this post was submitted on 24 Nov 2023

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[Outdated, please look at pinned post] Casual Conversation

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[AMA] I am a professional construction carpenter. Feel free to ask me anything. (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've been working in construction for the past 11 years at this point with a few years before that in a part time role. I'm more than happy to lend whatever knowledge or insights I may have about work, life, or whatever.

I will be checking in sporadically to see if there are questions.

EDITED WELL AFTER QUESTIONS STOPPED: I'm still active-ish on Lemmy, so if you happen to find this and have a question, I will likely still get back to you.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I have a house in the Pacific Northwest built in 2000. For a relatively modern construction, was very surprised to not find a shutoff valve on the gas line behind our range? It's just a straight pipe with a flexible hose going into the range. Is there any reason this would have happened? It's a well built home otherwise.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

New construction and some rehabilitations really frustrates me. I was just in a rental that had no water shut offs to anything besides the main. If it just isn't in the code for the area, some unscrupulous builders will just forego common sense to save a few bucks. Adding one in thankfully isn't all that hard, it's just kind of frustrating that there isn't one already there.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks for the answer and for doing this thread in general. As it's gas, I don't think I can trust myself to DIY so it seems I'll need to hire a professional for what sees like a fairly straightforward job, do you mind helping with a gut check on my expectations?

Feels like I'm looking at about $300 to have a professional come out for the following; shut the gas off at the main, remove existing connection, clean, add pipe dope or tape and the correct fitting with an inline shutoff valve. Then I'll need to call gas company to have them come out to turn main back on and then will spray connection with soapy water to assure no leak. Is that more or less what's ahead?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It really depends on your area. I know that in my area I can call my gas company for things like this and they are willing to do the work for relatively low prices. I believe they charged me about 90 for a leak check and disconnection of a somewhat leaky and unused line. I wouldn't imagine it would be to much more for a connection especially if you already have the shut off valve ready to go.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I actually didn't think to ask gas co to handle the work, hopeful that there's a path there. Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

That one belongs to my wife. We're getting a new washer/dryer soon and the gas line they removed was used for a gas dryer. I was fretting over the installation costs regardless of which style we got and she reminded me that our gas company will send out people to work. Last thing they want is damage to the gas line main in my neighborhood.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (9 children)

Can we each ask you more than one question?

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[+] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

[removed by mod]

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Always wanted the freedom to work outside, particularly out of an office. I'm the type of person who gets mentally bored from going to the same place day in and day out and doing similar tasks. I'd have been burned out in less than a year of dealing with the same people and the same problems. Once that happens my enjoyment for everything drops through the floor and I just become really unpleasant to the point that I'd likely lose the job.

Added bonus for doing a physical job is that I NEVER have a problem getting to sleep. I've had the same routine long enough at this point that I don't even have an alarm set up for waking up, just one for when I'm supposed to hit the road.

The main issue at the moment is that the work is incredibly hard on the body. My knees are starting to feel rough, I've stressed a back muscle to the point of pain a few times this year, and I have developed the dreaded 'dad bod' from the muscles I do work. I had planned to transition into a supervisor role over the next 5 years, but that opportunity just floated away with the rest of the company. However, I am only about a year away from getting a bachelors degree and am likely going to go finish that up for engineering so that I can eventually shift out of the field if I'm unable to get into a supervisor role before my body REALLY starts getting upset at me.

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