Additional Job Duties
After receiving an assignment, a drywall framer arrives on location with the necessary work materials. Prior to arriving, a drywall framer ensures they have the necessary ladders, tools, and drywall to perform the tasks required of them. Once at the work site, a drywall framer meets with the customer, if needed, and finds out his or her expectations.
The site is thoroughly examined by the drywall framer and the best work route is determined. Once these decisions are made, a drywall framer begins to install and fasten panels of drywall into framework. After these are installed and set, a drywall framer uses a special compound referred to as spackle to join the drywall panels together. This material is worked with in an efficient and quick manner to minimize any imperfections and reinforce the drywall. After the material sets, a drywall framer observes the completed product. If anything looks uneven, a drywall framer sands off the imperfections.
Training Requirements
The minimum age requirement for this career is 18 years old. Job candidates may be asked to have either a GED certificate or high school diploma, along with job training. The latter is typically acquired in two ways. One route is obtaining employment from a company with a job-training program. These entry-level positions have new drywall framers learning the trade from experienced workers. Simple tasks are performed first, and then more complex jobs are learned over time. Some employers ask that job training is combined with classroom instruction from a community college or vocational school.
The other route to acquiring training is finding a unionized workforce in the area and entering into a formal apprenticeship. Much like the other job-training route, drywall framers in apprenticeship programs participate in a mixture of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Apprenticeship programs take three to four years on average to complete. These programs are highly competitive and result in official certification.
