What is a Carpenter?

This question comes up a lot. Nearly every time someone engages in a conversation about their profession, they mention that they are a carpenter, and people often assume they specialise in making chairs or cabinets, even though that is usually done by a joiner or a furniture maker.

While it is true that these workers are carpenters in some sense, and there is considerable overlap in the skills of joiners, carpenters, and furniture makers, there are important distinctions to be made. Here’s the difference:

• Carpenters build houses. Joiners make cabinets, often in factories and then they come on site to install. Joiners make kitchens and cupboards. Carpenters, build houses and are nearly always on site.

• Carpenters are responsible for a range of building work from setting out and laying simple concrete footings, to building timber structures like floor, wall and roof frames.

• Carpenters will often clad homes in various materials, often timber boards, or fibre cement sheeting.

• Carpenters install can install windows and dress them with moulds and architraves.

• Carpenters can lay timber floors and decks.

• Carpenters can install pergolas and outdoor alfresco areas.

• Carpenters are the lifeblood of construction sites, they are versitile, multi skilled individuals who often work in with all the trades. This is why many carpenters also become builders.