For generations, the building trades have relied on a time-tested system: experienced professionals passing their knowledge to the next generation through hands-on apprenticeship. This tradition is alive and well today, as demonstrated by the eight young men and women selected to work alongside the This Old House TV crew on the Newton, Massachusetts project house. These apprentices represent a vital pipeline for the construction industry, which faces a growing shortage of skilled labor. Any employer looking to strengthen their workforce can apply lessons from programs like this through structured approaches like building a skilled workforce through apprenticeship programs that create real career pathways.
The Tradition of Apprenticeship in Construction
Apprenticeship is more than a training method. It is a tradition deeply embedded in the construction industry. This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey recalled how his father approached the practice: they nurtured apprentices because it was good for the young worker and good for the business. This dual benefit has sustained the model for centuries.
The program featured eight apprentices selected through a nationwide casting call and local recruitment across the Boston area. Three came from a national search, while five were homegrown trainees already connected to the region. They worked under master tradespeople in carpentry, masonry, plumbing, heating, and landscaping. This mix of recruiting approaches gave the program access to a wide range of talent. For a deeper look at how experienced builders view this model, the discussion on carpentry apprentices and the building trades provides valuable perspective from the field.
- Three apprentices were selected from a nationwide casting call, bringing geographic diversity
- Five apprentices came from the Boston area, representing local training partnerships
- Each apprentice was paired with a dedicated mentor in their chosen trade
- The project house in Newton, Massachusetts served as the real-world classroom
- Construction took place over the summer with episodes airing in the fall
Eight Apprentices, Eight Unique Paths
The eight apprentices came from strikingly different backgrounds, yet they all shared one thing: a desire to work with their hands and build something real. Their stories highlight the many entry points into the trades and the importance of training and professional development for construction workers at every stage of their journey.
Carpentry Apprentices
Bailey Beers, 19, from Eustis, Maine, is a college student focusing on building construction. She grew up watching This Old House with her father and discovered her love for hands-on work through shop classes in middle school. During her freshman year at Eastern Maine Community College, she participated in a Habitat for Humanity build where she found she enjoyed roofing and flooring just as much as framing. Bailey hopes to build energy-efficient custom homes in Maine one day.
Austin Wilson, 18, from Castle Hayne, North Carolina, discovered woodworking at age 12 through the Kids Making It program. He started by racing go-karts at a workshop and progressed to making oak boxes, cutting boards, and handmade frames. During senior year, Austin was simultaneously enrolled at Cape Fear Community College studying construction management. He would attend classes then head to the woodworking shop until his mother picked him up at 6 PM. Austin wants to build houses professionally.
Nathan Gilbert, 28, from East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, is both a second-generation finish carpenter and a third-generation U.S. Navy Seabee. His father taught him carpentry skills directly on the job site. After high school, Nathan enlisted in the Navy’s construction battalion, serving five years across three deployments. He held positions from laborer to crew leader to site supervisor. Today he runs his own carpentry business while doing millwork installations with his father on Martha’s Vineyard.
Michael Barrett, 17, from Walpole, Massachusetts, is a junior in the carpentry program at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School. He has been watching This Old House since age five and draws inspiration from a cousin who works as a high-end carpenter. His mentor Charlie Silva emphasized starting at the bottom hauling lumber and doing every step of the job. Michael appreciates that construction offers variety, with different tasks every day and visible progress during framing.
Landscaping, Masonry, and Plumbing Apprentices
Corey Forester, 20, from Burlington, Massachusetts, apprenticed under landscape contractor Roger Cook at K and R Tree and Landscape. Corey also serves in the Marine Corps Reserve. He started college after basic training but realized the classroom was not for him. Through a family friend, he connected with Roger and spent a year progressing from mixing cement to more responsible tasks. At the Newton house, Corey helped relocate plants, built protective fencing around specimen trees, and constructed a retaining wall.
Krysten Poulin, 22, from Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, pursued masonry through Greater Lowell Technical High School where the program taught her blueprint reading and brick laying. She connected with MJM Masonry, where Mark McCullough maintains approximately 20 apprentices at any given time. Krysten started organizing bricks by color and position then graduated to working alongside masons. At the Newton project, she helped with chimney demolition and foundation work.
