Carpenters are licensed professionals who perform tasks that require more skill than those of a tradesman, but do not require the training required to obtain a builder’s license. A tradesman is considered a professional with high degree of both theoretical and practical knowledge in his/her own trade. Many carpenters get their training as builders, but some choose to get a carpenter’s license instead of a builder’s license because they enjoy doing detail work or want to specialize in a building-related niche.
What can a carpenter do for you?
There are many different types of carpenter, with the job title conferring a varied set of skills. Common tasks and jobs for a carpenter include:
- Doing formwork for concreting
- Framework construction
- Building pergolas or gazebos
- Building decks or installing flooring
- Installing windows and doors
- Interior renovations
- Installing cladding
- Making cabinets or furniture
- Adding small finishing touches, like skirting boards
In most western countries, a carpenter’s work is limited to “non-habitable” structures. With that exception, a carpenter can do almost anything for you a builder can do. If they specialize in one or a few areas, they can arguably be a better choice than a licensed builder because of their expertise in their niche.
You may also see reference to a master carpenter. What does a master carpenter do? They are the ones in charge of big jobs and often have a team of carpenters working for them. Depending on their work style, they may take more of a director’s role than a hands-on part in the work.
Do carpenters paint?
Some carpenters offer a painting service with their work, but not all. The big advantages of hiring a carpenter to paint their own work is that you only need to arrange one tradie (also known as tradesman), it will speed up the job because they’re already on site and, should anything go wrong, there’s only one party involved.
On the flip side, carpenters normally have a higher hourly rate than painters so you’ll likely end up with a bigger bill. Carpenter hourly rates tend to be around GHc 80 to GHc 250.
Do carpenters lay carpet?
As with painting, some carpenters may offer this as a service but not all. Whether you hire a carpenter to build a floor and then lay a carpet is up to you. It can be easier to line up and work with just one person/company, however you’re likely to pay more for a carpenter to lay a carpet than someone else.
Difference between a carpenter and a joiner
It’s a common question: what is carpentry and what is joinery? Although both carpenters and joiners work with wood, and one is often trained in the other, there are slight differences.
The easiest way to think of it is that a joiner is the person who works in a workshop to build things made of wood, while a carpenter is more likely to be on a building site installing or making finishing touches.
Choosing a carpenter
Whether your job is large or small, you should always choose a licensed and insured carpenter. Their carpenter’s license is evidence they take their job seriously and their insurance protects you in case of an accident or injury.
A reputable carpenter will always provide you with a detailed written quote and when you hire them to do the work, will provide you with a written contract. A handshake agreement is not enough. Without a written contract, you have no recourse if a dispute arises.
It’s always a good idea to get a quotes for any project. If you’re looking to hire a carpenter and need one with expertise in one area, there are ways to narrow down the field:
Get quotes for the specific type of work you need. For example, get quotes for gazebos rather than from general contractors and your quotes will come from gazebo specialists.
On our website, houseclap.com, you can get all the information you think will be a great help to you and your work. You can take a step further by booking a carpenter to work on a gazebo for you or any other furniture.
Carpenters often specialize in particular styles or materials. When comparing quotes, look at examples of their previous work if they include photos or a brochure. If they do not, you can always ask them to send you photos. If the style is not as important as the quality of work, ask for references.