Carpentry: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What carpentry is

A carpenter builds, repairs and installs wooden structures and finish work, including framing, doors, shelving, built-ins and trim. People hire one when a project needs a skilled person to read plans, measure accurately and use hand and power tools to make a sound, square and lasting wood structure.

Signs you need it

  • A door sags, sticks or will not latch, and the frame or the hinges need adjusting or replacing
  • You need shelves, a built-in, a bench or a storage wall that fits an exact space
  • A deck board, a fence gate or a porch step has rotted or split and needs a sound replacement
  • A wall or ceiling has a broken or cracked wood member that needs a new piece fitted in
  • You want a custom wood project, such as a mantel, a window seat or a bed frame, built to your measurements

What the pro does

  • Review the plan or sketch, check the site dimensions, and mark the layout on the wall or the floor
  • Select the lumber or the panel stock, and check each piece for straightness, moisture and grain before it is cut
  • Cut and assemble the pieces with the joinery the job calls for, such as screws, glue, dadoes or pocket joints
  • Fasten the structure to the studs, joists or masonry with the fasteners and anchors rated for the load
  • Check the work for square, plumb and level as it goes, and adjust doors, drawers or hinges to run smoothly
  • Finish the wood with sanding, filler, stain or paint, then clean the area and walk the completed work with you

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Scope of the job, from a single repair to a multi-piece build or a full structure
  • Lumber and material grade, including hardwood, softwood, engineered panels and specialty trim
  • Joinery and finish quality, such as hand-cut joints, exposed fasteners or a multi-coat finish
  • Site access and the work required to protect the house and move materials into place
  • Condition of the existing structure, including rot, insect damage or out-of-square framing
  • Hardware and specialty items, such as hinges, drawer slides or custom brackets

What a written quote should spell out

  • Scope described piece by piece, with the dimensions and the material for each part
  • Lumber species and grade, and the panel type and thickness used
  • Joinery and fastener types named, with the anchoring method for the structure
  • Finish system, including filler, stain or paint, and the number of coats
  • Demolition, disposal and cleanup steps, plus the warranty on the carpentry work

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can you show me photos of carpentry work you did with a similar scope and material?
  • What lumber and joinery do you use, and how will the piece hold up in this room?
  • How do you fasten the work to the structure, and will it be anchored into studs or joists?
  • Will the work be measured and checked for square before it is installed?
  • Do you pull a permit when the work changes the structure or the exits?
  • Who handles the finish, and do you protect the surrounding walls and floors?

Red flags

  • The carpenter cannot show a finished project in a similar material or scope
  • The carpenter fastens heavy shelving or a structural member into drywall or a single loose board
  • The carpenter wants to change a load-bearing member with no engineering review
  • The carpenter has no written scope and cannot list the materials or the fasteners

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can build simple shelves, hang doors or replace a short deck board with a sound piece, as long as the loads are light and the fasteners go into solid wood. Changing a structural member, building a deck or stair that carries people, and any work that changes an exit or a load path should go to a qualified carpenter or contractor.

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. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department before any structural change.

Carpentry questions

How do I know if a wood member is structural?

A structural member carries load from above, such as a joist, a beam, a rafter or a stud in a load-bearing wall. Ask the carpenter to check the framing and to tell you which members carry load before any cut is made.

Can a carpenter do the electrical or plumbing inside the wall?

Usually not. In many areas electrical and plumbing work must be done by licensed trades. A carpenter can frame the opening and close it up after the trades have finished and inspected the work.

Should I ask for a written scope?

Yes. A written scope lists the pieces, the dimensions, the materials and the finish, so you can compare the work and know what is included before the job starts.

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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