Carpenters and joiners need to be skilled with manual tasks, have a high degree of accuracy, plus a conscientious approach to their work, and the ability to follow tight specifications.
Carpenters working for sub-contractors must be flexible and skilled enough to complete all aspects of a job. The willingness to spend months or years training is therefore an advantage, as it means work will never be short. Yet work can be seasonal and unpredictable, particularly in winter.
On construction sites, the number of daylight hours affects the length of the working day. Early starts are common, as are essential evening and weekend working. Travel to different sites is an unavoidable aspect of the work.
There are clearly physical demands. Inhalation of wood dust is a side-effect of working in enclosed spaces with machinery. The work is strenuous and a lot of time is spent standing, kneeling, bending or crouching. On site, carpenters may need to climb ladders, work in confined spaces, or work on scaffolding. There is quite a high risk of injury from machinery or on-site hazards.
Carpenters and joiners work with wood on building projects or in workshops. Most learn their trade through on the job training, gaining skills by working alongside and under the supervision of more experienced practitioners. Others learn through formal training programmes, vocational education or employer training and apprenticeships.
Most carpentry work is connected with the construction industry in some respect. Carpenters cut, fit, and assemble wood and other materials for the construction of buildings, roads, bridges, docks, industrial plants, boats, and many other structures.
Carpenters usually work in the workshop, creating parts such as staircases, doors, roof trusses, etc, and on site, fitting such parts into the building projects. These are known respectively as bench joiners and fixers. In addition, there are various areas of specialism, such as shopfitters, who specialise in producing and fitting shop fronts and interiors, and formwork joiners, who produce moulds for concrete structures, such as pillars for concrete buildings, suspended floors and staircases.
Many carpenters are self-employed and work as sub-contractors. This means some can specialise in areas such restoring old buildings, furniture making or restoration.
