Group B General Electives: Site Skills That Support the Trade
What general electives cover
Group B electives broaden employability rather than deepen carpentry technique: basic concreting, bricklaying and blocklaying support, painting and decorating preparation, plumbing and electrical awareness (non-licensed tasks only), demolition and salvage, small plant and equipment operation, and business or supervisory skills such as estimating, scheduling and quality documentation.
Concepts to master
Understand concrete mixes, slump, curing and basic finishing. Know mortar ratios, bedding and jointing basics, and why carpenters coordinate with bricklayers on ties, lintels and openings. For painting, focus on surface preparation, moisture content before coating, and compatibility of products. For plumbing and electrical awareness, know the limits of your licence: you can prepare, clear and make good, but regulated work must be done by a licensed tradesperson. Estimating questions test quantity take-off, waste allowance, and the difference between labour and material costs. Supervision questions test inductions, toolbox talks, inspections and hold points.
Traps in exam questions
- Assuming you may disconnect or reconnect regulated services.
- Forgetting waste allowance when ordering materials.
- Coating timber before it has dried to an acceptable moisture content.
- Confusing a hold point (work cannot proceed) with a witness point.
- Overlooking coordination: blocking, conduits and ties must be in place before closing up.
Worked example
A question asks how many lineal metres of skirting to order for a room 5,000 mm × 4,000 mm with one 900 mm door opening. Rule of thumb: perimeter minus openings, plus waste. Perimeter = 2(5.0 + 4.0) = 18.0 m; deduct 0.9 m for the door = 17.1 m; add about 10% waste = approximately 18.8 m, so order 19 m or the next available stock length.