If you enjoy working with your hands and being creative, then a career as a finish carpenter may suit you. Finish carpenters use their skills to apply final details that complement a home. In this article, we explore what a finish carpenter does and the skills they use for their role.

What does a finish carpenter do ?

A finish carpenter is a trade professional who adds the later touches to homes once building is complete. Their role is to boost the aesthetic appeal of the home’s interior through additions like staircases, cabinets and windows. Often self-employed, finish carpenters manage the renovation process and related administrative duties when working with homeowners. Examples of things a finish carpenter might do include:

• Interpreting blueprints of the interior of homes
• Measuring dimensions of spaces
• Adding custom-made bookshelves
• Applying protective layers to surfaces
• Installing crown molding
• Applying extra detail to baseboards
• Inspecting the home for scratches or dents
• Ensuring doors and windows work properly
• Managing client invoices and payments
• Updating clients about the progress of projects
• Tracking inventory of building materials
• Leading teams of other carpentry contractors

How long does it take to become a finish carpenter ?

Carpentry is a trade that can be learned on the job—no formal education required. To begin your career, you might pursue a job assisting a carpenter straight out of high school, with no other experience at all. It is not necessary that you start specifically in finish carpentry as there are many types of carpentry Many employers in carpentry and construction only demand that you be 18 years of age.

While there isn’t a set path into finish carpentry, apprenticeshipis the ideal way into this career and typically consists of up to four years learning the trade under established professionals, eventually culminating with certification from a journeyman

After completing your apprenticeship, your options include working under a building contractor as a subcontractor, working as an employee for a construction company or building your own business.

Important skills for a finish carpenter

Finish carpentry requires that range from muscle to mathematics. Finish carpenters also need to be comfortable with various tools as well as other elements of the profession. To best provide services for their clients, finish carpenters need the following abilities:

Hand-tool proficiency

Finish carpenters understand how to manage hand-tool equipment to achieve their objectives. For example, when installing bookshelves, a finish carpenter will know precisely which tool can cut the shelf material and secure the shelves to the wall. Examples of hand tools finish carpenters use include chisels, gouges, hand-sanding blocks, table saws, trim hammers and pin nailers. Manipulating these tools requires physical strength, dexterity and hand-eye coordination in addition to a good sense of visual space and precision.

Additional soft skills for becoming a finish carpenter

Finish carpentry is demanding work that requires a certain constitution. In addition to the physical strength and stamina that comes with manual labor, you should also:

• Be detail-oriented. As a finish carpenter, you’ll be making measurements, attending to repairs and finessing down to a minute level.
• Have math skills. Finish carpenters need a good understanding of measuring, volume and how to compute dimensions as well as basic calculations.
• Have good . You’ll need to be able to discuss customer needs, make estimates and communicate or delegate tasks with colleagues.
• Be physically strong: To transport building materials, finish carpenters need physical strength and the ability to work on their feet for long periods of time. They may have to lift heavy tools and materials up flights of stairs. They may also need to hold tools above their heads to work on ceilings or in tight corners.