Carpentry

Carpentry is the trade and craft of working with timber and engineered wood to construct, install, and repair building components and fittings. It encompasses rough carpentry, which deals with structural elements such as framing, support beams, and floors, and finish carpentry, which includes trim, cabinetry, doors, and millwork. Carpentry may occur in construction, remodeling, or furniture making and can involve on-site work or shop fabrication of components.

Carpenters use a combination of hand tools (handsaw, back saw, chisels, planes, framing square) and power tools (circular saw, miter saw, reciprocating saw, drills, routers, nail guns). Key techniques include measurement and layout, cutting, shaping, and joining. Common joints are mortise and tenon, dovetails, lap joints, finger joints, and the use of fasteners and adhesives. Materials include softwoods like pine, hardwoods such as oak, plywood, and engineered products.

Projects range from building frameworks for houses to installing doors, windows, stairs, cabinets, and finished trim. Good carpentry relies on accurate plans, knowledge of building codes, moisture management, and surface preparation and finishes. Safety is essential, with attention to tool handling, eye protection, and fall hazards on site. The work may be performed by individual craftsmen or as part of a crew.

Training in carpentry typically occurs through apprenticeships or vocational programs, supplemented by hands-on experience. The field overlaps with related trades such as cabinetmaking, millwork, and structural connections, and may involve restoration and preservation work in historical buildings.