Carpentry, also known as woodworking, is one of the oldest skilled trades and is a craft in which the primary work preformed is the cutting, shaping, joining and installation of timber building materials during the construction of buildings and other structures. Traditionally carpenters worked with natural wood, but today various other materials are also used.
The trade is learnt by taking an apprenticeship, but it can also be learnt by gaining work experience in an informal training programme. Carpenters typically work on construction sites where carpentry is used in timber-framed constructions for roofs, floors and walls, for skirting boards and architraves, and finally for the construction of cupboards within various rooms. It is also used for shuttering formwork, building of stairs, and the installation of doors and windows.
Carpenters follow blueprints and building plans for their required work and need to be accurate in the way they interpret the plans. The tools that are used generally are hand tools such as chisels and levels, as well as power tools like sanders and circular saws. Fastening materials include nails, screws and tape measures and some employers may require applicants to supply their own tools.
Requirements
- Start-up Capital: $100
- Space required: Nil
- Equipment: Basic tools as above
- Specific skills: Yes – online training or apprenticeship