A Checklist of What You Need to Know Before Hiring that Carpenter!

 

Carpenters are essential when you need any kinds of renovation or workings relating to woodwork. They are the wood specialists who ensure all woodwork is sturdy, long lasting, and making sure it looks beautiful.

 

For long, carpenters have been celebrated for their works and contribution to society. They build our homes, our schools, factories and every other imaginary structure we take for granted in our everyday lives.

 

It’s important to know how to choose a good carpenter for your home. Here are ways to know what you are looking for in a carpenter in Singapore.

1. Get references from friends and families

 

 

One way to find a carpenter is to go through your immediate contacts. Your friends and your families may know a reliable carpenter you can go to for your carpentry works.

 

“Take references,” says Dave Bentley at the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). “Take how they present themselves as a sign of the quality of their labour. If their workplace is clean and tidy, they’re likely to be organised and keep your project in order. You also need to check the carpenter is capable of the work you want them to do. There’s no point employing somebody who’s put up fencing for the last 10 years if you want a roofer.”

 

As you have found your carpenter, do a background check on them. This step is important as the vetting process tells you if your carpenter is able to carry out your project dynamically. It also tells you if you can trust him/her to work for you.

2. Do you have to supply the tools and materials?

 

 

Every good carpenter will have their own tools. You will need to supply the materials on your end.

 

When supplying your own materials, check with your carpenter and tradesmen what kind of materials to get. Check and see the quantity and sizes of the materials you are to obtain for the new home you are building. Verify the price as you go through the checklist.

3. Cost

Image via Pixabay

 

Costs include not just the materials, but rather the overall cost of the whole project. It don’t matter the size and scale of the project. You should always make sure to get a sales quote from different carpenters before settling for one.

 

Quotes you have obtained can be compared (accurately) with each other. That means you should ask each carpenters to quote on exactly the same thing. There are three basic things you should look out for in your sales quote:

• Cost of materials (materials have to be the same, or at least similar)
• Labour works
• Service charges (similar, if any)

 

Some people may settle for the cheapest sales quote given to them. For some people, they may have budget constraint. Nonetheless, do keep in mind sometimes the cheapest sales quote may not guarantee you quality workmanship. Consider not just the workmanship but also the quality of materials used in constructing your home.

 

There are times where it is cheaper to pick a more expensive quote where better work gets done. Cheaper sales quote sometimes may require work redone in the long term. Think maintenance!

4. Carpenter availability

 

 

One thing most people will take into consideration is carpenter availability. We are all pretty sure you want to complete your project within reasonable time-frame. As someone who wants to have their job done as soon as possible, you won’t see the point of having a 2-week project dragged into a 1-month work.

 

Keep in mind that carpentry works often cause inconvenience within the home. You will want to minimize this as much as possible. Also, make sure your carpenter is punctual and reliable. You won’t want to wait on your carpenter to show up. Not especially when you have a huge project that involves multiple trades-people who comes in after them.

 

Compile a schedule after you have find out how long it will take them to finish their sections. Draw up a written contract with your carpenters and list down the work that is to be carried out. Include the full breakdown of the costs involved also.

5. Which and what kind of carpenter/carpentry do I know I need?

 

 

 

When people say carpenter, their immediate thinking is “a worker of wood”, or a wood smith. There are actually different kinds of carpentry specializations. A rough carpenter does framing, formwork and other structural works. A finish carpenter is someone who specializes in moulding and trimming.

 

To help you understand better what different kinds of carpenters are, here’s a list for your comprehension:

 

Rough carpentry:

This is a general kind of carpentry. It does not require a neat finish because it will be covered up by other walls or items. The most common kind of carpentry is structural carpentry. Structural carpenters are very skilled in quickly erecting structural components of a building such as beams, posts, and rafters. Rough carpenters commonly work on roofing and framing.

Image via Pixabay

Finish carpentry:

 

Finish carpentry refers to all works that will be visible once a building has been completed. As such, finish carpenters work to a high level of detail. Finish carpenters often work on decking, flooring, building staircases, installing windows and doors. They also work on erecting pergolas or other structures, install trim and moulding, among others.

 

Formwork carpentry:

Formwork carpentry focuses on erecting and dismantling the formwork that is needed for the pouring of concrete. The formwork is the “frame” that holds the concrete in place while it cures.

 

Cabinet-making:

A specialised branch of carpentry focusing on building cabinetry for kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, offices, and similar. Furniture making is also a component of cabinet-making.

 

Trim carpentry:

Trim carpentry specializes in installing the trims and mouldings into a room. Mouldings include moulding of mantles, skirting boards, cornices, architraves, ornamental trim, etc.

 

Green carpentry:

A carpenter who is skilled and trained in the same way as a standard carpenter. Green carpenters have a particular interest and skill set in using environmentally friendly methods and materials in their projects.

 

Scenic carpentry:

Scenic carpenters specialize in erecting and dismantling scenery and sets that are used in movies, television, and plays.

 

Ship’s carpentry:

A ship carpenter is someone who specializes in ship building, maintenance and repair techniques. Ship carpenters are needed on steel ships and wooden ships.

 

Each carpenter has their own specialization areas, and may not always fit what you are looking for in a carpenter. As carpenters are one of the most well know types of tradesmen, they can help you complete everything from the smallest job to the largest jobs in your home.

 

Be sure to do a comprehensive check on your carpenter background, budget, and materials, to ensure smooth sailing. As more people like their homes to be beautiful, they would also like for their homes to be functional. A carpenter’s artistic flair, coupled with their expert knowledge, is able to bring out the best in a work.

 

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