Residential carpenters usually start work at sunrise. Since most of their work is outdoors, they must be dressed appropriately. They usually wear sturdy work clothes, a hard hat and work boots. Residential carpenters often bring their lunch from home since they only get half an hour for lunch. Union residential carpenters usually work eight-hour days and forty-hour weeks, and are paid by the hour. Apprentices often start out carrying lumber and performing simple tasks until they become familiar with the work. Them they are given more complicated tasks as time goes on.