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Construction Questions & Answers

Okay, I want to volunteer to work on a house. What should I do?
First, please attend our next monthly Nuts & Bolts volunteer orientation. DC Habitat takes volunteers Tuesday – Saturday year-round for full-day shifts from 8:15am - 4pm. For legal reasons, you must be at least 16 years old to work on the construction site. If you are under 18, there are some limits to what you can do on site (no power tools, no heights etc.).

What if I want to bring a group out with me?
You must call the volunteer coordinator to schedule a group (no matter how small), so we can ensure that we use your time productively.  DC Habitat is fortunate to have many groups willing to give of their time, so we must carefully schedule them in order to make volunteering a safe and enjoyable experience for all.  We schedule groups of up to 25 volunteers Tuesday - Saturday year round. 

When and where should I show up?
Please arrive at the site at 8:15am, so you can be assigned to a crew and get a safety briefing.  We generally work until 4:00pm, and ask that volunteers stay the full day.  You will receive directions to the site when you sign up for a specific work day. 

 
 
What should I wear?
You should dress in comfortable work clothes that can get dirty or covered in paint.  Dress seasonably as we often work out of doors.  Layered clothing, a hat, raingear and sunscreen are recommended. Open-toed shoes/sandals are NOT allowed on site – please wear sturdy shoes, such as tennis shoes or boots. 
 
 

What sort of work will I be doing?
That depends on what needs to be done, the state of the houses under construction, and to some extent the weather.  Framing is only about 15% if what we do.  Be prepared for anything, including framing, siding, roofing, drywall, painting, picking up trash, cleaning homes, mowing future home sites, and landscaping.  Some tasks are more exciting than others, but it all needs to be done!

How do we handle LUNCH?
We take a 45-minute break for lunch at noon. We ask volunteers to provide their own lunch.  It is easiest to bring a bag lunch, although fast food restaurants are a short drive away.

What should I bring?
Just bring yourself, lunch (or money for food if you are driving), water, and a good attitude!  We provide all necessary tools and recommend you do not bring your own.  Some volunteers will bring their own tool belt or work gloves to can ensure a good fit.  Do not bring valuables, as there is no secure storage.

What if I can¹t tell which end of the hammer is which?
Habitat welcomes those with construction skills, but we have crew leaders on hand to train and answer questions.  If you are willing to try and to learn, we will be able to use you and teach you new skills.

How else can I help, besides working on-site?
We always need new volunteers for our committees. We estimate that it takes about 10 hours of planning for every 1 hour of construction. Occasionally, we also need help with special projects and events. Please attend our next Nuts & Bolts volunteer orientation to learn more and sign up to get involved!

 
   

 

 
 
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