Residential Construction Academy: Carpentry 5th Edition

The reorganization of the chapters makes it much more user friendly in that the information is in a much more relevant order, especially the placement of safety, ladders and scaffolds. I believe the new placement stresses the importance of safety throughout the construction process. The updated safety information is current and up to date, clearly defining the extreme importance that is placed on safety in the construction industry. The addition of electronic communication methods shows the importance of understanding proper communication skills and media in the ever changing world in which we live and work. The drill bit section with its expanded information allows the student to more clearly visualize and understand the differences in the various types of bits as well as more clearly understand their uses and limitations. The new section on crawl space foundations expands the unit to include more areas of the country, making the book more relevant to these areas. The updated OSHA regulations in relation to working safely on a roof are of great benefit to all, stressing the importance of safely working in these conditions as well as the potential dangers associated with missteps. The new step-by-step procedures are great in that one can use these procedural steps and guidelines to complete the various tasks with little to no prior knowledge or experience. The end of chapter photos depicting various jobsite activities are relevant and thought provoking with useful explanations to help facilitate meaningful discussions.

After completing a B.S. in geology and a graduate internship in remote sensing, Gary Brackett worked for local contractors while contemplating career choices. Thoroughly enjoying the field work, he took steps to become a self-employed contractor, spending 16 years in residential construction before taking a teaching position in SUNY Delhi’s carpentry program. While there, he taught a variety of courses related to residential construction, including light frame construction, advanced framing, finish carpentry, cabinetmaking, millwork, woodcarving, and more. Hired as an instructor, he progressed through the ranks to full professor. Mr. Brackett moved into the Construction Technology and Management program in 2013, where he teaches residential building systems I and II, construction materials, architectural graphics, design-build management, sustainable building practices, building science, residential millwork, and more. He was instrumental in landing a grant from the National Housing Endowment to create a Residential Construction Management track at SUNY Delhi. Gary is often involved in hands-on projects to help students gain practical experience through applied learning, and he is currently designing and building several tiny houses for use in the community. He also holds an M.S. in education from SUNY Oswego, is the author of DEWALT CARPENTRY AND FRAMING, and contributes to other publications.