As a carpenter, you make, repair and assemble wooden parts. If you come to work as a carpenter, you will be working on a construction site where new houses or commercial premises are being built or you will be working on (large) renovation projects. You may also do service and maintenance jobs.
Working as a carpenter is a much sought-after position within the construction industry. Carpenters/women are involved in manufacturing various types of wood. This can be either in a new construction or renovation environment. But it can also be by doing more fine work. At that point, you are an interior builder or joiner. A carpenter is a popular position with companies because a carpenter often has the potential to be used as an "all-round craftsman".
As a carpenter, you could work in different locations. As a construction carpenter, you could come to work in a new construction project, renovation project or work as a service engineer.
In the Netherlands, you normally take the training course Timmerman level 2 or All-round timmerman level 3 to start your career as a carpenter. Did you follow the training in Belgium. Then that is after completing BSO / TSO towards carpenter, or joiner.
If you want to work as a carpenter, then reading construction drawings is the most important quality you must possess. Construction drawings should be interpreted exactly by the Carpenter. If the Carpenter makes a mistake, it can have major consequences for the construction. For example, not placing/supporting a support beam correctly can have catastrophic consequences of the rest of the construction and this can even lead to collapse of a building. As a carpenter, you are employed as new-build carpenter, renovation carpenter or carpenter for service & maintenance.
A new construction carpenter works on large projects and usually works for a contractor or subcontractor. A new-build carpenter likes hard work and is mainly engaged in physically demanding work. In addition, a new construction carpenter often works in larger groups and with several people on a project. Work a Carpenter performs is making foundations, building masonry profiles and adjusting stair skeletons.
A renovation carpenter deals with refurbishments of existing premises within utility and residential construction. Examples include refurbishing a series of rental houses or refurbishing a church into a bookstore.
Carpenters working here will have to work more carefully because they are often monumental or old houses. Carpenters working in renovation work will also have to deal with demolition work. Because existing walls, window frames or stairs have to be removed from the building.
A carpenter Service & Maintenance mostly performs Service to end customers. For example, tenants of a flat or house, but also homeowners who have concluded maintenance contracts with a property management company or housing corporation. A carpenter Service & Maintenance is often a "Jack of all trades".
In addition to regular carpentry work, a Service & Maintenance Carpenter should also have basic knowledge of, for example, electrical or heating installations. In addition, it is also important that a Service & Maintenance Carpenter is presentable and can speak to customers well.
A contractor is a specialised company that a property developer or private individual can turn to for a particular job. Especially the moment a construction of a property is changed, it is wise to approach a contractor. Contractors unburden a client in the entire construction process. They provide a design, they apply for a permit where necessary and they make sure that the right people are in the right place to carry out a particular project. Contractor companies we know, for instance, are Laudy Bouw, Van Wijnen and Habenu.
A carpentry company is often "the light version" of a contractor. Often the distinction lies in two things:
The category that a carpentry company often falls under is "finish construction". And performs work that is not related in the structural work. For example, purely installing window frames, sealing bathrooms, installing kitchens, renovating stairs, and finishing walls and ceilings.
Property management companies have become increasingly popular for housing associations or freehold landlords. Service & Maintenance companies often have maintenance contracts where they take the entire maintenance out of customers' hands. This way, all a tenant has to do is indicate that they have a malfunction or problem, and the maintenance company will take care of it. The advantage for the landlord is that they no longer have to hire all the materials and skilled workers. Finally, landlords are helped faster the moment they report a problem.
One of the most important skills a carpenter must possess is drawing reading. There are different types of drawings. Working as a carpenter, you work with drawings on a daily basis. Sometimes there is so much on a drawing that there is no good view to extract data from it. It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish what is now top, side or front view. There are different types of drawings common in construction. Construction drawings can be divided into six phases. For each phase, the level of detail of a working drawing increases. The last two phases never coincide, but these are precisely the phases that are relevant to a carpenter:
Phase 1: Sketch design
In a sketch design, the client specifies the requirements for the project. For example, for a dormer window or for building a garden house. With the sketch design, a client can possibly go to the municipality to apply for a permit.
