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Many people use the terms ‘carpenter’, ‘joiner’ and ‘woodworker’ interchangeably, without even realising that there are several key differences between these highly skilled trades.
They do have plenty in common of course; all three terms describe professionals who work with wood. But each trade has its own distinct skills, responsibilities and specialist expertise.
So, what are the differences between carpentry, woodwork and joinery, and when would you call an expert in each?
What is joinery and what do joiners do?
Joiners are highly talented professionals who specialise in the process of physically joining pieces of wood together to create furniture, cabinetry, doors, windows and other wooden structures.
Precision joinery is highly intricate and detailed work, and you would want to call an expert in joinery if you were after a piece of bespoke woodwork or custom furniture, for example. Joiners can craft high-quality items to specific requirements and designs, combining functionality and beauty in their finished products. Expert joinery also covers the restoration of antique wooden pieces.
Joiners tend to operate out of a workshop, using a variety of specialist techniques and a range of hand and power tools to join wood seamlessly and precisely, without the use of nails or glue.
What is woodwork and what do woodworkers do?
Woodwork is a skill that involves using wood to create smaller, often highly intricate objects and furniture. The sort of pieces that might be crafted by an expert woodworker include cabinets, clocks and smaller items such as exquisite bowls and ornaments.
There is a certain amount of overlap between the services of a woodworker and a joiner. But expert joinery is actually a specialist skill within the wider realm of woodwork, with a joiner focusing more on creating frames, panels and components involved in construction. Woodwork, on the other hand, usually involves working with smaller, more decorative pieces, and also encompasses other specialist skills such as carving and engraving.
What is carpentry and what do carpenters do?
Carpenters are talented tradespeople who work with timber to construct, install and repair larger wooden components and structures. They tend to work out in the field, on construction sites and in homes, using mobile tools.
You’d want to engage the skills of a carpenter if you were installing a shed, pergola or deck in your garden, for example, or repairing a staircase. They also work on interior finishes, such as wooden door or window frames, and many carpenters develop a specialist area.
Many people do not know the difference between carpenters and joiners, but they each operate quite differently within the wider fields of architecture, construction and woodwork. Often, a carpenter will be responsible for the installation and fitting of a wooden structure or piece of bespoke furniture that has been crafted off-site by an expert joiner.
Contact Tucker Joinery to get your next bespoke furniture project underway today.
