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Les apprentis de la saison 42 de This Old House reçoivent une formation pratique sur les toitures GAF

Dans votre communauté

Les apprentis de la saison 42 de This Old House reçoivent une formation pratique sur les toitures GAF

27 mai 2021

Lorsque Bobbi Jones, 26 ans, de Roxbury, Massachusetts, et Yeren « Jay » Rivera Cruz, 19 ans, de Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, ont été choisis parmi un groupe impressionnant de candidats pour se joindre à l'équipe de T his Old House sur le projet Dorchester de la saison 42, ils ont également eu la chance d'apprendre le métier de couvreur auprès de professionnels.

Tous deux deux diplômés 2020 du programme YouthBuild Boston – une filiale de YouthBuild USA, un organisme à but non lucratif qui aide les jeunes à poursuivre leur éducation, à se préparer à une carrière et à devenir des leaders communautaires – Jones et Rivera Cruz ont rejoint Charlie Silva et l'équipe de This Old House pendant six semaines et ont participé à la Roofing Academy de GAF dans le New Jersey. Les deux apprentis y ont appris les bases du métier de couvreur et la manière dont celles-ci peuvent s'appliquer à diverses carrières.

YouthBuild graduates getting hands-on roofing training.

Photo par Kevin O'Connor, This Old House

Qu'est ce que la GAF Roofing Academy?

La GAF Roofing Academy est un cours gratuit conçu pour enseigner les compétences nécessaires à l'obtention d'un poste de débutant dans le domaine de la toiture grâce à une combinaison de formations en classe et sur le toit. Les formateurs de C.A.R.E (Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence) partagent avec leurs étudiants une expérience concrète de l'industrie, ainsi que les plus récentes technologies et les outils nécessaires pour exceller dans leur travail.

Les apprentis de This Old House parlent de leur expérience pratique

Nous avons parlé avec les apprentis Jones et Rivera Cruz au cours de leur expérience et ils ont partagé ce qu'ils ont appris – de l'aspect scientifique relatif aux toitures aux possibilités de carrière passionnantes qui les attendent.

Qu'est-ce qui vous a poussé à apprendre le métier de couvreur?

Jay Rivera Cruz : Je veux tout apprendre sur les différentes composantes d'une maison, et la toiture est le principal moyen de protection d'un édifice. J'ai toujours été curieux à ce sujet, en particulier sur la façon d'empêcher l'eau de pénétrer dans une maison. Il y a aussi beaucoup d'autres facteurs, et les couvreurs sont ceux qui doivent trouver comment faire entrer et sortir l'air de l'extérieur par le toit.

Bobbi Jones : Moi, ma motivation part du fait que je souhaite être propriétaire d'une entreprise. Je me suis dit que si je me formais dans différents secteurs, je pourrais en apprendre davantage sur ce qui compose une maison et être en mesure d'aider dans différents domaines.

Que vous a apporté le programme de formation de la Roofing Academy?

Jay Rivera Cruz : Les connaissances qu'ils m'ont enseignées sont ce qui a le plus compté. Cela m'a fait découvrir de nouveaux horizons. Pendant la formation, GAF a expliqué que l'installation de panneaux solaires sur un toit nécessitait à la fois des compétences en électricité et en toiture, et c'est une carrière que j'envisage.

Bobbi Jones : Cette expérience m'a montré que je pouvais faire tout ce que je veux vraiment. Cela m'a montré que même si on pense qu'on est pas doué pour quelque chose, ou si on est simplement inquiet à l'idée d'essayer quelque chose de nouveau, on ne le saura jamais avant d'avoir essayé.

Quelle est la partie la plus gratifiante de la formation en toiture?

Jay Rivera Cruz : Ce sont les connaissances qu'on acquiert. Et aussi, comprendre comment une chose complexe, comme une toiture, est censée fonctionner.

Bobbi Jones : Pour moi, c'était d'en apprendre davantage sur la façon dont le toit est la partie la plus importante d'une maison parce qu'il aide à empêcher les choses indésirables d'entrer.

Quel est le plus grand défi?

