A carpenter is able to build anything that they can imagine with hand and power tools.
Carpenters create and manufacture all kinds of things out of wood and wooden products. Not only can carpenters construct and make things out of logs, but they are also able to work with other types of materials such as glass, stone, or metals in the trade. Carpenters build sturdy homes for people to live in, staircases to climb up to higher floors, chairs for sitting on so people can rest their backsides after climbing all those stairs, cabinets for storing food items in kitchens, cupboards for keeping things clean, etc. Wooden planks are used for making flooring materials. A career in the trade can be very rewarding for those who love using their hands and working with their minds at the same time.
A carpenter does not just have to work with timber in order to create things. When designing a new product in the construction industry, they must take into consideration the types of tools that will be required for the job at hand. Carpenters are therefore well versed in all types of machinery, especially power equipment such as drills, hammers and saws. A carpenter is also very familiar with other important devices which help them to get their job done effectively, from ladders to the protractor, the tool used by carpenters when measuring the accuracy of angles and corners on a new design before it can be cut and constructed.
Houses and all the items needed inside them such as doors, windows, skirting boards, other wooden fixtures etc.
Walls, wall partitions, installing doors, making custom kitchens, window frames (internal and external).
Chairs, cabinets, floor joists, and timber tables.
Timber flooring of various types including solid floors or skirting boards.
Cupboards and units for storage (including kitchen units).
A carpenter also makes fencing materials of various kinds including timber.
Construction carpentry or building construction involves building entire structures from scratch by the carpenters and is done by rough carpenters, while repair carpentry means fixing any damage or problems with existing structures.
Exterior carpentry is the same concept but on the outside of a structure by rough carpenters. Additions are also considered to be part of exterior carpentry work by the carpenters. For example, fitting an extra room onto the side of your house would require exterior carpenters in addition to regular construction carpenters. Exterior additions could include additional architectural features through rough carpentry on the outside of a structure or even just simple maintenance projects such as replacing your front door.
Restoration carpentry involves restoring existing structures or other structures to their original condition. It can also called structural carpentry. This could be done after natural disasters or damage caused by man-made objects such as vandalism or simply wear and tear over time.
Wood joinery is a sub-division of construction carpentry jobs that deal with delicate work using minimum amounts of pieces in order to create things like small chests, boxes, etc that are designed for looks rather than longevity. It requires special tools like framing squares for precision in carpentry work. Softwood (conifers) can also be used for this kind of fine work too, although hardwoods (deciduous trees) are often preferred because they are robust and durable.
A carpenter can be employed by individuals or large companies for their specialist services. They could be part of a construction team working on-site, but they may also work alone as self-employed contractors. The job site of a carpenter is very similar to that of any other tradesperson such as an electrician. However, there are some distinct differences in the carpentry work which make the job more exciting and interesting than some others out there. Carpenters often have access to power tools such as drills, sanders, circular saws etc which allow them much greater freedom in creating things exactly how they want them instead of being restricted to basic hand tools only. They are often required to work in confined spaces and standing or crouching in awkward positions, which takes a certain level of physical fitness and resilience. As carpenters are very skilled with their hands they naturally have a good eye when it comes to visual design. They must make sure that they create exactly what their client wants, whether the client is an individual who has built his own house from scratch or someone placing an order for custom made products. Construction carpentry involves training skills such as maths and geometry in order that the correct measurements are taken before building begins. They also get on the job training as they gather more experience before the career or the jobs begin. High attention to detail combined with good maths skills is a must-have for any carpenter. In order to become a carpenter, you need to obtain an apprenticeship under another qualified carpenter and learn to do different building trades for different structural components to attain skills like fine woodworking, repair techniques and emergency repairs. The length of the apprenticeship differs but can be up to 4 years in some cases. During this time you gain hands-on experience in all aspects of carpentry and building trades so when your apprenticeship ends you are fully qualified, have a career and ready to take on clients of your own.
Apprenticeships are a combination of on-the-job experience and a broad range of classroom learning. During your apprenticeship you will receive training in all aspects of carpentry, gaining hands-on experience in all techniques. Classroom learning will cover topics such as maths, geometry, machine safety, blueprint reading etc which are all useful skills for carpenters to have. The length of apprenticeship varies from company to company but it is usually between 2-4 years and the average salary is also different. Getting an apprenticeship is not easy and you must be prepared for lots of hard work, long hours and sometimes stressful situations such as working in confined spaces or high up on buildings where safety could easily be compromised if you make one wrong move. There are also many certificate programs that teach the skills of becoming a professional. Carpentry requires the carpenter to be physically fit due to all the heavy lifting involved during construction projects for buildings. It's estimated that around 80% of the effort is spent creating things like buildings and fixing broken furniture.
A carpenter's building work needs manual dexterity as well as the below.
A logical and creative mind with good training.
Patience and good attention to detail to fulfill jobs and tasks.
Physical fitness and the ability to work in confined spaces and awkward positions.
Problem-solving skills that they can acquire through training.
An understanding of maths and geometry (e.g. what angles need to be used when cutting wood) is necessary for most carpentry projects.
Carpenters normally need basic hand tools to make wood products such as hammers, nails, screws, etc. Some other materials include the below.
Rulers, pencils, other stringed instruments, and compasses.
Tape measures (cloth and metal), plumb bobs.
Chisels and saws (electric and manual).
Circular saws.
Jigsaws.
Nail guns.
Carpenters also need the physical strength to move large pieces of wood around all day as well as climbing ladders or scaffolding. They are required to be aware of their surroundings at all times in order not to injure themselves on things like falling objects/tools which could easily happen if they are unaware. Carpenters also need good levels of concentration when working with tools such as saws so must possess the correct level of attention to detail otherwise accidents can occur easily. Young people should have a logical mind that is able to solve problems quickly and under pressure as well as the required skill set especially where measurements may be slightly off and need to be adjusted quickly. This is a problem-solving skill that is often needed where carpenters are building things from scratch such as tables when they install trim, chairs etc. Green carpentry is being recognised as promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly choices. Carpenters may work outdoors or indoors, depending on what sort of projects they are working on at the time which could mean long hours standing in one position e.g. measuring up before cutting wood, or long hours spent bending down to fix shelves into place.