When you think of a carpenter, you naturally think of someone that works with wood. But there are a lot of ways that wood is processed from its journey from the tree to a building or piece of furniture. You may be wondering where a carpenter falls into this process or asking yourself what do carpenters do on a daily basis?
Carpenters are responsible for constructing, repairing and installing structures that are made from wood and sometimes other materials. These often include but are certainly not limited to flooring, staircases, framework and cabinetry.
Being a carpenter is a very versatile job and if you go down this career path, no two days will be the same. You’ll spend a lot of time on construction sites for things like houses, roads, office blocks and many other types of buildings.
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What Does A Day In The Life Of A Carpenter Look Like?
Going to work as a carpenter will look very different each day. Since these people often work on construction sites, they often travel and end up working on several projects each year. You may find yourself in a client’s home, a workshop or on a site for various types of construction.
The working environment isn’t always the cleanest or most pleasant. Carpenters work in duty environments and are often expected to work in risky situations. This can mean working at heights. For all of these reasons, carpenters will have to kit themselves out with protective gear before starting work each day.
There are lots of things that a carpenter might do during his or her working day. They have to have excellent communication skills as they will often be working with other professionals and will have to plan projects with them. Some carpenters even go on to become site managers or supervisors as their careers progress.
When it comes to the practical aspects of being a carpenter, you will use a lot of different skills. For starters, these tradespeople will work hands on with tools doing things like cutting and shaping wood. This might be to craft frames, skirting boards, doors and much more.
Once these structures are completed, a carpenter would then need to install them. This is the main part of his or her job. When on construction sites, the carpenter may install things like partition walls, roof and window frames, floorboards, staircases and other things. It’s also not uncommon for a carpenter to be hired to install kitchen cabinets, shelving and other fixtures.
Depending on the type of work they are doing, carpenters may find themselves working in commercial buildings such as bars, restaurants and schools among others. It also requires a carpenter to erect stage sets for TV, movies and theatre!
What Hours Do Carpenters Work?
It is not uncommon for a carpenter to have to work long hours. This is typically a full time occupation. Working as a carpenter, you may be expected to work evenings and weekends. This is because you need to be available to meet the demands of the client.
However, you must also consider that carpenters’ work may be affected by conditions outside of their control. For example, some projects may be interrupted by adverse weather. In this case, a carpenter may have to return to work and take part in an alternative shift when the conditions are more suitable.
Generally speaking, a carpenter in the UK may have to work between 40 and 45 hours per week but this can vary.
Are Carpenters On Good Money?
Being a carpenter gives you an opportunity to progress your career and end up on quite a significant wage. For example, master carpenters can expect to earn up to £62,000 a year before tax.
Of course, you have to work your way up to this. When you first qualify, the basic salary for a new carpenter is only around £17,000 each year. That said, this figure will soon grow and on average, in the UK, carpenters are earning around £38,000 per year once they are considered to be experienced.
If you wanted to further your career even more, you could go into project management, teaching or even start your own business.
Is It Dangerous Being A Carpenter?
It might surprise you to learn that most injuries to carpenters aren’t caused by the tools they use on a daily basis. Instead, carpenters typically sustain workplace injuries from things like slips, trips and falls.
Quite often, a carpenter will need to work at height and unless the proper safety gear is in place, falls are not uncommon. Moreover, carpenters can find themselves at risk of strains and muscle injuries owing to the fact that they have to lift heavy items and move them around the workplace.
With all of that in mind, being a carpenter isn’t a hugely dangerous job and it’s unlikely you will face regular injuries. Of course, the best way to avoid this is to wear the correct safety gear and follow procedures to the letter.
Conclusion
If you like working with your hands but also want a mental challenge then being a carpenter is a great career choice. These professionals spend their days building, installing and repairing wooden structures, usually on a construction site.
Some people go on to become site supervisors or project managers. In this case, the job would involve a lot of communication with others and plenty of planning.
While there are some risks involved with being a carpenter, it is not an extremely dangerous job. The wages are good and there are lots of opportunities to progress your career.