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ESCO occupation

house builder

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House builders construct, maintain and repair houses or similar small buildings using a range of techniques and materials of several construction building workers.

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Competences
48
Groups
4
Essential
24
Optional
24

Competences and skills

48 ESCO relations
Essential knowledge 3 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

1 competence
roofing techniques

Techniques used to form the upper covering of a building according to specific materials such as ceramic tiles, wood shingles, slate, metal, concrete of plant stalks.

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Cross-sector

2 competences
building codes

The set of guidelines that determine the minimum standards for buildings and other constructions in order to protect public health and safety.

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building materials industry

Supplier, brands and types of products and goods available on the market of building materials.

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Essential skills and competences 21 competences

Occupation specific

2 competences
maintain construction structures

Repair and maintain existing construction structures in order to keep these structures in a safe and sanitary condition, and compliant to safety standards and regulations.

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prepare building site

Draw up building plans and prepare building sites for erecting buildings or other structures.

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Sector-specific

12 competences
check compatibility of materials

Make sure the materials are fit to be used together, and if there are any foreseeable interferences.

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create floor plan template

Lay out the floor plan of the area to be covered on a suitable medium, such as strong paper. Follow any shapes, nooks and crannies of the floor.

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design floor

Plan a floor to be created from different types of materials, like wood, stone or carpet. Take into account the intended use, space, durability, sound, temperature and moisture concerns, environmental properties and aesthetics.

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inspect concrete structures

Visually inspect a concrete structure to see if it is structurally sound. Check for different types of cracks, such as those due to reinforcement corrosion, impact damage or high water content.

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inspect roofs

Inspect the condition of an existing roof. Check the state of the weight-bearing structure, roof covering, insulation, and accessibility. Take into account the intended purpose of the roof, including any accessories to be installed.

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install construction profiles

Install a variety of metal or plastic profiles used to attach materials to each other or to structural elements. Cut them to size if called for.

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perform roof maintenance

Recommend and perform maintenance and repair work such as fixing broken shingles, replacing flashing, clearing debris and securing the gutters.

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plan construction of houses

Draw up blueprints for the construction of houses and other types of buildings. Calculate and estimate the required materials and coordinate and supervise activities of workers executing the several construction techniques needed for the building process.

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prepare site for construction

Prepare ground or site for construction of wooden and brick terraces, fences and ground surfaces. This includes measure and plan out the site, lay stone and tiles.

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prepare surface for hardwood floor laying

Make sure the base is properly prepared. Flatten out any uneven surface by applying thin strips of wood called firrings, sanding and refixing any loose or creaky boards.

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seal flooring

Use a suitable sealer to seal a floor, preventing damage from fluids and other spills.

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work in a construction team

Work as part of a team in a construction project. Communicate efficiently, sharing information with team members and reporting to supervisors. Follow instructions and adapt to changes in a flexible manner.

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Cross-sector

7 competences
check construction compliance

Determine whether a construction complies with laws and regulations.

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create smooth wood surface

Shave, plane and sand wood manually or automatically to produce a smooth surface.

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follow health and safety procedures in construction

Apply the relevant health and safety procedures in construction in order to prevent accidents, pollution and other risks.

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follow safety procedures when working at heights

Take necessary precautions and follow a set of measures that assess, prevent and tackle risks when working at a high distance from the ground. Prevent endangering people working under these structures and avoid falls from ladders, mobile scaffolding, fixed working bridges, single person lifts etc. since they may cause fatalities or major injuries.

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install wood elements in structures

Install elements made of wood and wood-based composite materials, such as doors, stairs, plinths, and ceiling frames. Assemble and affix the elements, taking care to prevent gaps.

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read standard blueprints

Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.

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use safety equipment in construction

Use elements of protective clothing such as steel-tipped shoes, and gear such as protective goggles, in order to minimise risk of accidents in construction and to mitigate any injury if an accident does occur.

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Optional knowledge 3 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

2 competences
construction product regulation

Regulations on construction products quality standards applied throughout the European Union.

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energy efficiency

Field of information concerning the reduction of the use of energy. It encompasses calculating the consumption of energy, providing certificates and support measures, saving energy by reducing the demand, encouraging efficient use of fossil fuels, and promoting the use of renewable energy.

