Build it There!

By Lynniesue Mcdaniel

Superintendents of construction; Do you wish to better your superintendant career in construction? Or, are you studying to be in any field or trade in construction? Maybe your a woman trying to survive in the world of construction? Possibly you're just curious about how to organize a personal project? The Who's, what's and where's are endless but the goals are much the same.

That's why I have written this book telling many of my own bloopers {regarding my life in construction} and, in doing so, I hopefully have given some insight as to how a project can flow smoothly. 

Although the focus is on the daily actions of being a General Contractor Superintendant, the book can help any trade better their knowledge. The stories included are based on myself and other superintendents job dilemmas. And, I have incorporated these stories with information as to what should or can be done to make daily job situations better. Complete with direct links to various construction sites for your convenience. 

So, don't miss out on this intriguing, humorous and educational book--written from a woman's point of view--about construction. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lynniesue Mcdaniel
• Release date: Sep 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393887584

Lynniesue Mcdaniel

Lynniesue McDaniel supervised many projects in cities all over the country. After shedding her hard hat and tool belt she went into the office to work as a project manager and estimator. Back then, it was not all work, the hard hat was often replaced with a helmet so that she could ride her three wheel Spyder motorcycle or a set of headphones to hear the tower when she took off in an airplane. More about her in the future. And, as of today she still remains an advocate for young people and women in construction.

Book preview

Disclaimer

This is an informational guide and is not intended as a substitute for legal or other professional services. Readers are urged to consult with a variety of sources and educate themselves in the construction industry.

The information expressed in this book is the opinion of the author and is not intended to reflect upon any particular person or company. The author and/or publisher shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to be caused, by the information or application of the information contained in this guide.

This book is not a manual on how to build. It is a record of my experiences to help you learn what, when, and where to look for more information or general help.

Always follow your company's procedures or guidelines if they are available. Check websites and books for further knowledge. You need the best information possible to deal with any given circumstance that may arise. Please use the knowledge I have learned to better yourself with dignity and pride as a trusted and competent builder for all of our futures.

Acknowledgments

Where to begin? Everyone I am currently associated with on this project should be thanked just for putting up with my constant stops and starts. I do want to give credit where credit is due.

Many friends and professionals must be acknowledged and given special thanks for helping me complete the task. For instance: Dorey Schmidt for publishing help; Sarah Pilgreen for helping with edits; Bruce Day who helped edit the cover photo; Bill Nate who conveyed his stories as a superintendant and taught me his daily processes (which he called mid-term tests); Melanie Hand for insight into the conceptual design and other public relation stories. Also, Adam for being with me in the cover photo and Sherry for her help with the photography.

And to all of those people I have associated with throughout my years in construction, I give great thanks. This includes almost everyone who I have worked with over the years.

Many people along the way—whether they know it or not—taught me a lot about the construction world. I believe that these people were helping to pave the road for women to become a whole new voice and presence in the future of the construction industry.

I give them all special thanks because I might have been forever stalled on this project had it not been for the help that everyone has provided.

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Lynniesue McDaniel

Links and possible Resources

Education Links:

American Institute for Architects

https://www.aia.org/resources/8836-an-introduction-to-codes-and-standards

Berkeley Library Uniform Building Format (Digit List)

http://digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/ubc/UBC_1985.pdf

Best Practices Guidelines for Concrete Construction

https://betonabq.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/aBest_Practices_Guide_.pdf

Blueprints

https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/jcshearer/basic-blueprint-reading

Blueprint Page Meanings

https://www.archtoolbox.com/representation/graphic-symbols/condocsheetorder.html

Borrow Pit Soils Available in my Area

http://angelosrm.com/portfolio/borrowpitsoils/

Building Acronyms

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/building-science/153-green-building-acronyms-and-initials

Building Science Wall Sections

https://www.google.com/search?q=wood+framed+wall+details&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#imgrc=CM4VrwelNIovTM:

Clemson BS in Construction Science (A personal favorite)

http://www.clemson.edu/degrees/construction-science-and-management

Colleges from California, Texas, North Dakota, South Carolina to Florida

with Construction Programs

https://www.onlinecollegeplan.com/online-construction-management-degree-programs/

Conceptual Design

https://academy.autodesk.com/curriculum/conceptual-design-collaboration

Concrete Calculator

https://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/howmuch/calculator.htm

CSI

http://www.csinet.org/

CSI     

http://www.csinet.org/masterformat

CSI

https://www.csiresources.org/home

Division 17

http://www.division17.net/overview.html

Environmental Protection Agency 

http://www.epa.gov/

Example Site Blueprints

https://www.co.olmsted.mn.us/planning/lup/Buildingdevelopment/Documents/2013/RSVD%20CONSTR%20PLANS%2005-05-2013%20R2013-008SDP.pdf

Federal Green Construction Guide Specifiers

http://www.wbdg.org/ffc/epa/federal-green-construction-guide-specifiers

Geo Technical Info Site

http://www.geotechnicalinfo.com/compaction_excavation_and_earthwork.html

LEED

http://leed.usgbc.org/leed.html

NAPA (National Asphalt Pavement Association)

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/pavements/asphalt/HMA.pdf

https://www.vaasphalt.org/pavement-guide/pavement-design-by-use/parking-lot-design/

