Learning Carpentry

How do Canadian Carpenters make living during winter?

Just being curious. I mean if it snows heavily the roads close right? If winter lasts for 3 months or more, that’s quite serious isn’t it? I know British Columbia and warm areas airn’t affected as much but cold parts. I'm from warm parts of the world, but if it snows we builders usually get days off with no pay.

Public Comments

1. Construction work is seasonal all over the place. Pouring rain or thunderstorms prevents construction work as well. It is possible to have interior work in the winter though with things like remodel jobs.
2. construction carries on through the winter. at a slower pace and certain things cant be done bit it is still done.
3. I live in Northern Ontario......they have been building a rather large house across the road for a few months now. Snow did not stop construction one bit.Nor is frozen ground a match for a back hoe when digging out a foundation. I live a few km's from the major highway route between two cities.......the highway closed once this winter, due to a jack knifed tractor trailer, not due to snow. Canada is not a frozen tundra, nor are we whiny when it comes to a little snow. We do not just stop everything and hibernate for the winter. We still get things done.
4. cold doesn't = heavy snow yes the temp. can be frighteningly low but we bundle up and get to work. cheers JH
5. snow is only a short delay, construction continues in winter, at least here in southern Ontario
6. While it is true that it snows heavily in many parts of Canada we don't just sit back and watch helplessly. We have snowplows that clear the roads - as best as possible. Often, carpenters spend the 9 months of the year when the weather is decent doing outdoor work and the remaining 3 months doing indoor carpentry work. Hope that helps.
7. I think you are referring to house framers, not specifically carpenters. Carpentry covers a lot more stuff that doesn't have to stop just because it is cold or snowy outside. In winter during snowstorms, or any other time during heavy rain and high winds, house framing generally stops. But indoor work can still continue if the house being built has its roof on already. Many construction companies will bring in propane heaters, set them up to blow warm air into the house, while crews are putting up interior walls, plywood flooring, or building stairs and installing windows and doors. Even after the snow starts flying, crews will still come and do work on the outside of a house if it was started before winter showed up. You can't just leave a job site unattended and half-finished if you get snow in November and then wait until March for it to go away. Winter months can be the slow period for many contractors and builders, so a company may lay off some employees until the spring. Most though are able to manage projects pretty well so the weather has a limited impact on their business. Example: If we can't put the sheathing on the outside of house project A today because it is snowing, we will go to house project B and get the insulation into the walls and the floor down. As for whether the employees are paid when there is no work, that depends on if the carpenter was hired by contract or is a full-time employee, and what is written in their employment agreement.
8. Snow and cold doesn't always stop construction, especially in areas where people are used to it and prepared for it. When it's really cold, you dress better and as soon as they can, the carpenters will drape a tarp over the building sites and put up gas heaters. Many jobs are somewhat or completely seasonal. Some towns live on tourism and half the people may not work half of the year. When it's like that, you work as many hours as you can when you can so you can save up the money and when you are not working, you can hopefully get unemployment.