Southeast Technical Carpentry Program students put finishing touches on new home
View photo albums on Facebook
As the school year comes to a close in 2014, Southeast Technical Carpentry Program students and their instructor, Ralph Roemer, are seeing a year's worth of work come to completion as they put the final touches on a new house.
While many college students measure success in terms of a term paper or a final test, these students are proud to have accomplished something extraordinary -- crafting a beautiful home that will be a place for a family to enjoy for decades to come. The newly built home is located in Pickwick Valley, three-fourths of a mile east of the Pickwick mill. The house features three bedrooms, four bathrooms (two full, one 3/4 bath and one 1/2 bath), a large two car garage, a lower single garage/workroom, hardwood floors and a number of other amenities, including vaulted ceilings, a gas fireplace and wrap around deck with scenic valley views. The new owners will move in early in June, 2014.
In the carpentry program, students learn each step of the construction process, from reading a blueprint to building and installing fine custom cabinets. Working in the carpentry lab at Southeast Technical as well as on-site, they gain hands-on experience in a real world environment. Just as they would on a commercial construction site, they work side-by-side with skilled sub-contractors who are hired to grade the construction site, pour concrete, and install plumbing and electrical systems.
One of final projects involved completing the 2014 Carpentry Program house is completing and installing custom cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom. Roemer and a handful of students are finishing up the final touches a few days after graduation ceremonies have taken place.
"Building the home and custom cabinets gives students a chance to work with power tools and learn the trade in a practical environment," says Roemer, adding, "The industry is on the rise again and our community needs well trained workers entering the workforce to prepare for the increase."
With a shortage of qualified carpenters in the job market, graduates of Southeast Technical's Carpentry Program find numerous job opportunities. Southeast Technical offers diploma and associate degree programs in carpentry, and also provides certificate programs for carpenters who are seeking additional training. To learn more, visit the Carpentry program page.