Carpentry

Brief History of Carpentry

The carpentry industry includes companies and establishments involved in residential construction, finishing carpentry work, and commercial and industrial construction. Carpentry is one of the oldest skills trade still in use today. Here is a look at carpentry and woodworking over the cnturies:

Carpentry 101: Skills Needed

According to O*NET OnLine, there are some specific skills carpenters need to have to perform their job. Critical thinking is one of the fundamental skill sets required by carpenters. Construction projects are always changing, and daily activities on the job will almost never go according to plan. All it takes is for Mother Nature to throw off the timeline of a construction project, and the carpenter must turn those critical thinking skills up a notch. Another necessary skill is the ability to read and understand blueprints and building codes. Carpenters also need math skills like basic algebra and geometry , as they must precisely measure wood needing to be cut and determine the required angle

Here are some other skills and knowledge carpenters will need:

Construction Knowledge – Carpenters need an understanding of construction materials and the methods used in building structures.

Mechanical – Carpenters use numerous tools to construct buildings, including power tools and hand tools, so they must understand which tool is right for the job.

Strength – A carpenter handles heavy lumber all day long. They must be able to easily move material.

Attention to Detail – “Measure twice, cut once.” Marking and cutting materials are at the core of what carpenters do. Both require a sharp eye for details that, if overlooked, can lead to disastrous outcomes. A small measuring mistake can lead to a project completely failing and requiring costly revisions.

Before the above skills are even tested, one must learn carpentry basics.

Trade School and Learning Carpentry

How do you learn carpentry? There are numerous ways to obtain carpentry skills that will help a person erect structures built from wood and other materials. There is the traditional route of attending a trade or vocational school and getting a carpentry certification. Those who elect to attend a trade school will take roughly 8-24 months to complete training. However, there is also a path to a career in carpentry by accepting an apprenticeship position where one learns skills hands-on from a professional carpenter. In addition to an apprenticeship or formal education, watching YouTube videos on carpentry and reading industry-leading carpentry magazines will also help aspiring carpenters learn the knowledge they require. For those who choose to pursue carpentry without a formal education, one should expect the following steps in their career path:

After obtaining the status of master, a carpenter can move on to becoming a general contractor. Once certified as a general contractor , the carpenter can oversee the carpentry aspects to entire construction projects

Top Carpentry Schools

Associate degree programs in carpentry are available all over the country. Some schools stand out, such as the Houston School of Carpentry , Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, and the Rhode Island School of Design. Other top colleges and universities with strong carpentry programs can be found here.

Employment

In 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that carpenters held about 1.0 million jobs across the US. Roughly 21% of all carpenters work in residential finishing carpentry, which includes additions, alterations, maintenance, and repairs. Here is where you can find carpenters employed:

Here are the official employment numbers:

Carpentry Specializations

With such numerous employment opportunities found in carpentry, there is a wide number of specialties. Here is a look at some of the most common specialties within the carpentry industry:

Work Activities

A Carpenter's Tools

Carpentry Organizations

Don't be a fool, cover your tool

You might think we’re referring to a carpenter's high-priced tools. But, we’re referring to the most important part of carpentry, your hands…

Carpenters may find themselves working in cramped spaces and often at Mother Nature’s mercy with variable weather conditions. Plus, carpentry is one of the most physically demanding trades, requiring the lifting of heavy materials and tools.

The demanding work shows up in the industry’s injury rate, where carpenters experience a much higher rate of injuries compared to the national average. With 4.2 injuries for every 100 workers, carpentry comes in 20% higher than the average for other U.S. industries.

Additional Safety Resources

As a carpenter, the hammer is used almost daily. However, without your hand, holding that hammer is impossible. Let MCR Safety keep you, your hands, and your entire body protected when performing carpentry work!

Safety

The number of ways a carpenter can become injured on a job site is endless. Sharp tools and flying nails are a recipe for injured hands and eyes. Carpentry ranks #9 out of 16 total construction sub-industries for workplace accidents and incidents. For every 100 people working in carpentry, there is an injury experienced by 3.1 workers.

Here are some other stats the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides about job safety that carpenters should consider:

Carpenters rank 8th out of 16 for hand injuries, with 200 total hand injuries recorded in 2019. Handling power saws is always a safety concern for carpenters.

Compared to other construction subindustries, carpentry lands toward the bottom end of the danger meter overall. However, don't let that placement fool you. Carpentry is still a dangerous work environment and precautions should be taken to prevent injury. Here are some common sources of injuries:

We've highlighted a lot of carpentry information and thrown several industry stats at you. The remaining part of this page showcases some of the most common carpentry hazards workers face and the different PPE options carpenters should consider wearing while performing their work.If you prefer to return to the main Construction home page, click the image below. From the home page, you'll be able to access any of the numerous construction industries we cover.