Why Your Builder Needs a Professional Carpenter on its Team

Most people who want to extend, alter or refurbish their property in the capital will begin by looking for a professional London builder. They might also think about engaging a qualified electrician or plumber depending on the type of work involved. But one important craftsman is sometimes overlooked – the skilled carpenter. This is surprising when you consider how much wood is used in the construction of the average building in London:

• Floor joists and wooden flooring
• Frames for internal walls and partitions
• Doors and windows
• Skirting boards, dado and picture rails
• Stairs
• Fitted cupboards and shelves
• Roof timbers
• Shop fronts, display units and fittings
• Fitted office furniture

You could ask your builder to install ready-made wooden fixtures and fittings, but if you want a top quality finish on all the woodwork in your home or business premises you should make sure you have a fully qualified and experienced carpenter in your building team.

An expert carpenter will be able to make and fit all the wooden components needed for any building project. This can be especially important when working on older London houses where modern ‘standard size’ doors and windows often won’t fit! If you want to preserve or copy original wooden features in a period property, look for someone who has heritage carpentry experience and is familiar with traditional designs and techniques.

Engaging a professional carpenter will not only ensure the highest standard of workmanship but it could also save you money. A craftsman who has a good reputation to maintain will choose the best wood for each job and take care over each stage of the work to produce a finished piece that will give many years of trouble-free service. He will also be able to carry out repairs on the existing wood in a building, giving it a new lease of life. This could be very useful if you are refurbishing your home on a tight budget.

There are a lot of people calling themselves carpenters in London, but they’re not all properly qualified and might not be capable of doing the type of work you need. You can protect yourself from cowboys by checking their qualifications. Carpenters learn their trade through a combination of formal training courses and on-the-job training, including apprenticeships. The most common carpentry qualifications are City and Guilds in Carpentry and Joinery, and NVQ’s (National Vocational Qualifications).

Most qualified carpenters will also be able to show you a CSCS card. The Construction Skills Certification Scheme issues a range of cards showing the skill and experience level of the holder. It is also proof that the carpenter has passed a Health and Safety test.

The easiest way to find an expert carpenter is through a reputable Building Services Company that does all the checks for you and only employs the best.