Construction & Technology

Here's a course to get you started on all of those DIY (do-it-yourself) home maintenance and improvement projects while saving money. Learn how to change a faucet, repair or replace a toilet or even solder copper pipe. Take the mystery out of repairing simple electrical switches or outlets. Find out how to deal with damaged sheetrock, install vinyl or ceramic tile, complete basic carpentry framing. DIY-Home maintenance is a hand's on course that will teach you the proper safe use of hand and power tools. This course will pay for itself!

Buying a house? Learn the fundamentals of a basic home inspection from an expert in building inspection. Know what to look for when house hunting. Topics include assessing exterior and interior condition including attics & basements. Learn what to look for in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry areas. Understand the type of electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems in your potential new home. This class is specifically designed for the potential home buyer.

Are you working in the construction trades? Here’s a “must have” course! Be able to read, understand, and locate required information from a set of standard residential or light commercial plans. Topics include terminology, scaling, floor and foundation plans, elevation, wall sections, site plans, structural framing and mechanical plans.

In business to make money? Then you need to accurately estimate labor, material and overhead costs, determine profit margins and evaluate market conditions, all of which can affect the contract price. This course includes an explanation of how to determine material quantities, increase estimating efficiency, prepare written estimates for clients, and accurately track estimated and actual job costs for residential and light commercial construction.

Develop basic carpentry skills using hand tools. Create class projects that require selection of lumber and other materials. Design and build a basic chair, bookcase or coffee table for your home. Eye Safety Required.

Swing a hammer and learn the principles of construction framing for new houses or home alterations. Acquire the skills to build stud walls, create window and door openings, cut roof joists and rafters, apply sheathing and make stair stringers. Students taking this course must have basic carpentry skills. Eye Safety Required.

Interior and exterior wood trim is the finishing touch in any home. Install and trim doors and windows with weather stripping. Learn to measure, cut and install shiplap cedar siding, crown molding, chair rail, oak flooring and base molding. Eye Safety Required.

Beautiful and durable, tile floors, walls, countertops and accents add warmth and color to your home. Learn to use tile cutting and setting tools, project layout, types of tile and underlayment materials, tile and grout types and proper application.

Installed and finished sheetrock is the most important step in creating a beautifully decorated interior. Find out how to select the correct type for various installations and calculate the amount needed. Learn to cut electrical and plumbing openings, install corner bead, tape joints and make repairs. Eye Safety Required.

Here’s an excellent course for the do-it yourselfer who wants to learn the methods and materials used to build residential wooden decks. Learn about foundations, framing, fasteners, railings, staircases, the type & quality of lumber to use and the right tools for the job. Eye Safety Required.

Move mountains! Operate a backhoe and front-end loader as they are commonly used in the landscaping industry. Practice trenching, backfilling and grading on our Kubota backhoe/loader and John Deere tilt blade crawler dozer. Students will perform routine field maintenance on equipment. Limit of 6 students. Program runs in Spring semester only. Eye Safety Required.

On the job or as a hobby, welding is as exciting as it is practical. Learn and practice tack, flat and vertical position welding in a small class environment. Gain an understanding of the proper welding rods to use and practice oxyacetylene cutting for weld preparation and fit-up.

Refine and practice techniques learned in ARC Welding 1. New topics include pipe welding, overhead and vertical welding, and oxyacetylene cutting. Pre: ARC Welding 1.

Expand your welding skills with the basics of metal inert gas (MIG) and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. You will gain skills through practice at making smooth butt, tee and corner welds and how to set up the welding machine for various applications. PRE: Arc Welding 1.

SWBOCES Center for Adult and Commuity Services . 914-761-3400 Ext. 367