NAWIC

http://www.nawic.org/nawic/Default.asp

NAWIC National Women in Construction Page:   

http://www.naics.com/

Northeast University Programs

http://www.civ.neu.edu/degrees/ms-sbs

OSHA   

https://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sicsearch.html

OSHA

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/personalprotectiveequipment/

Pipe Sizes

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominal_Pipe_Size

R ratings

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-value_(insulation)

Safety

http://safetytoolboxtopics.com/Toolbox-Talks/

SIC  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Industrial_Classification

Southern Texas Vocational Technical Institute-San Antonio Texas

(Has well-reviewed certifications)

https://www.universities.com/schools/south-texas-vocational-technical-institute-san-antonio

Sweets Master CSI Codes 

http://sweets.construction.com/masterformat2004index

University of Texas at Tyler

https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/undergraduate-majors/construction-management-degree.php

USGBC

http://www.usgbc.org/community

Welds Identifications

http://www.kobelco.co.jp/english/welding/events/files/2015_KOBELCO_Defect.pdf

Welding Symbols

http://files.aws.org/technical/errata/A2.4errata.pdf

For all contractors to share their stories with the world

www.coffeeshopforcontractors.com

Introduction

Do you want to be a superintendent for construction and build beautiful buildings that you and many others can admire for years to come? Or maybe, you are just as I was, always seeking insight to the magnitude of different construction subjects. Maybe you are just curious about the different trades in construction. These are just a few reasons why I am writing this book.

That being said, now I would like to pass my experiences on to those who may want to use the knowledge that I have built, brick by brick, so to speak.

Or maybe, while reading this book, you will shake your head in amusement and wonder at the experiences I share which have led me into a profession that is historically reserved for men.

I am a woman. I have worked in construction all my life. My progression through the workforce has been—to say the least—incredibly difficult. At times, certain people whose agendas were unclear had mentored me. It is possible that they had their own goals in life. Or, perhaps, those folks feared my potential abilities. On one hand, these thoughts could be considered egotistical. On the other hand, the advances I enjoyed were all honestly earned and had nothing to do with my ego or their fears.

The 1980s was a strange era for construction in comparison to today's work practices and ethics; the differences are a world apart. I would like to elaborate more about the subject of construction through the ‘80s; however, I do believe that more legal research might be required for the protection of possible subjects or personnel matters that I could mention in my reflection. So, I’ll just say that construction and the ‘80s should be left in the past, for the most part.

The nineties were enlightening for me—when it came to construction—because I found many professional people who taught me so much. During the early 1990s, I started my own business as a subcontractor in construction. This is where I worked long, long hours to teach myself all aspects of the industry. I’m talking 14–20 hours a day. Determination might be an understatement when it came to my drive to succeed. And, I did do well for 12 years. Then I had life-changing events that led me away from construction—temporarily altering my life.

I am not a 100% sure what made me snap, but one day I was driving by a school that had a large banner hanging from the roof that said Get your GED here. I decided right then and there to go back to school. I immediately turned around and drove back to the building with the sign. I took long gulp of coffee, calmed my thoughts, and then walked in and took the GED test. To my surprise, I passed the test. I hadn’t been to school in ages, so I thought for sure that I would fail. I am not positive as to what made me take such a leap. Quite possibly, my subconscious realization was the fear of not being able to physically complete the work required from a stonemason. Medically, my body was failing. That decision ran my professional world into the new 21st century.

After stumbling my way into the new millennium, I found that the area of expertise for which I had went back to school for wasn’t really going to give me a decent paycheck; at least not an income that I could use to support my children. Realizing that I was too old to start at the bottom again, I altered my course and took my newfound education and applied it in the best way I possibly could to move my career in the construction industry. Basically, I had the 19 years real world experience that I interfaced with my management education, so I ventured into the general construction offices. The one thing I found out while completing the new challenge was that I enjoyed being onsite as a superintendent 100 times more than being a PM or estimator.

Ultimately, my goal is to help you or other readers find their way in this complex world of construction. Or, possibly, you will read something that inspires you to change to another trade within the industry.

Forward

The Iron Triangle

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Have you ever had a message secretly hammered into your head? You know, a subliminal message much like that offered to the world via advertising.

To further explain: In 1991, a high-rise superintendent constantly tried to pressure my company into working longer hours. His goal was to get me to force my crew to stay and finish some marble showers—no matter how long it took. Hence, in his daily ranting, he probably embedded one of the most important construction building practices into my head forever: The Iron Triangle, which was his justification for everything—his main motive of operation.

This superintendent kept going on and on about the Iron Triangle. He was hoping to imprint his theory into my brain, emphasizing how important it was for me NOT to cause an interruption in the project’s schedule. He periodically repeated the words Iron Triangle until they were sealed in my mind forever.

Quite frankly, I can’t precisely quote word-for-word what his points were, because part of the time he was talking so loudly and the only thing that I could hear from this libertine type of a superintendent was the Charlie Brown cartoon motif ...wah...wah...wah... wah ... You get the picture, right? At the time, I was very young, over-worked, and very tired.

Every day I just thought of him as a selfish jerk who could only think of  himself. By this I mean, he really thought of his own self-satisfaction. To explain better, I will have to go into areas that may offend some, but I feel everyone should know how to protect themselves from sexual harassment—which