Carpentry and Joinery - Heritage Crafts |

Status

Currently viable

Craft category

Wood

Area practiced currently

UK wide

History

Carpentry:

Carpentry is the skill of cutting, working and joining timber, including both structural timberwork in framing and items such as doors, windows, and staircases.

In the past when buildings were frequently constructed of timber framing, carpenters played a significant role in building construction, being the main worker alongside the mason. With the passage of time, the scope of carpentry has altered, largely with the increased use of concrete and steel construction (particularly for floors and roofs). Consequently, carpenters play a smaller role in making the framework of buildings, except for houses and small structures. Conversely, carpentry work has increased for the building of temporary structures.

Given the use of wood as a building material for centuries, many of the tools and techniques of carpentry, perfected after the Middle Ages, have changed little since that time. However, with global wood supplies shrinking, and the cost of timber increasing, revision has been brought about in traditional practices. To counter waste, the development of laminated timbers such as plywood, and the practice of prefabrication have simplified and lowered the cost of carpentry.

Types of carpentry:

Formworkers – a specialised type of carpenter who constructs formwork to support the building process. Formwork consists of the moulds that concrete is poured into to create bridges, staircases, foundations and beams for buildings and more. It is an essential part of the building process and can be temporary or permanent.

Framers – repair and build structures made of wood or wood products, usually working early in a construction project building what becomes the framework for the rest of the structure. Framers measure, cut and assemble the wood needed for building projects.

Cabinet makers – a highly specialised kind of carpentry, building, repairing and installing wooden cabinets, furniture and fixtures.

Joinery:

Joinery dates back to the earliest civilisations when humans first used tools to join together pieces of wood, nails and other items of daily use. The development of metalworking provided many tools for this purpose. Wood was most likely the primary material used due to its easy and natural availability; the means for more sophisticated joinery developed in the second century AD.

Joinery involves constructing furniture, houses, shops offices etc. usually with wood and timber (and can also incorporate materials such as plastics and cement boards). It can vary in level of difficulty, involving either the nailing or gluing of two pieces of wood together or a more intricate joining of two pieces of wood. The primary purpose of joinery is to hold wood together strongly, however, it can also be used in a more decorative manner. Joinery is found almost everywhere in furniture, windows, doors and flooring. Joiners usually carry out their trade in a workshop, making the wood that a carpenter then fixes on site.

Bespoke joinery refers to custom designed and fit joinery, allowing the maximisation of space and storage in the neatest and most aesthetically pleasing way.

Techniques

Carpentry techniques include:

Measuring and marking – using tools such as rulers, tape measures, and squares to accurately mark and measure the wood before cutting.
Cutting – using saws (hand saws and power saws) to precisely cut wood to desired shapes and sizes.
Shaping – using tools such as planes, chisels and sanders to shape and smooth wood surfaces and achieve desired curves and profiles.
Finishing – sanding, staining, and varnishing to protect the wood and enhance its appearance.
Fastening – using nails, screws, glue, and other fasteners to securely hold wood pieces together.

Types of joinery include:

Basic butt joint – where one piece of wood butts into another (most often at a right angle or square to the other board) and is fastened using mechanical fasteners.
Mitered Butt Joint – almost the same as a basic butt joint, except the two boards are joint at an angle (instead of square to one another). The advantage of this is that the joint will not show any end grain and is more aesthetically pleasing; However, the mitered butt joint is not as strong.
Half-lap joint – half of each of the two boards being joint are removed so that the two boards fit flush with one another. This can weaken the strength of the two adjoining boards, but it also is a stronger joint than butt joints.
Tongue and groove joint – where joining two boards square to one another along a long edge, the butt can be simply joined together and held with fasteners. This is much stronger and provides more adjoining surface areas, which is particularly useful if gluing the joint.
Mortise and tenon joint – a classic wood joinery method, popular since the early times of woodworking and are still among the strongest and most elegant wood-joining methods.
Biscuit joinery – another method for joining boards along the edges (like the tongue-and-groove joint) is to cut slots and use beechwood wafers (biscuits) to hold the boards in place. Relying on glue and the swelling of the beechwood biscuit to hold the boards in place, consistent slots and reliable results can be achieved from biscuit joinery.
Pocket joint – involves cutting a slot and pre-drilling a pilot hole at an angle between two boards before connecting the two with a screw. The pre-drilling must be accurate hence joinery usually achieve it using a commercial jig.
Dado – a square-grooved slot on one board where another board fits. Like tongue and groove joinery, this is good for connecting plywood such as in cabinetry.

There are many other types including rabbet, a thorough dovetail joint, a half-blind dovetail joint, sliding dovetail, box joint, dowel joint, bridle joint, mitered blind dovetail joint, edge joint, tambour joint and more.

Sub-crafts

Allied crafts:

Cabinetmaking
Furniture making

Issues affecting the viability

Training and recruitment issues – skills shortages and an ageing workforce – many experienced carpenters are reaching retirement age and alongside difficulties in recruiting younger workers, this is inhibiting skills transfer and continuity in the trade.
Training and recruitment issues – apprenticeships are limited, and have not kept up with demand.
Supply of raw materials, allied materials and tools – rising costs of raw materials have increased financial burden on businesses, projects and individual craftspeople.
Global and geopolitical issues – reduced EU workforce – post-Brexit immigration rules have made it more difficult for skilled workers from the EU to remain or enter the UK.
Brexit has also caused supply chain disruptions, impacting the availability and cost of materials.
Lack of awareness among the public about joiners and carpenters’ professions e.g. people may be surprised at the quotes given, not understanding the level of skill and work involved in a given task or what the average price is.
Carpentry is labour-intensive and hard work; new entrants may not be aware of the demands at the beginning.
Image – a lack of diversity in the carpentry industry may limit its appeal to potential talent from underrepresented groups.

Support organisations

Institute of Carpenters

The Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers – represents woodcarvers, and joiners. It is active in sponsorship, awards schemes and appointments of apprentices.

British Woodworking Federation

Institute of Carpenters

Federation of Master Builders

The Building Crafts College

Chichester College

West Suffolk College

City and Guilds Art College

City and Guilds of London Institute – This was originally set up by the City of London Livery Companies in the nineteenth century. The Worshipful Company of Joiners and Ceilers are currently represented on the City and Guilds of London Council.