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Cross-sector

1 competence
energy performance of buildings

Factors that contribute to lower energy consumption of buildings. Building and renovation techniques used to achieve this. Legislation and procedures regarding energy performance of buildings.

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Optional skills and competences 21 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

13 competences
apply roll roofing

Roll out mats of roofing material, often bituminous asphalt, to cover flat or low-pitched roofs. Apply the felt layer first if required. Make sure there are no gaps so the roof is weatherproof. Firmly attach the layer to the structure.

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cut resilient flooring materials

Cut materials used for resilient floor covering such as vinyl, linoleum or cork with a sharp knife according to the cutting plan. Make straight cuts and avoid causing damage to the materials or surroundings.

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cut stair carriages

Make cuts in a plank of solid wood to carry stair treads and risers. Take measurements and calculations into account to make markings on the carriage with a steel square. Cut the carriage using a power saw or hand saw.

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install gutters

Take measurements, cut the desired length of gutter, assemble gutter pieces to form the corners using adhesive substances and screws, drill a hole for the connection with the vertical gutter, establish the height of the gutter, fix the horizontal and the vertical gutters to the walls using brackets and screws.

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install laminate floor

Lay laminate floor planks, usually with tongue-and-groove edges, on a prepared underlayment. Paste the planks in place if called for.

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install roof flashing

Form and fix the pieces, usually made of metal, that make the joint between the roof and the masonry or brick work, and prevent water infiltration into the structure.

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install structural glazing

Assemble the support structures, fix them on the building facade, insert the chassis if necessary, and fit the glass panes into the structures. In case of large construction projects, fix pre-assembled modules on the facade using rigging equipment and power tools.

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lay interlocking roof tiles

Lay interlocking roof tiles of various shapes and materials. Fix the tiles to the battens judiciously, and take special care of the verges, ridges and hips.

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lay non-interlocking roof tiles

Lay roof tiles that don't interlock, such as traditional slate tiles or asphalt shingles. Take care to provide the right overlap between the tiles, taking into account local weather conditions and roof slope.

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lay resilient flooring tiles

Lay resilient flooring tiles on a prepared surface. Align the tiles along straight lines. Remove any protective backing and paste the tiles onto the surface.

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prepare roofing materials

Select the appropriate pieces and, if necessary, prepare them for fixing by cutting, sawing, trimming the edges.

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process incoming construction supplies

Receive incoming construction supplies, handle the transaction and enter the supplies into any internal administration system.

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set up temporary construction site infrastructure

Set up a variety of temporary infrastructure used on building sites. Put up fences and signs. Set up any construction trailers and make sure that these are connected to electricity lines and water supply. Establish supplies stores and garbage disposal in a sensible manner.

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Cross-sector

8 competences
calculate needs for construction supplies

Take measurements on site and estimate the amount of materials required for the construction or restoration project.

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construct wood roofs

Build the structural elements of wood flat or pitched roofs. Lay rafters to provide strength and battens at regular intervals to account for lateral forces and attach any covering. Back the weight-bearing elements with panels, such as plywood, and insulation material.

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coordinate construction activities

Coordinate the activities of several construction workers or crews to make sure they do not interfere with each other and to ensure that the works are done in a timely manner. Keep up to date on the progress of the teams and update the schedule if called for.

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ensure compliance with construction project deadline

Plan, schedule and monitor the building processes in order to ensure completion of the project by the set deadline.

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install in-floor and in-wall heating

Install heating circuits, often sold as mats, into floors and walls. Strip the existing floor or wall covering if necessary. Roll out the mats and test them for continuity. Attach the mats to the surface if necessary and connect them to a power supply. Cover the circuits with mortar, drywall or other appropriate materials.

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install metal roofing

Install the underlayments over the main roof decking and other covering materials such as ice and water shields, form and screw down the starter flashing along the eaves and wrap them around the corners, screw down the metal panels while making sure they overlap, and finish the roof by fixing the flashing over the joints.

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order construction supplies

Order required materials for the construction project, taking care to purchase the most suitable material for a good price.

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prepare surface for painting

Make sure the surface to be painted is free of scratches and dents. Assess the porosity of the wall and the need for coating. Remove any grease, dirt, moisture and traces of previous coverings.

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