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How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Carpenter?

When you're looking to hire a professional carpenter for office or home improvement, expect to pay from $35 - $100 per hour on average. The cost of a carpenter for hire is often based on a minimum charge of 1 1/2 to 2 hours or a per-job rate. Browse carpenters near you to find the best carpenter for your construction project.

What is the Cost Breakdown for Hiring a Carpenter?

The cost of a carpenter for hire includes:

● Labor: Confirm in advance how your carpenter's labor charge will be calculated, by the job or per hour.

● Cleanup: Cleanup is typically included in the job.

● Tools: Expect your carpenter to furnish his own tools, as a rule.

Other costs may or may not be included:

● Materials: Supplies and materials necessary for the project are not included unless specified in advance.

● Estimate: The initial estimate, which may include an onsite inspection, is often free.

Can I Do the Carpentry Work Myself, or Should I Hire a Professional?

For small jobs such as installing shelves, repairing wooden benches, fixing creaky stairs, and performing small tasks that require either a nail and hammer or a drill and some screws, you could perform the work yourself if you have some experience using basic tools. 

Any finished carpentry – the type needed for such projects as cabinet making and furniture building – requires a highly-skilled professional. In addition, trim carpentry and other carpentry jobs need to be exact in order to look good. If you attempt to perform these or other complex tasks on your own, you’ll probably be disappointed with the results and will have wasted time, effort, materials and money. For jobs like cabinets and decks, it’s important that someone with experience build these structures because they have to bear weight. If not built correctly, they could collapse under pressure, causing damage and possible injury.

Which Type of Carpenter Should I Hire?

Hire a qualified journeyman general carpenter for most residential carpentry work. Hire a finish carpenter for the more refined carpentry work, such as joinery and built-in furniture. There are also trim carpenters who specialize in molding and trim projects and can help improve the look of transitions.

Whatever type of professional carpentry services you need, be sure to hire only licensed carpenters. The carpentry contractor and any employees must be covered by liability insurance and workers’ compensation. 

Make sure to request a bond for any job worth over $500.

How Can I Find a Good Carpenter?

Whatever your particular carpentry needs, look for someone who is reliable, has experience and is professional. Here's how:

--Ask friends and neighbors. If someone you know has had carpentry work done recently, check out the workmanship and ask who did it.

--Invite contractors over to provide cost estimates. Give a detailed explanation of what you want. Don’t simply hire the carpenter with the cheapest bid, especially if the job is complex and requires permits or inspections. Asking for estimates is also a great way to see if the carpenter is punctual and attentive to your needs.

--Ask to see a sample of the contractor’s work.

--Ask the carpenter for references and call them.

--Make sure the contract includes: cost, payment schedule, start and completion date, as well as a complete description of the work to be done and materials to be used.