Zack Grayton, 17, from Peabody, Massachusetts, and Alex Quealy, 17, from Middleton, Massachusetts, both attended Essex Technical High School and apprenticed with Bilo Plumbing and Heating. They alternated between one week of classroom learning and one week of on-site work. Zack focused on rough plumbing and finish work on bathroom remodels. Alex learned advanced tools like the ProPress gun, which connects pipes without soldering. Both appreciated that every day on the job brought something new to learn.
What Apprentices Actually Learn on the Job
The hands-on curriculum at the Newton project house was anything but theoretical. Each apprentice performed real work that contributed to the actual construction of a home. The learning path started with basic support tasks and progressed to skilled work under supervision. This progression mirrors the structure of effective construction management career pathways that build competence over time.
| Trade | Entry-Level Tasks | Advanced Tasks | Mentor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpentry | Hauling lumber, site cleanup, tool organization | Framing, finish carpentry, flooring | Silva Brothers |
| Masonry | Brick sorting by color, mortar mixing | Brick laying, chimney demolition, foundation work | MJM Masonry |
| Plumbing | Pipe cutting, material transport | Rough-in plumbing, ProPress connections, radiant heating | Bilo Plumbing and Heating |
| Landscaping | Mixing cement, wheelbarrow work | Retaining walls, tree protection, plant relocation | K and R Tree and Landscape |
This graduated responsibility approach is essential. Apprentices start observing and assisting, then take on discrete tasks under direct supervision, and eventually work independently. The process builds confidence while ensuring quality. Charlie Silva described it as starting at the bottom and doing every step, exactly how he learned alongside his partner years ago.
Technical Schools as a Talent Pipeline
A striking pattern across all eight apprentices was the role of technical high schools. Four were current students or recent graduates of technical education programs. These schools provide a structured foundation that makes apprenticeships far more productive for both the employer and the student.
Essex Technical High School in Hathorne, Massachusetts, supplied two plumbing apprentices through its cooperative education program. Students alternate between one week of classroom instruction and one week of paid on-site work. By junior year, they already know theory, fitting, and tool operation. The school also helps place students with local companies. Brian Bilo of Bilo Plumbing and Heating noted there is so much work available that his company tries to maintain one apprentice for every journeyman.
Greater Lowell Technical High School prepared Krysten Poulin for her masonry apprenticeship, teaching blueprint reading and brick laying before she ever set foot on a professional job site. Mark McCullough of MJM Masonry sees technical schools as ideal recruiting ground because students arrive with basic skills already in place. This partnership between trade schools and construction firms is a powerful model for understanding the value of trade school education as an alternative to traditional college paths.
Lessons for Construction Businesses
The This Old House apprenticeship program offers several takeaways that any construction business can apply, whether they employ two people or two hundred. These lessons are especially relevant given the ongoing labor shortage that makes recruiting and retaining skilled workers a top concern for addressing the construction labor shortage through strategic hiring and retention.
- Cast a wide net. The program combined a national search with local recruiting. National searches bring fresh perspectives, while local recruits tend to stay longer and know the regional market.
- Partner with technical schools. Every apprentice who came through a tech school arrived with basic skills already in place. Schools want placement partners and contractors want trained entry-level workers. This is a natural match.
- Start apprentices on real work. Even simple tasks such as mixing cement or hauling lumber teach workplace pace and safety awareness. Apprentices who understand why cleanup matters become better carpenters.
- Provide a clear progression path. Every apprentice knew what skill level they were working toward. From brick sorting to laying brick itself, the path was visible. This keeps motivation high.
- Celebrate diverse backgrounds. The group included women, military veterans, high school students, and college students. Each background brought different strengths. A diverse workforce solves problems more creatively and attracts a broader customer base.
The construction industry is at a crossroads. Demand for housing and renovation work remains strong, but the skilled labor pool is not keeping pace. Programs like this one show what is possible when experienced tradespeople commit to training the next generation. Richard Trethewey’s father believed in adopting one kid at a time. If every contractor in America did the same, the labor shortage would begin to solve itself.