Carpentry: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering carpentry

Carpentry work is judged on square, plumb and solid results, and the customer sees the joints and the finish every day. Win the job by measuring the site, showing the joinery and the fasteners in the quote, and naming the lumber grade and finish.

What customers ask

  • Will the work be square and will the doors close properly?
  • What lumber and joinery do you use, and why?
  • How do you fasten the work to the wall or the floor?
  • Can you match the existing wood and finish?
  • How long will the job take, and what do you need from me?

How to win the job

  • Measure the site on the first visit, check the walls and floors for square and level, and photograph the existing structure before quoting.
  • Show a sample of the joinery or a cut-off piece of the lumber, so the customer sees the grain, the fit and the finish quality.
  • Name the species, the grade, the panel type and the fasteners in the quote, with the anchoring method for each heavy piece.
  • Quote any structural repair as its own line, and state whether an engineer or a permit is needed before the work begins.
  • Give the customer a written scope with the pieces, dimensions, materials and finish listed, and get it approved before the cut.
  • Protect the surrounding walls, floors and furniture in the quote, and state who handles the cleanup.
  • Walk the completed work with the customer, check the square and the operation of the doors and drawers, and note any adjustments.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of carpentry work with the joinery and the fit visible
  • Close-up photos of the fasteners, anchors and the structural connections before the finish goes on
  • Photos of finished built-ins, doors or structures in use in homes
  • A list of the species, panel types and joinery methods you use

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • A care note for the wood, the hardware and the finish, with the adjustment steps
  • A check visit after the first season to look at doors, drawers and any movement
  • A quote for the next carpentry project, offered only if the customer asks

Licenses and permits

Carpentry commonly does not need a specific license, but structural work, decks, stairs and load-bearing changes often need a permit and qualified contracting. Confirm your business registration, insurance and any trade credentials in your state and locality before you take structural work.

Questions

Should I warranty my carpentry work?

Warranty your workmanship on the joinery, the fasteners and the adjustment. State the limits, such as wood movement with humidity and damage from loads the piece was not built for.

What do I do when I find rot in the structure?

Stop the cut in that area, document the damage with photos and quote the repair as a separate line. Do not cover rot with new finish work, and confirm the repair scope with the customer.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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