For some tasks, you realize that DIY is not an option. You need help. You need someone to show up with tools and materials – someone who knows what they’re doing – to just come and get the job done. The task may be clear and simple to you, but the usual challenge is finding the right person to do it. Do you need a fancy carpenter, a local woodworker or just a guy with a drill? We’ll sort through this process and steer you in the right direction to get the task done.
Obviously, you can create a short list of tradesmen by searching on Google. But there might be some ambiguity in that type of search. Not to mention that many of the businesses you call on will give you a standard reply of “We don’t do that.”
In this post, we’ll turn your needle-in-a-haystack search into one that is pointed and clear. And if all goes well, you may end up with multiple professionals bidding for the work you need done.
Maybe You Just Need a Handyman
Let’s start with the possibility that you don’t actually need a local woodworker or carpenter at all.
Do your drawers need to be fixed or put back into alignment? Are your doors sticking to the door frame and need an adjustment? Does your fence or deck need a board replaced?
Well, the good news here is that your average handyman can do any of these simple tasks. Yes, the same guy who comes around to work on your sink and light fixtures probably has the tools and skills required to fix the broken wood around your home. It can’t hurt to ask him.
After presenting the task to a handyman … if you sense any hesitation in his willingness or confidence to do it then don’t press it any further. Move on to the next guy. The last thing you want is a guy who’s winging it, not sure what he’s doing and possibly making the problem worse.
Find a Local Carpenter
Another scenario is when you need something built in or on a specific section of your home. Everything will need to be measured and customized for that space. This includes things like a new staircase, a new built-in or closet or even custom cabinets. The key factor here is that a carpenter who’s capable of doing this work will need to show up with his tools and do most of the work right there at your home.
An actual carpenter already has the tools and skills to do these kinds of tasks. There’s a minimal amount of “figuring out” for him to do, even if the job is complex. He’s already done this type of task several times before. This is what sets him apart from a handyman.
The local home center will have most if not all of the materials a carpenter will need to complete the job. He’ll need simple building materials like pressure-treated pine, untreated pine and regular fasteners. The process of finding a local carpenter is essentially the same as finding a local woodworker, which is highlighted below. But it helps to understand the type of work these guys do and don’t do.
The Difference Between Carpenters and Woodworkers
Now that we understand the appropriate occasions for handymen and carpenters, let’s turn our attention to woodworkers. The primary difference between a carpenter and a woodworker is in where they work. Whereas carpenters have most of their tools in their vehicle in order to work onsite, most of a woodworker’s tools are back in his shop. That’s where he does most of his work.
Also, whereas the usual work of carpenters involves immovable builds like closets, stairs and built-ins, the usual offerings of woodworkers are deliverable pieces of one size or another. This would include tables, benches, chairs and smaller items like cutting boards or other handheld items.
Of course, there is considerable overlap between these two tradesmen. After all, they have many of the same tools and skills. A woodworker will often build something in his shop and then deliver and install it onsite like a carpenter. A carpenter, despite having many tools on his vehicle, most likely has a shop of his own back home where he can build more complex items like a woodworker. But it’s important to understand the work they do more than 80% of the time.
Last thing I’ll mention regarding the difference between carpenters and woodworkers is that woodworkers tend to have experience with a greater variety of woods … softwoods, hardwoods and everything in between. Not to mention finishes, stains and surface textures. Again, your average carpenter likely has the capability of using such varied materials. But in his typical day-to-day routine, he typically doesn’t.
How to Find a Local Woodworker
Now that we understand the scenarios where a woodworker is needed, let’s focus on how to find one. Keep in mind that most woodworkers work within one or a few specific niches.
In our specific case, for example, we are currently not set up to do any fine finishing. That requires a relatively dust-free environment which we just don’t have at the moment. So this rules us out for doing high-end furniture or cabinetry (for now). The work spaces for most of our products are rough and dusty. Thus, although we’re a woodworking company, we may not be able to assist with your specific project.
