What Does a Carpenter Do?

Carpenters build things from wood, like buildings and boats. They cut, fit, and join wood and other materials together. Carpenters who work for a special trade contractor do only one or two things, like forming molds for concrete or building a frame. A carpenter may also work for a general building contractor. This carpenter performs many tasks, including putting in doors and windows, hanging kitchen cabinets, and installing tile ceilings. Sometimes carpenters have to follow local rules that tell them where they can use certain materials. Most carpenters follow the same basic steps when getting ready for a job. They must layout or design the project. Design includes measuring, marking, and arranging materials. The carpenter then cuts and shapes the material. Carpenters use different hand and power tools, such as chisels, saws, and drills. Finally, the carpenter joins the items together with nails, staples, or glue. They use rulers or framing squares to increase the accuracy of their ...  more

A carpenter is an important part of any construction team. They have the skills and knowledge to cut, fasten, carve, and design objects made of wood or other materials. They’re gifted in measuring precisely, sometimes called carpentry math, and know how to use different construction tools like saws, drills, small hand tools, and a variety of mechanized tools. The job of carpenter has several levels in most of the US. Most people who begin in carpentry may take some basic training at local trade schools or community colleges, or they may simply be skilled at building with varied materials. Many begin as apprentice carpenters, and in many states, apprentices must have a certain amount of on the job experience prior to moving up to the next level of employment, journeyman. At the top echelon, people can become master carpenters, when they have significant experience and training in their field and have amassed many hours of work as apprentices and journeymen. The master carpenter may ...  more

What a Carpenter Does Carpenters work with wood and other common materials, like plastic, fiberglass and steel, to craft a finished product. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), www.bls.gov, they may work in the construction industry, building on industrial, commercial or residential projects. Or they may do strictly maintenance work, remodeling or repairing standing structures. The BLS reports that one-third of the nearly 1.5 million Carpenters in the U.S. work force in 2006 were self-employed. Out of that group, 32% worked in building construction and special trades contractors employed another 23%. Carpenters must be competent working with the hand and power tools utilized in their trade. They must have excellent manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Because a career in Carpentry generally requires working on one's feet for long periods of time, good physical fitness is also a necessity. Carpenter Training and Education To be qualified for a Carpenter job, ...  more

as long as carpentry, with recorded records that span millennia rather than just centuries. Carpentry itself is a craft that has been passed down from generation to generation, with a carpentry apprentice taking years to earn the title of Master Carpenter.  more