Jay Rivera Cruz : J'ai trouvé difficile d'apprendre à connaître tous les composants d'un toit – la fonction de chaque élément et comment ils fonctionnent. Tout cela était nouveau pour moi, et m'y habituer a été un peu plus compliqué.

Bobbi Jones : Le plus grand défi est de connaître ses limites pour savoir jusqu'où on est prêt à aller, et de ne pas oublier d'avoir l'EPI (équipement de protection individuelle) approprié avant de commencer une tâche.

Qu'avez-vous pensé de la formation pratique?

Jay Rivera Cruz : C'était super. Les instructeurs de GAF nous ont expliqué que la pose de toiture nécessite 90 % de préparation, ce qui signifie qu'une fois les fondations mises en place, l'installation des matériaux de toiture se fait rapidement.

Bobbi Jones : Je préfère les formations pratiques; j'ai l'impression que je peux davantage m'améliorer en faisant le travail pour vrai plutôt qu'en restant assis dans une salle à recevoir un tas de renseignements.

Jones and Rivera Cruz at GAF's Roofing Academy

Photo par Kevin O'Connor, This Old House

Que pensez-vous du métier de couvreur maintenant que vous avez suivi la formation?

Jay Rivera Cruz : Je suis intéressé à en apprendre davantage sur ce qu'il faut pour installer des systèmes de panneaux solaires sur les maisons, ce qui implique à la fois des compétences en électricité et en toiture.

Bobbi Jones : Je suis sorti avec une perception différente de celle que j'avais auparavant. Je recommande vivement de s'intéresser à l'installation de toitures, même si l'on n'y a jamais pensé auparavant. Une fois que vous savez comment faire, vous vous sentez bien intérieurement.

Quels conseils donneriez-vous aux personnes qui envisagent de faire carrière dans le secteur de la toiture?

Jay Rivera Cruz : Si vous êtes prêt à relever un défi, l'installation de toiture est certainement la carrière qui vous convient. Ce n'est certainement pas facile, mais si vous sentez que vous avez ce qu'il faut, alors foncez. Vous devez tenir compte de la sécurité, faire l'apprentissage de tous les composants et aussi comprendre comment fonctionnent le système et la ventilation.

Bobbi Jones : Je leur dirais de ne pas laisser la peur ou les doutes se mettre en travers de leur chemin, de foncer et de le faire; c'est un domaine formidable dans lequel se lancer.

GAF protège ce qui compte le plus. Maintenant que vous avez terminé cette formation, qu'est-ce qui compte le plus pour vous?

Jay Rivera Cruz : Ma famille est ce qui compte le plus pour moi. Nous sommes nés à Porto Rico, ma mère et mes cinq frères et sœurs. Pour moi, progresser dans la vie signifie tout, et je veux être un exemple pour ma famille en montrant que tout le monde peut le faire.

Bobbi Jones : La famille est ce qui compte le plus pour moi.

Vous pouvez voir Jay Rivera Cruz et Bobbi Jones dans le projet The Dorchester Triple Decker – Saison 42 de This Old House, actuellement diffusé sur PBS. Consultez les horaires locaux. Pour en savoir plus sur YouthBuild USA, visitez le site YouthBuild.org. Pour en savoir plus sur GAF et la Roofing Academy, visitez le site GAF.com/roofing-academy.

About the Author

Stephanie Koncewicz

Stephanie Koncewicz est responsable des médias numériques chez This Old House.

A Puerto Rico resident outside of his home being repaired by GAF and Team Rubicon

