Construction Design Education

Most people have no idea the amount of time it takes to design a home. Most people have no idea how long it takes to to become an architect, engineer or building contractor. There is a lot of time spent by these building professionals, after they have acquired the original knowledge and skills, to continue their education.

When you walk into a kitchen and turn on the faucet, there is usually very little thought to where the water is coming from or where the water is going, let alone the design of the cabinets, countertop, kitchen sink, faucet, water supply lines, house framing, drains, electrical wiring or lighting in the kitchen.

The only time you think about the kitchen faucet is when your hands are dirty, you walk up to the faucet, move the levers into the on position and no water comes out. Now you're upset and you're wondering, why the water isn't working. Normally if this is someone's wife, you will hear something like "Harry what did you do to the kitchen faucet, it's broke."

Does this sound like you or someone you know? Most people don't realize the amount of work involved in just getting the water to the house. This doesn't include removing the water that gets flushed down our toilets down the sewage tunnels into the treatment plants.

There have been people working for years and there are many people that will continue this work and often without thanks. Often without any thought from others, unless a stranger you may ask you what you do for a living. You have a simple answer, that works for most people, that you've been telling them for years. You're in the construction business.

Only if these people ask, what you actually do in the construction business, will you continue the conversation. That's when you mention you work for the municipal water department and we supply your home with fresh water.

I wrote this article because over the years I have noticed that most people have no clue what it takes to build a home from start to finish. Even if you hired someone to build a home for you, you really have no idea unless you've built the entire home yourself.

The next time you complain to your architect, engineer or contractor about a problem you're having, but your place in their shoes and treat them like you would like to be treated.