Apprentice of the Month – AUGUST

Chris Reynolds, a third-year apprentice, aced his opportunity to manage a two-bedroom home build

The Otago trainee has shown he’s got what it takes to deliver a big project with no hold-ups, after managing a complex home build to perfection. Chris was tasked with ensuring important deadlines were hit and subbies were kept in the loop, so the project he was working on could progress through its stages.

One of the first tasks was to arrange for the foundation to be poured in preparation for the frames and trusses – a job made more complex by Otago’s cold temperatures and an in-demand plumber!

“To ensure no frost settled on the concrete following the pour, I organised to have fans on site to keep the air moving. I also kept the plumber – who needed to do the drains and a soak pit – in the loop, so he could come straight away when we were ready.“

It was Chris’ first time being the foreman on site, but he reckons he coped with it well.

“I felt comfortable with it. I think it helps that I’m an older apprentice at 31. Plus, I was shadowed and mentored by an experienced foreman, so I knew I had back-up if I needed it.”

But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a complex project for a new foreman. 

“I was in charge of ordering materials to site, which I’d never done before, and overseeing the subbies.“

The result? The foundation and plumbing passed their inspections, the frames are on-site ready to stand and the roof is ready to go on.

When asked what helped make the project a success, Chris said it was having experienced foremen around and keeping in really close contact with the other trades.

“I reckon the things that helped me the most were good communication, staying organised on the job and keeping up-to-date records of work completed.”