What Do Carpenters Do?
What Do Carpenters Do?
Carpenters are skilled craftsmen who take raw materials, primarily wood, to construct building frameworks, structures, and details that can be both functional and artistic. Carpenters are responsible for putting the bones of a building together (rough carpentry) as well as crafting the skin (finish carpentry) of a building or residential home. Carpenters might also take on more specialty furniture pieces such as tables, cabinets, dressers, and more. Precision, creativity, and strong problem-solving skills are imperative for any successful carpenter as the work involves measuring, cutting, forming, and building within a given space and within a client’s specifications..
What are the different types of carpentry work?
Rough carpentry: Rough carpentry is responsible for the skeletal framework of a building or home. It’s the structure you absolutely want to have done with skill and precision, though it will largely be unseen in the final product. A rough carpenter’s work often paves the way for electricians, plumbers, and other tradesmen to follow.
Finish carpentry: Arguably, this is the fun stuff. Finish carpentry is responsible for the finishing touches such as baseboards, moulding, door installations, trim, built-ins, cabinets and more. Aside from personal decorative touches, finish carpentry is what makes a room or a home feel complete, giving basic spaces that extra wow-factor.
Woodworking: Similar to finish carpentry, woodworking often takes the form of detail, custom-work such as cabinets, tables, furniture, and more. Woodworkers and finish carpenters alike must maintain a sharp eye for precision and creativity as every project is different. At Kirk Heritage, we consider finish carpentry and woodworking to be our specialties.
What does a typical day in the life of a carpenter look like?
We’ll preface this section to say: no two days are alike. But on any given day, you can bet a carpenter is probably:
Taking a trip (or two) to Home Depot or Lowe’s or another specialty wood shop to source materials for a project. Here in Nashville, Brentwood, and Franklin, TN, we’re partial to Central Woodwork, Richelieu, Mimms Lumber, Cox Interiors, and Walker Lumber.
Prepping a project space. This means a lot of thinking, measuring, cutting, taping. It also means putting in various protections so a client’s home remains as dust-free as possible.
Installation! This is where the magic happens. We get to take all of those carefully measured cuts and start making a client’s dream come to life.
Providing clients with project updates and coordinating with subcontractors (when needed)
Responding to new project inquiries with renderings and estimates
Bookkeeping (it’s not the fun stuff, but in order to keep the business running, it’s a must!)
How to know if you need to hire a carpenter
If you’re dreaming of building built-in bookshelves, or cabinets to provide storage in an entryway or mudroom, or if you’re looking to elevate a space with decorative wainscoting or paneling for a dining room or accent wall, or if you’re looking for that perfect table or custom dresser, it’s time to call a carpenter. Yes, the DIY movement is real, but these are the types of projects and statement pieces that should stand the test of time, and you’ll need a skilled carpenter to get the results you’re dreaming of. On the other hand, if you’re looking to build a house from the ground up, a carpenter will certainly be involved, but your first call should be to a General Contractor (fortunately, Kirk Heritage is also a licensed General Contractor). Foundation and crawlspace repair, along with electrical, plumbing, and roofing, for example, are typically specialties beyond the scope of a carpenter (but we probably have a good recommendation for one if you’re in the Nashville, Brentwood, or Franklin area!).
Talk with an experienced carpenter in Nashville, TN
If you’re in the greater Nashville, TN area (Brentwood, Franklin, Nolensville, Bellevue, Donelson), Kirk Heritage would be honored to connect with you and talk about the possibilities. Drop a line on our contact page and we’ll be in touch soon.