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Chapter What Do Carpenters Do? 1

Some people take carpenters for granted, but without them, we would not have nice homes, superhighways, and stunning skyscrapers. And let’s not forget the well-crafted cabinets, tables, and other furniture that add beauty to our homes and offices. Carpenters are jacks-of-all-trades who not only work with wood, but also with plastic, metal, fiberglass, drywall, and other building materials. They do every- thing from erecting scaffolding and building concrete forms, to assembling walls and building stairs, to installing cabinets and countertops and crafting high-quality furniture. They work in residential settings, at construction sites,

and on big infrastructure projects such as highways and bridges. Carpenters are in the middle of the action wherever something is being built. Carpenters work for construction companies and contractors. Others operate their own busi- nesses. To hone their skills and experience, aspiring carpenters complete apprenticeships or training programs at technical schools. Others receive informal

■ ■ A team of rough carpenters raise an interior wall at a construction site.

training from experienced carpenters, or through contractor schools or the military. The job of carpenter often ranks high on “best construction occupation” lists. Carpenters agree that this is the perfect career for those who like to build things, who

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