Phase 2 Preliminary design
The preliminary design will elaborate on the sketch design. Any requirements imposed by the municipality are incorporated into the design. At this stage, the designer is also expected to take sustainability into account.
Phase 3: Final design
In the final design phase, all the finishing touches will be added. Most of the architectural detailing of the plan takes place in the final design phase. Whereas in the previous phase all walls were still marked in black, all walls can now be distinguished, from cavity walls to lightweight partition walls. The design and calculation of the structure is started in this phase.
Phase 4: Technical design
The technical design, or specification drawing, is very important for planners/calculators or buyers. The main function of a specification drawing is as a communication tool to the contractor. This is because this drawing details exactly what everyone has to do to complete the project. For example, you can find on a specification drawing what the agreed working method is and what materials are to be used. Thanks to this drawing, everyone knows what he or she has to do to achieve the right result. In larger projects, a contractor often uses the specification drawing as the basis for his or her tender.
Phase 5: Implementation of finished design (in the case of new construction)
At this stage, the working drawing reaches the carpenter. The working drawing shows at a detailed level how certain parts of a structure are to be attached. The working drawing has fewer peripheral issues noted on the blueprint. This makes the drawing clearer for the carpenter. On the construction drawing, the carpenter sees which parts need to be collected and which how to attach them. The construction drawing
Phase 6: Revision drawing (in case of renovation)
A revision drawing is a construction drawing that shows the changes from the original drawing. Actually, a revision drawing says exactly the same thing as an execution ready design. The main difference is that the revision drawing represents the current situation. In addition, a revision drawing also includes elements of other building principles. This is to prevent a carpenter, for example, from hitting a gas pipe or removing a joist.
As a carpenter, you will learn how to read a drawing and carry out adjustment work independently. As a 1st carpenter, you MUST be able to read a drawing to work independently. The moment a carpenter cannot read a drawing, he will have to work as an assistant or 2nd carpenter.
Construction drawings are mostly drawn in AutoCAD. In this, the draftsman/constructor has a choice of three options. The traditional CAD drawing, a 3d model or a BIM (Building Information Management) model. In a Traditional CAD drawing or 3d model, drawings are shown separately on different drawings. In a BIM drawing, all drawings from a different work area are drawn on top of each other. An advantage of a BIM is that there is a considerable efficiency improvement because different expertises can work at the same time.
At the same time, the probability of failure is much lower with the new BIM method. For example, the ceiling on an installation drawing may have been drawn lower than on a construction drawing. This can eventually cause many problems, however, this is no longer the case with the BIM method.
Formwork is a temporary mould into which concrete is poured. The mould holds the concrete and usually the reinforcement in place during pouring and curing. This mould can consist of various materials such as wood, plastic or steel. When the concrete is cured, the formwork is usually removed and, in the case of system formwork, reused.
A formwork is used as long as concrete is being poured to keep this concrete neatly in place. So it is literally a mould through which the concrete will take its proper shape. The best-known form of formwork is made of wood
Shuttering work always occurs on new construction projects and is physically demanding work. Wooden formwork is widely used because of its cost and it is easy to assemble and disassemble. Many companies prefer wooden formwork because the assembly speed is the highest. Timber formwork can be used about four times before it needs to be replaced. Sometimes there are also carpenters who focus only on making formwork. Then they bear the name "concrete carpenter" or "formwork carpenter"
A masonry profile is a wooden or aluminium beam used to execute the masonry work properly perpendicular and horizontal. A carpenter should be able to place and set a masonry profile.
To this end, the masonry profile (adjustment profile) is usually held in the correct position with two posts, two slats nailed to the profile (if it is wood) or with aluminium braces that fit into special slots of the profile. Almost always that position will be perpendicular. Horizontal wires (masonry cords) are stretched between the masonry profiles as a reference to (keep) masonry horizontal.
