Career Information

Description
Preservation Carpenters preserve, restore, rehabilitate, reconstruct, and deconstruct wood structures by performing work on such elements as structural framing rafters, doors, windows, floors, staircases, trusses and beams, interior and exterior trim, and roofing. They select appropriate materials and use instruments and tools such as tape measures, squares, levels, hammers, and other traditional carpentry tools.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
Preservation Carpenters know how to identify and utilize material, environmental, and workplace safety protocols and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. They can use hand and power tools safely and properly. They read construction documents, provide basic field documentation, and carry out preservation tasks in carpentry such as replacing siding, repairing joinery, and making replica architectural features. They have a working knowledge of the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties and an understanding of wood types and science. They have the ability to prepare, cut, and join lumber.

Training Details
Requires about 4 years (8000 hours) to become a journey-level Preservation Carpenter. This is obtained through on-the-job experience and related instruction.

Career Outlook
There are an estimated 2,928 job openings for preservation carpenters each year.

Example
Listen to the PreserveCast with Amy McAuley, Preservation Joiner at Mount Vernon.

Description
Preservation Masons preserve, restore, rehabilitate, reconstruct, and deconstruct masonry structures and features by performing work on such elements as brick, stone, concrete, and plasters. They select appropriate materials and use instruments and tools such as masons’ rulers, chisels, levels, and saws.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
Preservation Masons know how to identify and utilize material, environmental, and workplace safety protocols and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. They can use hand and power tools safely and properly. They read construction documents, provide basic field documentation, and carry out preservation tasks in masonry such as repairing mortar joints, replacing masonry units, and fixing cracks in masonry walls. They have a working knowledge of the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties. They have an understanding of masonry and earthen material science. They have the ability to prepare, mix, and apply different mortars, and cut and lay different masonry units.

Training Details
Requires about 4 years (8000 hours) to become a journey-level Preservation Mason. This is obtained through on-the-job experience and related instruction.

Career Outlook
There are an estimated 7,200 job openings for preservation masons each year.

Example
Watch the interview with the Washington National Cathedral’s stone mason, Joe Alonso

Description
Historic Window Technicians preserve, restore, rehabilitate, reconstruct, and deconstruct traditional windows and other fenestrations, working with a variety of material elements such as wood, glass, metal, paints, and epoxies. They select appropriate materials and use instruments and tools such as tape measures, saws, cutters, chisels, and drills.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
Historic Window Technicians know how to identify and utilize material, environmental, and workplace safety protocols and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. They can use hand and power tools safely and properly. They read construction documents, provide basic field documentation, and carry out preservation tasks such as rehanging window sashes, reglazing windows, and creating replica window features. They have a working knowledge of the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties and an understanding of different material sciences and how they interact. They have the ability to cut and join lumber, handle glass, and remove and reapply different finishes.

Training Details
Requires about 3 years (6000 hours) to become a journey-level Historic Window Technician. This is obtained through on-the-job experience and related instruction.

Career Outlook
There are an estimated 159 job openings for Historic Window Technicians each year.

Example
Watch Austin Historical–Window Preservation Alliance member–remove and reinstall historic window sashes

Description
Historic Roofers preserve, restore, rehabilitate, reconstruct, and deconstruct historic roofs, working with a variety of materials such as wood, slate, metal, bitumens, and terracotta. They select appropriate materials and use instruments and tools such as tape measures, lines, nail guns, saws, cutters, seamers, and drills.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
Historic Roofers know how to identify and utilize material, environmental, and workplace safety protocols and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. They can use hand and power tools safely and properly. They read construction documents, provide basic field documentation, and carry out preservation tasks such as removing roofing materials, repairing structural members in situ, and installing different materials on a variety of planes and pitches. They have a working knowledge of the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties and an understanding of different material sciences and how they interact. They have the ability to cut, measure, and install different materials.

Training Details
Requires about 3 years (6000 hours) to become a journey-level Historic Roofer. This is obtained through on-the-job experience and related instruction.

Career Outlook
There are an estimated 523 job openings for Historic Roofers each year.

Example
Watch this video from Durable Slate — Preservation Trades Network Member — about slate roof repair.

Description
Deconstruction Technicians unbuild structures partially or fully and salvage as much viable building material as possible. They document and research the structure prior to deconstruction and handle materials and process for resale and reuse. They can craft new goods with saved materials. They use instruments and tools such as prybars, hammers, drills, saws, strapping and more.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
Deconstruction Technicians know how to identify and utilize material, environmental, and workplace safety protocols and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. They can use hand and power tools safely and properly. They read construction documents, provide basic field documentation, and carry out tasks such as setting up bracing, unbuilding structural members, and handling different materials. They have a working knowledge of the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties and an understanding of different material sciences.

Training Details
Requires about 2 years (6000 hours) to become a journey-level Deconstruction Technician. This is obtained through on-the-job experience and related instruction.

Example
Listen to the PreserveCast with Mae Bowley, Executive Director of Re:Purpose Savannah, a Deconstruction Non-profit organization with an all women+ crew.