Carpentry & Joinery
How to choose the right carpenter for your job
One of the most important jobs for the construction around your home is carpentry. Carpentry can make all the difference in a home that has unique touches of beauty. Without carpentry and joinery, you won’t have proper cabinets or countertops, and so much more. Carpentry is an integral part of the construction of your home.
When it comes to choosing the right carpenter for your home’s carpentry needs, there are some things that you want to be sure you’re taking into consideration when choosing the carpenter that you hire.
Here are a few we’re going to look at:
- Find a carpenter with the specific experience that you need for your home.
- Get a thorough quote, and get a few of them.
- Never pay in full at the start of your carpentry job.
- Are they qualified?
Let’s take a bit more of a deeper dive into these now.
Hire a carpenter that has specific experience within your needs.
Depending on the type of carpentry that you need for the construction of your home, hiring just a general carpenter for something like cabinetry can be a mistake. The intricate and detailed work that is involved within something like carpentry means you’ll want to look for someone that has mastered their specific niche. Wood can be hard to work with, and if someone claims they can do all of the carpentry and joinery work within your home, be weary of the type of work you’re going to get. While they may know a bit about it all, finding those who have taken the time to master their craft will make all the difference in the pristine woodwork within your home. You wouldn’t set out to hire a joiner who’s making the window frames, doors, and staircases in your home to also build your cabinets. A general carpenter will work with both a joiner and cabinet maker to install these elements within your home.
Take the time to research each of your potential carpenters thoroughly. Ask them to see some of their previous work. Does it match up to the style and artistry that you’re looking for within your home? You are able to search through hundreds of customer’s feedbackon ClickATrades for tradesman, as well as review photos of their previous work. If you’re talking to a few carpenters that you’re considering be sure to ask to speak with some of the previous clients directly. Good ones, will be glad to put you in touch with previous clients.
Get the quotes and compare them
ClickATrades recommends that you always get at least three quotes from the specific tradesmen that you’re considering for you home construction needs. Along with that, be sure that you’re receiving thorough and detailed line by line quotes for the work to be done in your home. Are they subcontracting out some of the carpentry?
Be certain that you’re asking about the materials that a carpenter is planning on using in your home. Are they the materials that you want? Or are they trying to sub in sub-par wood and materials in your home? Go through the quotes before you decide on which carpenter you’re going to hire, comparing them line by line. This way you can ensure that you’re getting an accurate picture of what you’re getting with each of the potential carpenters.
Never pay in full
It’s important to not pay for your carpentry work in full up front. Carpentry is such a specific type of craft and work on your home that it can change from day to day. Most good carpenters will charge you for an initial set of materials and labor at the front, and then work out payment plans and closing payments with them. The job may change as your project grows, so handling it like this allows there to be flexibility within the costs.
Are they qualified?
You are able to find many carpenters out there who don’t have any professional qualifications. These are the types that have been working with wood for a long time, or may have been apprenticed through a family member. But it’s important to have a relevant carpentry qualification, such as an NVQ or a City & Guilds Diploma in woodworking.
With the proper qualifications, you’re ensured as a customer that a carpenter understands the intricacies of your home woodworking needs. They may also have more relationships with other highly qualified tradesmen.
These are just a few of the things to look for when you’re considering hiring a carpenter for any woodworking needs around your home.