Everything you need to know about carpenters

This article is all about carpenters including those who work onsite (site carpenters) and those who work in a factory or workshop environment.

How do you become a carpenter ?

The best way to become a carpenter is to learn on the job and this is what apprenticeships should be great for.

But before starting an apprenticeship you can hit the books and take some courses on carpentry.

Examples include:

• Level 2 Diploma in Site Carpentry
• Level 2 Extended Diploma in Site Carpentry
• Carpentry and Joinery Level 1
• Level 1 Diploma in Carpentry and Joinery
• Level 2 Site Carpentry course
• NVQ Level 2 Carpentry Course

Its important to point out that you can enrol in and complete as many courses as you like but if you do not do an apprenticeship or go down the NVQ route then your learning journey is going to be very limited.

Please be aware that there are no quick courses that will get you the Level 2 NVQ qualification. Some courses are cleverly advertised as NVQ Level 2 courses but you don’t get a NVQ this way. An NVQ is a declaration of competence and is assessed onsite over a period of time, not a quick course with a certificate at the end. Some courses say that you can do the course and they will register you as as working towards your NVQ Level 2 but if you are not experienced you will probably just qualify for a trainee card not an experienced worker card.

NVQs are ‘Declarations of Competence’ and as such, cannot be achieved in a simulated environment like a training centre – all we can do here is prepare you for the process and we do this very well.

Site carpentry

Site carpentry is as its name suggests, any carpentry carried out onsite. Site carpenters work on building sites carrying out first and second fix carpentry.

First fix carpentry

First fix carpentry includes structural work such as upper floors.

• Install timber floor joists

Build internal walls from timber

• Install roof joists, trusses, rafters

• Build timber formwork for concrete pours
• Install timber hoarding for site protection and security
• Install timber frame for timber frame buildings

Second fix carpentry

Install the following:

• Internal door frames
• Internal doors
• Architrave to doors
• Coping to ceiling
• Timber floors
• Install timber staircase

Off-site carpentry

This involves any carpentry that can be completed offsite in a workshop or a factory. Off-site carpenters can also be called Architectural Joiners.

An off-site carpenter will work produce timber building components and architectural products which are then delivered to building sites for installation by site carpenters.

It includes:

• timber staircases
• timber windows
• timber doors

How much does a carpenter cost ?

A carpenter will cost a little bit less that an electrician or plumber but more than a plasterer, roofer and so on.

Anyone can call themselves a carpenter but only skilled carpenters will get repeat work.

Some guides say that a carpenter will cost say £250 per day but this is nonsense.

Most good carpenters will only give a fixed price for works and will not entertain ‘work per day’.

And why would a Client want to pay someone per day anyway because otherwise this person will simply drag out the works.