Profession Highlight: Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Carpenter

Having a career as a carpenter is so much more than building houses. As the foundation of the building industry, there’s never going to be a shortage of need for this trade. Whether it’s constructing frameworks, building temporary constructions to support other structures, or even putting the finishing touches on projects, the opportunities for carpenters are endless.

With so many pathways to excel, there’s certain not to be two days the same in this profession.

Different fields of carpentry, and what I can expect from a career as a carpenter

Carpentry provides so many opportunities, and will never be unnecessary - we’re always going to need homes and buildings built! Your job can take you so many places as well as help you specialise in more niche areas of carpentry. Some of these areas include:

Formwork carpentry

Formwork carpenters are generally found working on large construction sites or civil projects. Their job is to assemble the molds that retain wet concrete of foundations and other concrete structures. These manufactured structures are called ‘forms’. Some of their tasks and duties include:

• Assembling forms which may be made from steel, wood, or plastic
• Stripping and cleaning forms
• Building new forms on top of previously poured concrete for high rise structures

Rough carpentry

The focus for rough carpenters is mainly on assembling the framework and structural components of a building, such as beams, posts, and rafters. As the name suggests, their work is ‘rough’ and doesn’t require a neat finish. This is because it will eventually be covered up by things like walls. Some of their daily duties include:

• Assemble and fasten material together to construct the wood or metal framework of the structure, using bolts, nails, or screws.
• Read blueprints and diagrams to determine the dimensions of the form to be constructed
• Anchor and brace forms and other structures in place, using nails, bolts, anchor rods, steel cables, planks, wedges, and timber

Finish carpentry

Finish carpentry is the opposite of rough carpentry. This job focuses on the finishes required and refers to all carpentry work that will be visible once a building has been completed. High attention to detail is necessary for this role, as it is essentially putting the final touches on a structure. These finishing touches include:

• Installing wainscoting, baseboards, door trim, and other minor details
• Building and installing stair rails
• Installing interior doors and ensuring they open and close the way they should
• Building shelves, storage solutions and other furniture

Cabinetmaking

Like finish carpentry, cabinetmakers specialise in creating some of the finishing touches in a building. This branch of carpentry focuses on building cabinetry for kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, offices, etc. Cabinetmakers also excel in making furniture.

There are many more branches of carpentry available, including exciting opportunities like prop and set design, helping the environment through green carpentry and curating ships through ships carpentry.

What are some of the challenges involved in carpentry?

While it comes with exciting opportunities, there are always challenges involved in this career. Carpenter, Luke Spiliopoulos, says, “at the moment our biggest challenge is navigating the pandemic. A big challenge we (and all other trades) face is the shortage of materials – especially timber.”

Some other challenges of becoming a carpenter include:

Changing rosters

Early mornings, late nights, weekend work – these are all part of a carpenter’s job. If you’re not quite ready to skip the morning sleep in or sacrifice your weekends, it may be time to think twice about choosing the career path.

Safety concerns

Like with most trades, carpenters are often faced with safety concerns and dangerous workplaces. Besides being on your feet all day, other concerns to your safety include things like the manual labour involved, being on a large site that may contain asbestos and using dangerous power tools. While many tools you need a license for, accidents still do happen, so it’s important to proceed with caution.

Difficult clients

Everyone must deal with difficult customers – it’s impossible to please them. Even if you run your own business and choose not to work with certain people, chances are you’ll get a difficult customer wherever you go. Treating them with politeness and respect is a must, as well as small gestures (such as bringing them a coffee).

To learn more, read our blog on dealing with difficult customers and contractors.

What skills do you need to become a carpenter?

Becoming a carpenter requires skill and time. Completing your apprenticeship will ensure you’re on the right path to success as a qualified carpenter. If you’re looking to go into carpentry, here are some skills you must possess:

• An enjoyment of practical work and the outdoors – you’ll be spending a lot of time outside
• Basic mathematics and literacy skills
• Ability to work as part of a team to achieve a common goal
• Strong decision making and problem-solving skills
• A sense of balance and ability to work at heights
• Physical strength to cope with manual labour
• Attention to detail

Luke says, “my favourite thing about being a carpenter is that it’s not repetitive. I love working outside and enjoy taking on whatever new challenge the day has to offer, such as digging, hanging doors, decking, and framing.”

Tips for new carpenters

When deciding whether to go into the carpentry industry, there’s a lot to consider. Along with the basic skills listed above that you must possess, there’s the educational training that goes with it. Although certifications vary depending on location, you’ll need to complete an apprenticeship before becoming qualified. “The whole point of an apprenticeship is to learn and improve,” Luke says. “You don’t have to know everything or do everything right the first time. Make sure you ask lots of questions as this will limit the number of mistakes you make and help to speed up your development process.”

Having a career in carpentry can take you so many places. Whether it’s working as a cabinetmaker and putting the finishing touches on buildings, or completing framework and structures, you can be assured no two days will be the same. If you’re looking to start a job as a carpenter, Syzmik Workwear has you covered for all your onsite uniform needs. Check out our latest range today.