What is Finish Carpentry?
Finish carpenters basically add all the final touches that make a house a home. They work on homes after a house is fully built, insulated, wired and has a complete plumbing system. For this reason, finishing carpenters can perform most of their work before or after the homeowner moves into a home. Many homeowners perform finishing carpentry jobs in their own homes. However, as with most projects, a professional finishing carpenter can typically perform the work more quickly and professionally, albeit for a higher monetary cost.
Almost any visible wood in a home was a job for a carpenter. Finishing carpentry projects can include basic, functional items such as hardwood flooring or stairs. Most of the skilled and specific finish carpentry work, however, is aesthetic. Finish carpenters typically cut, install and add design flourishes to window and door trim. They also usually install and dress up baseboards at the floor and crown molding at the ceiling. Wainscoting and wall paneling are also jobs for finish carpenters. More complex projects include built-in bookshelves, intricate fireplace surrounds and closets.
A builder or general contractor may hire a finish carpenter for any of these projects. A homeowner can also work with finish carpenters on finishing a new home or remodeling and existing house. Finish carpenters earn more than the average carpenter. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, finish carpenters can expect to earn about $18 per hour. The Department of Labor also predicts an ongoing availability of jobs for carpenters. Buildings will always need to be built or remodeled, and the hands-on work cannot be outsourced.
The most common way to find and start a job as a finishing carpenter is as an apprentice, working with an expert finish carpenter to learn the trade, pick up some tricks and hopefully make contacts in the industry. The easiest way to find a finishing carpenter apprenticeship is through a local union, such as the area branch of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Finishing carpenters need to have an intimate knowledge of the aesthetics and properties of construction woods. And keep up with new developments and trends. For example, the green movement is driving designers and homeowners to bamboo, eucalyptus and other fast-growth woods for a range of finishing carpentry work. Of course, Finish carpenters need to understand and use a wide range of adhesives, fasteners and tools. Different finish carpentry jobs can call for vastly different materials. Finish carpentry is a physically demanding job, but a rewarding one that offers obvious, fast and pleasing results.
Author Steve Graham is a former construction manager and newspaper editor. He has written more than 2,000 articles for Web sites, magazines and newspapers.
