges I faced, and how I overcame them:
Overall I really enjoyed the job but feel like there were two main challenges to overcome. Although most of the guys you work with a great individuals, I found that some were not very responsible and had a lot of personal trials that they brought to the worksite. This made in unsafe and morally challenging. The other main challenge was the physical aspect of it. The work is very hard on your body and I had to go see a chiropractor a number of times because of back pain, which I still feel, 2 years later.
What I learned:
Not only was able to learn a trade that I would be able to rely on for employment throughout my life, but I learned a great deal about personal responsibility. I was able to see the consequences of some of the choices that my work associates had made, favorable, or unfavorable, and I was able to learn from them.