Carpenters are some of the first workers on a jobsite, and some of the last to leave. They assist in site preparation; build concrete forms and decks; frame walls and roofs; hang interior and exterior walls; install windows, doors, acoustical ceilings, cabinetry, countertops and trim; and install locks, hardware and specialty furniture. Carpenters work on almost any construction site imaginable, i
ncluding new construction and remodeling, such as single-family homes; condominium and apartment projects; office towers, corporate and industrial buildings; new and remodeled hospitals, malls, stores and offices; and public projects such as stadiums, arenas, roads, bridges, schools and university buildings. Carpenters need more than just good math and geometry skills; they have to be tough and flexible, able to work indoors or out, in the summer heat and humidity or in the bitter cold and snow of winter. Carpenters work in five general areas:
Wood Framing, including residential framing layout, residential wall framing, stairs, roof framing, roof trusses and floor trusses
Interior Systems, including wood-and metal-framed wall partitions, framed soffits, metal jamb installation, suspended ceilings and soffits, clean rooms, demountable partitions, and raised floors
Concrete Form Work, including footings, column pads, column forms, wall forms, slab and deck forms, beam and girder forms, deck and edge forms for bridges, and stair forms
Exterior Finish, including siding, wood and vinyl soffits, asphalt shingles, doors, and window units
Interior Finish, including basic cabinet installation, countertops, shelving, paneling, trim, door hanging, and commercial hardware (door closers, panic devices, latch and lock sets, including low-voltage applications)
Carpenters must also learn other vital skills, including First Aid and OSHA safety; scaffolding; blueprint reading; using a transit, level and laser; operating equipment such as fork lifts and aerial lifts; and setting up conventions and other interior displays. Contact the Carpenters Local near you.
