Advice on becoming a Carpenter - written by Matt Morgan

Carpentry involves a wide range of task from domestic to large commercial projects. Carpentry is a hands on career so anyone thinking about becoming a carpenter should enjoy working outside what ever the environment

Work as a carpenter can range from the building of small porches and patios to building large buildings in the city. Technically, a carpenter makes the wooden fixtures and fittings used for both domestic and commercial projects. These are then installed on the building they are working on. A carpenter can be involved throughout an entire house build from laying the floorboards to building the roof trusses. Basically, a well-trained and experienced carpenter can build a house or building from the bottom up. Some carpenters are experts in one specific aspect of the trade, while others are a "jack-of-all-trade" type of worker.

Those who work as a carpenter could contract work in many different ways. They could do formwork. This is the temporary shuttering that is built to support the concrete that is in the process of setting on a structure. An example of this would be bridge supports or the foundation to a house or building. A carpenter may also work on machining, which is the cutting and shaping of the wood for floorboards, or the skirting of boards and window frames.

First fixing refers to the work done to fit the wooden structures onto the structure. These would include any stairways, partition walls, doors and window frames. The second fixing refers to the instillation of skirting boards, cupboards, door handles and more intricate work. Indeed, the job of a carpenter can be time consuming and intense. But it may well be worth the rewards. You can be an expert in one type of carpentry, or be able to take on them all.

It is not necessary to complete formal school training to take on the career as a carpenter. However, many jobs and companies will prefer you have some on the job skills of a carpenter before you work for them. Labouring is oftern a way to gain experience as a carpenter. Many companies will offer apprenticeships to existing labourers.

There are college courses available that can get you the knowledge you need to get started in carpentry work. These may not be enough to get you a job right of the bat with a company; however, they may still want on-site experience. If you do decide to take classes, there are a few that can be very helpful to the field of carpentry. Some basic skills are required to become a carpenter including basic Maths and English skills.

Once one is already an established carpenter, they could take, in some cases, on the job training that leads to NVQ qualifications. This could include working in bench work, site work, shop fitting, timber frame erection, and wheelwrighting. If you enjoy building and want to get satisfying results from your job, a career in carpentry might be just what you are looking for. Contact your local college to see how you can get started on taking course to prepare you for this exciting and profitable career.

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