However, if you’re looking to hire a woodworker in Houston for high-end work, send us a message here and we’ll steer you towards someone who can do it.
If, on the other hand, you’re nowhere near Houston and you need to hire a local woodworker, here’s what you need to do. Go to Facebook and search for a local woodworking community. Here in Houston, the group I follow is Woodworker’s Club of Houston. This is a closed group that you’ll need to join. They’ll ask you one or two basic questions about your interest in the group. Once you answer those, they’ll accept you into the group and you’ll be able to see all of their posts.
Of course, you probably won’t have much interest in the posts since they’re mostly about tools, woodworking problems and other trade-related topics. But the guys in groups like these, however, are exactly the audience to whom you should pitch your project.
How to Hire a Local Woodworker
Once you’re in the group, create a post with as many photos and details as possible which highlight the style and type of work you want done … or the piece you want them to build for you. I’ll take this a step further and suggest that you mention your budget for the project. This will save everyone a lot of time and help you to understand the going rate for professional woodwork in your area.
I’d encourage you to be realistic and fair in this process. If your budget is only $500, you can’t request something like a 12-foot dinner table with matching chairs … all made with Brazilian hardwoods. You’ll need to calibrate your expectations
The great thing about this Facebook approach is that you’re pitching your project to the exact group of people who are capable of building the pieces you want. Once you’ve clearly laid out the details, some will message you or request that you send them a direct message. Ask them for photos of their work, particularly photos which demonstrate they can build the type of piece you’re asking for.
Aside from this approach, keep in mind that some woodworkers are so good and busy at what they do that they’ll never see your post. They’re too busy doing awesome woodwork!! But perhaps on some occasions in the past, they posted photos of their work. If their past work indicates that they can handle your project, contact them. Send a message. Find out the name and number of their business and make it clear you’re a serious buyer.
Iron Out the Details
Hopefully, the woodworker presents himself as a professional seller who has done this before. If it’s evident that is not the case, walk away. Other side of the same coin … you need to present yourself a serious buyer. At the beginning, all he has is a rough idea of what you want. All of that ambiguity needs to be ironed out like a wrinkled pair of pants … every single detail. Leave no room for error. For example;
“The overall height of the coffee table should be 20 inches. Overall length and width of the table should be 60 x 24 inches. The thickness of the top should be 1.5 inches. The top should extend past the the legs only 1/2 an inch. The whole thing should be built from white maple and finished with clear shellac. The style of the legs and edges should match those of the attached photo.”
Of course, it takes a lot of communication to get to this point. You may not have any of these details, but rather, just a photo of something you want built. A professional woodworker will guide you to this point. He’ll provide sketches, drawings, photos, color and finish samples, etc. However, please keep in mind … all these chats are taking his time. He will likely include his fee for that time in his final price.
How to Pay a Local Woodworker
Man, this post is much longer than I expected. But anyhow, we’ve come this far – and you’re still reading it – so let’s be thorough and cover this topic too; how to pay a local woodworker.
Just like the details of the piece should be written out, you should also clarify and detail payment terms between you and the woodworker. Leave no room for miscommunication;
“I, the customer, agree to pay XYZ Woodworks a grand total of $1,850.00 for the pieces which are detailed in this agreement. This total includes labor, materials and delivery. I agree to pay 50% of that total ($925) to initiate the order. The balance of $925 will be due upon delivery. The estimated delivery date of the order is (a specific date on the calendar). XYX Woodworks will update me if this date is expected to change.”
That’s more or less the type of language you need to have in your agreement. It makes it clear that you have clear and firm expectations. You could even take it a step further by including additional clauses for negative scenarios. These clauses would spell out the terms that release you and the tradesman from the agreement (refund of deposit, etc). This would be more appropriate with a higher-dollar project. In that case, you might want to consider a more formal contract rather than a typed up agreement.
Anyhow, I could go on and on with these topics. But hopefully this post provides you with a general idea of how to approach these types of tradesmen. If you have any questions, please feel free to message us. Good luck with your project!
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