Carpentry

Carpentry is a skilled trade involving the cutting, shaping, and installation of building materials.

Carpenters work on many different projects like buildings, ships, and timber bridges. They might also build concrete formwork, which are shapes used to hold wet concrete. Some carpenters focus on fine work like making furniture or cabinets. Others do rougher work like framing the skeleton of a house. This job is very important in construction. Carpenters are often the first workers on a job site. They are also usually the last ones to leave.

There are many different ways that carpentry works. In the United Kingdom, builders divide the work into two parts. The first fix involves parts that are usually hidden, like roofs and floors. This happens before plastering is done on the walls. The second fix happens after the plastering is finished. This includes installing things you see, like doors, windows, and skirting boards. In the United States, people sometimes distinguish between a carpenter and a joiner. A joiner usually does lighter or more decorative work. However, many workers combine both of these skills.

Carpentry has a very long history. People have used wood as a building material since the Stone Age. Some of the oldest evidence comes from water well casings. One oak and hazel structure in the Czech Republic dates back to 5256 BC. Another wooden structure in Germany is about 7,000 years old. For a long time, people passed these skills down by hand. They did not write books about it often. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century helped change this. Builders eventually began to publish their own guides and pattern books.

New tools and materials have changed the trade over time. In the 18th century, the steam engine and cut nails were invented. Later, the circular saw helped create a style called balloon framing. This changed how people moved away from traditional timber framing. In the 19th century, electricity allowed for hand-held power tools. In the 20th century, new materials like plywood and drywall became common. Even concrete foundations changed things by replacing heavy timber sills. These changes made building faster and different than in the past.

Learning to be a carpenter takes a lot of practice. Many people start as an apprentice to learn the trade. This training often lasts about four years. In the United States, there were about 1.5 million carpentry jobs in 2006. Most carpenters in the U.S. were male in 1999. Today, many programs help women enter the field. After an apprentice learns enough, they become a journeyperson. A journeyperson is a skilled worker with a high level of proficiency. Some people eventually reach the level of a master carpenter.