So the profiles and beams ensure that the masonry remains vertically in a straight line, the cord ensures a horizontal straight line.
Installing and fitting window frames is a job in itself. Window frames are often installed by specialised companies. These days, window frames come in different types and varieties. First of all, there are inner and outer frames
The purpose of external window frames is to block heat and air. An exterior window frame must meet a number of strict conditions. These conditions correspond to NEN 2778, which specifies the methods and standards to be used on internal and external constructions in a building object.
Indoor window frames must also meet these conditions but it goes without saying that the requirements for indoor window frames are less stringent than for outdoor window frames.
Window frames come in many shapes and sizes, the sizes most commonly used are:
A beam layer is a row of wooden beams, which serves to support the floor with its useful load (people, inventory). The joist layer can be single, in which case it consists of a series of parallel beams running from wall to wall. A composite joist layer consists of smaller joists (String beams) supporting the floor, resting on the underlay beam, and the nut beams may in turn be supported by a post. Working with joists has some advantages and disadvantages when building a house:
Advantages
Cons
A house can have three different types of joists:
Carpentry, or wall installation, can be carried out in various ways. In a new house, walls are placed to separate rooms. In renovation work, rooms are often made larger or smaller. Wooden walls offer many advantages, such as ease of installation and acoustic and insulating solutions.
There are 2 common solutions for installing walls. The Plasterboard wall/gyproc wall is most commonly used by carpenters. Besides the plasterboard wall, aerated concrete blocks are also widely used. However, this method is less relevant for carpenters, cellular concrete walls are often bricked or glued. It is more obvious that this method is used by masons or gluers.
Almost the most commonly used and most well-known material in an interior remodelling project is plasterboard. Plasterboard is the ideal material for an easy, quick and neat finish in your home. Unsightly walls can be quickly concealed with it and even new walls are easily built.
Floor carpentry is common in new construction. A floor construction is made directly on top of a joist construction. A carpenter should install a floor accurately and without effencies. A floor can be distinguished in two ways. In new construction or renovation projects, the bearing floor and/or screed are often renovated. The finishing floor is often arranged by the resident or user.
Floors can be distinguished according to their area of application into:
A floor consists of several layers
1. The supporting floor
The bearing floor provides the load-bearing capacity of a floor. A bearing floor can be supported over its entire surface or it can be cantilevered. Storey floors usually involve prefabricated elements made of concrete, wood, steel or a combination of these materials. Fully supported bearing floors consist mainly of concrete and are also referred to as elastic supporting floors. Storey floors can be installed at any level in a building.
2. The screed
A screed is applied on top of the supporting floor. This can be done in several ways. The purpose of the screed is levelling adding sound insulation or thermal insulation. Types of screeds include:
3. Finishing floor
The finishing floor is the last layer of flooring before parquet or carpets are laid. The finishing floor often also contains the underfloor heating. And this is often a floor made of cement. The finishing floor is also often called screed.
Staircase or staircase renovation fitter is a much sought-after position within the construction industry. Stairs are often renovated or installed by specialised companies. Staircase renovation and staircase construction are both meticulous jobs. The major difference between staircase installation and staircase renovation is that in staircase renovation, the skeleton of the staircase remains. With staircase construction, a complete staircase skeleton is built and assembled this looks like this:
After the wooden frame is in place, the steps, risers and intermediate steps can be installed. The steps are often made in the workshop, but can also be cut to size on site. An advantage of this is that a carpenter only has to come to the site once. The advantage of making them in the workshop is that the materials can be cut to size faster. A CNC-controlled machine is often used for this purpose. This is faster and more accurate than cutting stairs to size using a handsaw or jigsaw.
Staircase construction = Stair skeleton is renewed or installed
Staircase renovation = Steps, risers and intermediate steps renewed or installed
Staircase renovation fitters is a combination between interior design and construction carpentry. It is very precise work, but is not as fine as furniture and other interior work. Staircase construction is a bit more physical work and staircase parts usually need to be placed by a crane or by several people.
