Feature -- by Mark Sproxton

The stop at the downtown high rise is the first of three for the lather interior system mechanic this week. All are small renovation, inside jobs that will take him from downtown to the northeast then to the southwest. Next week, however, he'll be working outside at a new office complex, a project scheduled to last for eight weeks.

"For anybody, if you enjoy doing things with your hands, it's a great trade that way," explains Lyle Wunderlich, manager of Alpine Drywall. "You also get two types of projects, renovations and base-building new. For example building a new high school, you're out in the fresh air. On the renovation side in a high rise, it's enjoyable as well. There's a helluva view."

Lather interior system mechanics, sometimes called drywallers, perform a number of different duties and work with a variety of materials. At Alpine, the workers essentially build steel stud frame walls, insulate them as necessary, hang drywall and then mud and tape the drywall to prepare the walls for the painters. Some jobs require a hanging ceiling to be built as well.

"There's a physical aspect, but you don't have to be 6'6 and 250 pounds," Wunderlich said. "You have to learn the technique for lifting and if you follow safe practices you won't wreck yourself. You've got to be able to organize yourself, (understand) mathematics, be able to get along with others and take direction." Interior system mechanics work in crews and deal with other tradesmen regularly.

With over 20 years experience in the trade, Wunderlich knows what he speaks. Having four older brothers running Alpine Drywall in Edmonton, Wunderlich was able to learn the technical aspects of the trade working for them in high school. From there he wrote an equivalency exam to qualify for his journeyman credentials, received his ticket and has spent the last 20 years in the office managing staff, bidding on contracts, dealing with suppliers and manufacturers and a host of other duties.

"Within the construction industry is a great group of people. That's what I enjoy," Wunderlich said of the office-side of the work. "A definite dislike is your actual physical collection of money -- getting paid on time." In this business staff have to be paid on time, as do suppliers, so ensuring clients pay their bills on time is an ongoing part of the work.

Unlike some other construction trades, however, Wunderlich said work in this career is fairly steady and doesn't fluctuate as much from summer to winter or from slow cycles to busy cycles. His crews typically work from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m each day, but evening, weekend and shift work may be required depending on the project at hand. "You're up early and travelling to different job sites, sometimes two or three in a week, sometimes one place for a year. Each project is different."

Most of the work is completed in Calgary and area, but Wunderlich said there are sometimes opportunities to travel as well. He has been involved with projects in Russia, Japan, Israel and elsewhere. "There are lots of opportunities to do different things," he said.

And there are opportunities for a nice pay cheque too. A first-year apprentice -- lather interior system mechanic is a three-year apprenticeship -- will earn about $12 per hour and 10 per cent holiday pay. Apprentices earn more money after each year they complete and can earn over $20 per hour. Wunderlich offers the following advice: "If you're going to come into the trade, take the apprenticeship course."