Carpenters work with wood to construct, install, and repair structures and fixtures, playing a vital role in the construction industry.
Carpenters focus on shaping and joining wood to create useful and aesthetically pleasing structures.
Along with stone, wood is one of the oldest building materials. Some of the oldest archaeological evidence of the trade is found in water well casings, including an oak-and-hazel structure dating to 5256 BC. The use of wood as a building material predates written language, so little is known of its earliest usage.
Carpentry is the trade of cutting, working, and joining timber, a term that includes structural timberwork in framing, as well as its use in doors, windows, and staircases.
Carpenters construct, install, and repair building frameworks made of wood and other materials. The trade involves completing large projects, such as framing houses or building bridges, as well as detailed finish work, such as kitchen cabinetry and decorative trim.
Carpenters use a variety of hand or power tools to cut and shape wood and other materials, fastening these materials with nails, screws, staples, and adhesives.
Carpenters work indoors or outdoors, depending on the project. They typically work on construction sites, unlike woodworkers, who work in manufacturing plants.
Typically, a high school diploma or the equivalent is required, as high school courses in mathematics, mechanical drawing, and general vocational technical training are useful in learning the trade. Some vocational or technical schools offer degrees in carpentry.
Carpenters typically learn on the job and through apprenticeships, where they acquire the skills of using hand and power tools properly. Typically, an apprentice begins by performing simpler tasks under the supervision of an experienced carpenter. They will learn to measure and cut wood, then perform more complex tasks, such as reading blueprints and building wooden structures.
Apprenticeship programs are often sponsored by unions and contractor associations. While programs vary, apprentices typically complete 144 hours of technical training and 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training, where they learn the basics of carpentry, blueprint reading, applied mathematics, building code requirements, and safety practices. They may also receive specialized training in creating and setting concrete forms, rigging, welding, scaffold building, and working within confined spaces.
Upon completion of an apprenticeship, carpenters are considered journey workers, able to perform tasks on their own.
With variances between jurisdictions, carpenters do not typically have to be certified to do the job, although there are certificate programs that teach basics for carpenters interested in completing an apprenticeship, such as the Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training (PACT) offered by the Home Builders Institute. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) offers various levels of certification for remodeling. Other specialty certifications may also be available.
Carpenters are involved in several phases of construction, and the line of progression may include first-line supervisor, independent contractor, or general construction supervisor.
Recommended Resources
Captain Max Patterson is the owner-operator of the custom commercial carpentry business based in Manhattan, New York, which offers high-end carpentry, displays, cabinetry, and furniture repair. Core services include commercial carpentry; department store displays and cabinetry; upscale retail carpentry; antique and vintage furniture repair and restoration; emergency repairs; handyman services; and commercial property inspections. Contacts and booking information are included.
https://www.captainmaxpattersonnyc.com/
Affiliated with Frame Company, Inc. and McRoberts Building, The Carpenter's Guild is a hands-on carpentry training program focused on framing and construction for adults 18 and older, which offers paid, short-term training to prepare students for immediate employment in the carpentry trade. Trainees are paid during instruction, and the website emphasizes no student loan debt and a core focus on fundamentals, blueprint reading, safety, and building code standards.
https://www.carpentersguild.net/
With roots going back over 700 years, The Carpenters Company received its first royal charter in 1477 and holds a long tradition of supporting the carpentry and building trades. The Company has occupied halls on London Wall since the 15th century; the current Hall, built in 1960, is a focal point for events and Company business. The Company funds scholarships, competitions, and training to promote woodworking and building crafts, and maintains ties with carpenters and construction professionals.
https://www.carpentersco.com/
CTI is a multi-campus training organization that prepares apprentices and journeyworkers for careers in carpentry and related crafts, offering classroom instruction and hands-on shop training. CTI trains apprentices in multiple crafts, including commercial and residential carpentry, millwright work, pile driving, and floor covering, and supports continuing education for journey-level workers. Available tracks include general carpentry, millwright, pile driving, and floor covering.
https://www.carpenterstraininginstitute.org/
Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
The EASRCC is a regional council of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters that represents union carpenters across multiple states in the eastern United States, and provides collective bargaining, training, apprenticeship, and member benefit administration. Its coverage area includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Training, apprenticeships, member benefits, and contacts are provided.
https://eascarpenters.org/
The New Jersey-based professional remodeling and master carpentry firm, founded in 1994, offers design-build remodeling, custom cabinetry and millwork, historic restoration, decks, porches, home additions, and contractor services. Its services, credentials, awards, and other recognitions are featured on its website, along with a portfolio and multiple client testimonials. Its office address in East Orange, hours, telephone number, and email address are provided.
https://mcwcarpentry.com/
Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council
The MACRC is a regional body of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters that represents carpenters across several Midwestern states and coordinates training, benefits, and organizing for affiliated locals. MACRC serves tens of thousands of members across Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, according to its website. Headquartered in Chicago, its key services, training and other programs, locations, local unions, memberships, and contacts are featured.
https://www.carpentersunion.org/
The Brooklyn, New York custom carpentry and remodeling company offers on-site services including cabinet and shelf installation, house framing, painting, flooring, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, and sheetrock repair. Its website emphasizes mobile, on-site work, experience, and a client-focused workflow from consultation through final walkthrough. Its services, promotions, discounts, service area, key contacts, and typical working hours are posted on the company's website.
https://carpenterbrooklyn-ny.com/
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, The
Founded in Chicago in 1881 to consolidate local carpenter unions into a national organization to strengthen collective bargaining and improve working conditions, the UBC initially focused on wage and hour demands, as well as death and sickness benefits for members, and today the organization continues to advocate for fair wages, workplace safety, and comprehensive benefits for its members, and has engaged in strikes and legislative efforts. Its training and leadership programs are included.
https://www.carpenters.org/
