Jobs, Careers and Occupations

Carpenters

Carpenters Nature of Work

Carpenters construct, erect, install, finish, maintain and repair wooden, wood-substitutes and metal structures and fixtures on residential and commercial buildings. They may also work on large concrete, steel and timber structures such as bridges, dams, power stations and civil engineering projects.

Construction companies, carpentry contractors, maintenance departments of factories, plants and other establishments employ them, or they may be self-employed. Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Carpenters Work Conditions

Carpenters work is sometimes strenuous. Prolonged standing, climbing, bending and kneeling often are necessary. Carpenters risk injury working with sharp or rough materials, using sharp tools and power equipment, and working in situations where they might slip or fall. Although many carpenters work indoors, those that work outdoors are subject to variable weather conditions.

Carpenters Personal Requirements

• A sense of balance and ability to work at heights
• Able to work as part of a team
• Able to work with your hands
• Enjoy practical work Good at mathematics
• Good health and eyesight

Carpenters Employment Requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required
• Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program or
• A combination of over five years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses is usually required to be eligible for trade certification
• Trade certification is usually required

Carpenters Duties and Tasks

Carpenters may perform some or all of the following duties and tasks:

• Build floors, wall frameworks (timber or metal), roofs and suspended ceilings, and lay timber floors
• Construct and erect prefabricated units, such as cottages and houses
• Construct formwork into which concrete is poured
• Cut materials, and assemble or nail, cut and shape parts
• Install door handles, locks, hardware, flooring underlay, insulating material and other fixtures Install metal and timber windows, sashes and doors
• Maintain and sharpen tools
• Maintain, repair and renovate residences and wooden structures in mills, mines, hospitals, industrial plants and other establishments
• Read and interpret blueprints, drawings, sketches, plans and specifications to determine the materials required, dimensions, installation processes and calculate requirements
• Set out an outline of the building on the ground of the site, using string and pegs to allow for excavations
• With hand and power tools measure, cut, shape, assemble and join materials made of wood, wood substitutes and other materials

Carpenter Example Titles

• Apprentice carpenter
• Finish carpenter
• Journeyman/woman carpenter
• Maintenance carpenter
• Renovation carpenter
• Rough carpenter

Carpenter Related Occupations

• Bricklayers
• Building Contractors
• Cabinetmakers
• Joiners
• Plumbers
• Stonemasons
• Wood Machinists
• Welders

Construction Related Industries

• Architecture
• Mining
• Real Estate
• Trades / Technicians