A carpenter can handle many different jobs and projects.

Some of the things you may need a carpenter for include:

• Building and installing frameworks, such as walls, floors, and doors
• Installing fixtures like windows, molding, drywall, or cabinets
• Inspecting and replacing damaged frameworks
• Insulating offices or homes

The U.S. Department of Labor gives these examples of different types of carpenters:

• Construction carpenters: responsible for constructing, installing, and repairing structures made of wood, plywood, and wallboard
• Rough carpenters: build rough wood structures like scaffolding, tunnels, bridges, sewer supports and temporary shelters
• Wood flooring installers: nail or glue flooring materials like planks, end-grains, or parquet

Carpenters will work on various projects and need skills to build large structures like foundations, roofs, and scaffolding while doing more intricate work like trims, crown molding, and finishes. In addition to the skills to work with wood, they need to be able to read blueprints and building plans.

You should not confuse a carpenter with a woodworker. A woodworker and a carpenter have some similarities, but a woodworker tends to deal with finer, intricate projects like furniture, curved railings, and custom cabinets or closets.

You may also be able to find a carpentry handyman. Many carpenters focus on larger projects like adding rooms, constructing decks, or building gazebos or sheds. Some will also install cabinets, fix wooden elements in your home, and build things like stair railings.

Depending on the project you are planning, you may hire a general contractor who then hires a carpenter, or you may hire a carpenter directly.

You can hire a carpenter directly if you only need carpentry work done. But suppose the work the carpenter will be doing is part of a more significant project or will need to be coordinated with work done by other specialists. In that case, you may want to hire a general contractor to oversee the project.

When you are looking for a carpenter near you, the same guidelines for hiring a contractor or specialist like a painter, plumber, or electrician hold true:

• Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations of people they have hired who did good work
• Get multiple estimates for the work (but don’t always choose the least expensive one based solely on price)
• Make sure you get timelines and prices in writing
• Never pay the entire cost upfront; negotiate a deposit at the start with complete payment when the work is done
• Check with your local government to see if there are required licenses for carpenters where you live, and double-check with potential carpenters that they have those license
• Confirm that the carpenter has the necessary insurance
• Ask for references and reviews

For more information

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