Propping and propping is widely used in structural engineering and is also an important feature to possess if you are going to work as a carpenter. The big difference between a strut and a strut is that a strut is mostly used to support a horizontal axis, and a strut is used vertically when supporting a load-bearing structure. Shoring and propping is common in renovation and new construction work. A strut often serves as a temporary solution for a formwork. For instance, when a formwork is being replaced or moved. A strut is often used when moving or replacing a load-bearing wall. Without installing these beams, the structure would sag.
The joist is supported by several strut beams. These beams replace the wall construction that has been demolished. In the place of these struts, the carpenter should make a structure to later install plasterboard walls. Before a wall is removed, the carpenter places several struts so that the structure does not collapse. Propping is also a very important operation that almost every construction site worker must master.
Propping/stamping work is also often seen as very intensive work by employees. In some cases, propping/stamping work is also combined.
A suspended ceiling is originally a suspended ceiling consisting of a gridwork on which ceiling tiles of certain standard sizes are laid.
The latticework creates a freely accessible space between the floor above and the ceiling. This space is used for the installation of various system pipes such as electricity, heating/ventilation and sewerage.
A system ceiling is installed by hanging a frame or grid, from which the ceiling is suspended or retracted by means of fasteners. System ceilings are made during the finishing phase in residential or commercial construction. A 1st carpenter makes the framework work, after which an assistant does the finishing.
Skeleton construction is a specific construction method in which the loads acting on a building, both vertical and horizontal, are transferred to the foundation by a frame or skeleton. Facades, walls and partitions have only a spatial separating function. After the foundation is poured, the timber frame is put in place and fixed to the foundation.
One of the main reasons for doing skeleton construction is that it is more sustainable, and the timber frame components are fully recyclable.
In addition, it is cheaper to buy a timber-frame house. This is because the components are often already produced in a workshop. This means fewer men have to walk around the construction site and the process is efficient and cheap. A prefab house is about 30 % cheaper in purchase than a regular house
An obvious disadvantage of frame construction is that it requires a lot of maintenance. For example, to prevent wood rot fungus, woodworm or expansion and contraction due to weathering. Timber structures also have a shorter lifespan and are not suitable for places with humid or changing climates.
A prefabricated carpenter usually works with about 3 carpenters on site. Several woodworkers/joiners also work in the workshop to prefabricate the parts.
In skeletonised/prefabricated construction, the following components are made to measure in the workshop.
The walls
In walls, we see a big difference when it comes to finishing. There are prefab bare walls, walls with frames and walls that already include the glazing and doors, so-called ready-made walls. There are also differences in the material. Walls can be made of either concrete or wood. In exceptional cases, plastic can also be used.
The roof
Prefabricated roofs mostly come in panels, sometimes the component also consists of the entire roof. The roofs are often bare with only the holes for any windows however there are also fully finished roofs where the roofing is also factory fabricated and installed.
The floor
Precast floors often consist of floor boards. These are laid and joined on site. A complete prefabricated part floor is not common (unless it is a small floor). Large floors that have to consist of a section are poured on site and are therefore not precast.
The dormer
A prefabricated dormer is a fully finished dormer which only needs to be installed on the roof. The windows, roof cover and any other components are already assembled, which means the dormer can be installed very quickly, with the advantage of minimising the time there is a hole in the roof, making bad weather a much lesser risk when installing a prefabricated dormer.
The average salary for Carpenter based on 40 hours is €2,736 gross per month. The average amount is compiled from job postings over the past 36 months. Experience, age, location, holiday pay or any bonuses are not included in the calculations, as these are employer-dependent. Do you want to work as a carpenter? Get in touch and we will help you find a great job!
*Please note! The salary mentioned is an indication of what you could earn. No rights can be derived from the amount shown and may be higher or lower. Salary indication 13 January 2023. No rights can be derived from this data.
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