Carpenters and Joiners

What is the difference between carpenters and joiners?

Carpentry and joinery are two specialisms within the overall trade of woodworking. There is certainly much overlap between the two trades – both primarily work with wood, of course – but one does not perfectly equal the other. At its simplest level, a carpenter will create, install or repair on site what a joiner makes in a workshop – the latter focusing on cutting and fitting joints. But there are also exceptions to this broad distinction. Some joiners will be involved in finishing and fitting certain pieces of bespoke joinery such as skirting boards and architraves, and many professionals work as both joiners and carpenters.

When deciding whether to employ a joiner or carpenter, it is best to pick your professional according to their experience on projects similar to your own. For example, installing bespoke joinery such as a staircase involves significant structural work and you might want to work with a carpenter with considerable experience in bespoke staircase joinery. You will often find you need to employ both a carpenter and joiner on a single project, and some firms will offer both skillsets which can simplify your overall hiring process.

Where can I find a good carpenter or joiner?

On Houzz there are many professional carpenters and joiners that specialise in providing a full carpentry service or bespoke joinery, whether dealing with fitted or freestanding, traditional or contemporary furniture. Simply search for a joiner or carpenter in the Find Pros category, then add images of designs that you like to an Ideabook and contact those on your shortlist. If you need reassurance beyond photos of their work and reviews of previous clients, then you might check to see if the carpenter or joiner is a member of The Institute of Carpenters (IOC), The Guild of Master Craftsmen, the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) or the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Each asks its members to meet a certain level of expertise and abide by a code of conduct. Have a face-to-face consultation – basic brief and image references in hand – see which joiner or carpenter is the easiest to get along with and who best understands what you’re trying to achieve.

Important questions to ask your joiner or carpenter

• How long have you been a joiner or carpenter?
  
• Do you offer bespoke joinery as well as standard carpentry?
  
• Do you have a portfolio of your previous work?
  
• Who will be working on the project?
  
• Are you a member of a trade organisation such as the Institute of Carpenters or The Guild of Master Craftsmen?
  
• Do you design and build only or will you also fit my bespoke joinery or custom woodwork?
  
• Will there be a range of materials, samples and finishes to choose from?
  
• If I source a material myself, would you be willing to work with that?
  
• How will I know what the final design will look like?
  
• Do you require a deposit and if so, how much?
  
• What is your proposed completion date and what happens if you can’t meet that?
  
• Will you be working at my home or at your premises?
  
• How much do you charge for delivery?
  
• Is your work guaranteed and if so, for how long?
  
• Do you have a stock of ready-made furniture that I can also look at?
  

Find a carpenter or joiner on Houzz. Narrow your search in the Professionals section of the website to joiner and carpenter professionals. You can also look through photos of woodwork and bespoke joinery by style to find a design you like, then contact the joiner or carpenter that worked on it.

Or find carpenters in these popular locations:

Carpenters in Harrow | Carpenters in Croydon | Carpenters in Enfield