„The reason why I went into the trade? It is in my blood!
So I didn't chose it, it chose me.“
(Tim alias @awesomeframers – USA)
The international trade profession
Regardless of whether you are in America, Great Britain or Germany, there is one thing tradespeople around the world have in common – their passion for the trade profession and their love of crafting something with their own hands.
As the German saying goes – different countries, different customs. This also applies in the trade sector and is already clear to see when you look at the different architectural styles of houses and buildings.
The American way of life, for example, is epitomised by the wooden houses with a large veranda at the front which most people call home. Other typical features of the American architectural style include roofing shingles, gable roofs and lattice windows. Timber frame construction is the most common construction method used in the USA. Although there are regional differences, these elements are distinctive.
The majority of homes in Great Britain today are built using the traditional ‘brick-and-mortar’ masonry method. But now building methods are departing from this approach, particularly in the area of social housing construction. Now modern methods of off-site, factory production of the component parts are becoming increasingly common. Allowing for production times to be decreased and homes to become more environmentally friendly with greater energy efficiency.
So what exactly unites international tradespeople? Although there are different styles and construction methods, the love for detail and the pride in creating something by hand is the same wherever you go. It goes without saying that the different construction methods mean the build itself is approached in different ways and sometimes a variety of products are also used. Some tradespeople prefer to use long, extendable spirit levels, while others prefer to use a laser from the outset. However, regardless of which country or even continent tradespeople are from, they have common ground and are connected by the trade.
We were able to witness this spirit and mindset amongst participants at last year's STABILA Social Media Day. Four tradespeople from Great Britain and three tradespeople from the USA joined us on the day. In addition to a varied programme with numerous stations that included product training and a factory and museum tour, the guests also recorded a Q&A session for us. It was great to see the passion and enthusiasm they had for their jobs and the vast amount of specialist knowledge each guest had to offer. We are left with great memories of an excellent event that gave us the opportunity to gain new experiences and meet interesting individuals. At the end of the day, it really does not matter which architectural style is better or more attractive. This is determined based on the cultural background and cannot be evaluated subjectively. The passion and identity of the trade profession is an international language.
Interviews with our guests:
