joiners

A joiner is a skilled tradesperson who fabricates wooden components for buildings and furniture, typically in a workshop, and then fits or installs them on site. Joinery work focuses on creating precise, interlocking components such as doors, window casings, stairs, cabinetry, and built-in elements. The term is often contrasted with carpentry, which is more associated with on-site assembly and rough construction. In traditional British usage, a joiner makes preassembled components in a workshop, while a carpenter handles on-site fitting; in the United States, cabinetmaker or woodworker is a common term for shop-based work, with carpenter covering broader construction tasks.

Training for joiners usually involves an apprenticeship or formal program lasting several years, combining shop practice with on-site experience. Learners study timber selection, reading technical drawings, joinery techniques, finishing, and the use of both hand tools (saws, planes, chisels) and power tools (table saws, planers, routers).

Typical outputs include prehung doors, window frames and casings, staircases, fitted kitchens and wardrobes, built-in bookcases, and other bespoke joinery for residential, commercial, and heritage projects. Key skills include precision, pattern making, and knowledge of timber species, grain orientation, and finishing methods. Materials commonly include solid timber, plywood, laminates, and engineered woods; modern joiners may also work with CNC machines and laser cutters to achieve consistent, repeatable results.

Modern joinery emphasizes accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with building codes and safety standards. The field overlaps with cabinetmaking and millwork, and many practitioners work across several related disciplines.