The roofing industry has long been a competitive space for contractors, but that healthy competition has helped drive innovation and lift up independently-owned businesses across the country. BYLTup, Inc. is one such business, and CEO Trevor Leeds is committed to elevating the greater roofing industry through everything his company does.After many years in roofing, Trevor partnered with his brother, Brady Woodside, in 2022 and co-found BYLTup, Inc. in Southern California. The pair started from scratch with a blank slate, allowing them to create a culture and brand experience that raises the industry bar, which is important to them.Trevor knew GAF would be a part of their success from the start. He experienced GAF-certified contractors'* support through his previous company and knew the organization's vision and innovation would be key to building the business.Enhancing Roofing Professionalism and SafetyTrevor is passionate about the roofing industry and believes everyone-from manufacturers and distributors to the contractors performing the installations-should work together to create a professional and positive customer experience. Even more importantly, Trevor advocates for the industry's employees and their experiences; safety is an area he wants more people to consider."We need to be making sure that we are taking care of employee safety," Trevor says. "Everyone should be focused on that. Everyone should be concerned about their employees going home safe and sound every single night. When an accident happens in the industry, it's devastating to the business owner and the individual, but it impacts the industry too. We all feel that in some form or fashion."Guiding the Next Generation through GAF Roofing AcademyTrevor's concern for employees and the industry's future led to his involvement in the GAF Roofing Academy. While he didn't have an immediate need for labor in his business, he recognized that taking action now could contribute to building a pipeline of skilled workers that would benefit the roofing industry as a whole.Trevor observed the pool of talent and skilled workers dwindling during his time in roofing. "You have the baby boomer generation that is retiring and a younger generation that wants to get into tech and doesn't want to get into the trades," he notes. "We've got to be able to hire and attract young talent back into the industry or we're all going to suffer."Training Students at the SoCal Roofing AcademyTrevor first learned about the GAF Roofing Academy at a regional conference and stepped up to assist. His company was involved in the first SoCal Roofing Academy, which had three tracks: residential roofing, commercial roofing, and sales training. BYLTup hosted the training's residential portion, and Trevor was impressed by the students' interest and engagement."I was blown away at how engaged they were. GAF had certainly done a very good job screening and prepping these individuals coming in, but they were green," he says. "The trainer was fantastic. The students were shingling after three days."Once the groups completed the tracks, they were brought back together for their graduation ceremony, which was a life-changing experience for many. "I realized that many of these people had probably never been recognized like this before," Trevor says. "They were very proud, holding their certificates and sending photos to their families."Making an Unexpected Hire at BYLTupJust before hosting the SoCal Roofing Academy, GAF Roofing Academy Operations Manager Erick Osuna reached out to Trevor and shared recent graduate Jose Navarro's resume. Jose had completed the commercial roofing training program and stood out to Erick, so he connected with Trevor about possibly hiring him."At that time, I wasn't looking for someone on the commercial roofing side. We weren't really expanding that crew, but we were looking for a production role," Trevor shares. "Long story short, we loved him. He was going to be a great fit for the company, and we hired him as our assistant production manager."Jose excelled on the job. BYLTup quickly moved him into a full production manager role, hiring an assistant to work with him. Trevor says Jose was a great hire. "He's young, he's hungry, he wants to learn. I've never seen another individual in the industry that just wants to learn roofing, and he's a sponge."Committing to Supporting GAF Roofing AcademyTrevor has seen the caliber of students attending and graduating from the GAF Roofing Academy, inspiring his commitment to support ongoing trainings. "I was pleasantly surprised at the overall outcome of the [Roofing Academy] event," he notes. "It encouraged me to the point that I said, 'I want to do this, whether we benefit from it or not, I want to support this at least twice a year, and we want to get more contractors involved in it.'"Want to get involved in supporting the future of the roofing industry? Learn how to participate in a future Roofing Academy and discover the training opportunities available to your team through GAF CARE.*Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Les entrepreneurs peuvent recevoir des avantages, tels que des points de fidélité et des remises sur les outils de marketing de GAF pour avoir participé au programme et offert des garanties améliorées GAF, qui exigent l'utilisation d'une quantité minimale de produits de la marque. Your dealings with a Contractor, and any services they provide to you, are subject to the Contractor Terms of Use. Visit www.gaf.com/gaf-contractor-terms-of-use for details.

Meet Austin Teague, recent GAF Roofing Academy graduate who shares his transformational journey from ball field to the roof. Prior to the GAF Roofing Academy, he was involved in sports, worked in customer service, but lacked the experience needed to break into the roofing industry. Once he graduated from the GAF Roofing Academy, doors were then opened for him, leading to well-paying jobs as an installer and later as a salesperson, where he is currently on track to meet his financial goals.Attending the two-week program proved to be a life-changing decision for Austin, providing him with the tools and confidence needed to succeed. The course not only equipped him with technical expertise, but also instilled in him the ability to educate customers effectively. Take a listen as Austin shares his story of how he found clarity and direction in his professional life, enabling him to thrive in the industry and build a successful future for himself and his family.Are you interested in a career in the roofing industry? Look for a Roofing Academy course in your area.Video TranscriptMy name is Austin Teague. I'm originally born in Tyler, Texas. Moved to Washington when I was a kid at ten. Well, prior to joining the Roofing Academy and, you know, taking my skills to that test, I was sports, strictly sports. Everything in my life I would, you know, I'd work a customer service job. I was in the, you know, the retail industry. I worked at Walgreens, but my personal life was hectic. It was football practice, baseball practice. It was always something going on.There was always something to do. Everything when it comes to roofing, for me, started after the Roofing Academy. When I tried to get into the roofing industry before going to the Academy, nobody wanted me because I had no experience. They're going to have to train everybody on the job. But because of the roofing academy, because I knew what I was going to do day one, I knew what my job was. I couldn't run into any hiccups because I knew what showing up day one was going to look like.[00:00:56,77]So they gave me a GAF certificate with my name, the location I trained out of, and then when I graduated. And what I did with that is I took it to every single applicant or job interview I had because I wanted them to know that I have this certificate. Not saying I have it, but also bring it, so they can see it.After the academy, I landed a job at 28 an hour as an installer, which is substantial in this living, making life, making payments. And then after that, I got bumped up to 32 an hour when I was working in New Mexico. And now that I'm sales, I'm straight commission. But in this month, I'm on pace to hit 20,000. Our goal at Tristate is to educate the customers firsthand. So being at the Roofing Academy allowed me to know roofing like the back of my hand. As an installer, as a sales, as an owner, you got to see the value in the systems. And it allowed me in my head to build those value, actually explain it to the customers. Where is this number coming from? Well, it's coming from this material because this material is going to cost more, of course, but it's obviously better.[00:01:58,92]I think someone coming to the Roofing Academy right away, no experience, is going to set you up for success. That's what you want. You want to be set up for success. You want to be as many tools as you can in your tool belt to get you to that point you want to be in life. And showing up to the Roofing Academy, it changed my life drastically. I didn't know what I was going to do. I literally didn't know, if roofing wasn't the pathway for me- what was the next plan?I was just grateful. I mean, I was one day on indeed looking for jobs and I saw the Roofing Academy post on indeed looking for academy students, and I thought, why not? What's two weeks out of my life that I get to change it? If I get an opportunity to change it and that two weeks changed my life. There's no time wasted. You're here from nine to three or nine to four at the latest for your classes.You're with guys that you actually enjoy being around. The guys in my class or in the class today, they're fun guys. They all get to make mistakes and learn from each other. And it just makes me grateful that I got that opportunity to make something of myself. I'm not just another guy on the street.[00:03:0,34]I don't know what my life's going to look like in the next six months, but I guarantee it's not going to slow down. I'm going to work harder than ever. I know I got two kids at home. J’ai quelque chose qui me motive. I would say that all the success started with the Roofing Academy because my life before the Roofing Academy was kind of on a snowball effect. It had started from when I left college and then came home and it kind of just started snowballing. One thing after another was another problem, another problem. Bills at 18, going into debt. You're 18, your life isn't, you're going to ruin your life already. So you got to figure some out. And I figured it out. I got lucky enough that I found GAF and you know they still treat me well to this day. I have my Academy teacher's phone number and I call them up and help him out from time to time, and he helps me out from time to time.We still get along. And it was two weeks of my life that I knew the guy, and he still gives me a call and checks up on me and tries to: How are you doing in roofing? You still in roofing? You still making a name for yourself? You still doing what you said you were going to do? And I am. It's just good to have someone to talk to. Even if you're in this industry for ten years, I guarantee you GAF CARE will probably still give you a call and check on you. That's just what they do.

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