Woodworking is a trade that involves many manual tasks.

From fitting floors to building walls, installing shelves, to crafting staircases, the field of woodworking has a diverse range of job roles, two of which many people confuse.

Joinery and carpentry may be two sides of the same coin, but the professions take on different woodworking challenges.

Many disagree on the key distinctions between the roles, with some believing it’s the tasks they undertake and others feeling that work location makes all the difference.

So, how do you know which one to contact?

What is joinery?

Joiners specialise in crafting and assembling joints without screws or nails. They do this using heavy machinery, like sanding wheels, circular saws and angle grinders, meaning most joiners manufacture in the comfort of a workshop.

What work do joiners specialise in?

Their tasks require precision, accuracy and attention to detail, which is why joiners specialise in creating:

Furniture
Window frames
Interior and exterior doors
Bookshelves
Tables
Staircases

Staying in one location also ensures their materials remain dry. By doing this, they can protect the structural integrity of their client’s projects and keep all tools and equipment in one place.

Typically, once joiners have finished a job, their woodwork will be transported to a site, where a carpenter will then install it.

What is carpentry?

Carpenters install wooden and metal fixtures.

Whether working on new builds, refitting or renovating existing properties, carpenters fit and fix their structures on-site. They must be skilled at repairing, cutting and joining a variety of materials as well as focusing on the larger structural elements of buildings.

What work do carpenters specialise in?

As carpenters work on pre-existing fixtures, their day-to-day activities may include fitting and installing:

Floors
Skirting boards
Partition walls
Cupboards and shelving
Roof timbers
Window frames
Staircases

What’s the difference between a carpenter and a joiner?

Joiners manufacture fixtures in a workshop, and carpenters install them on-site.

The two jobs overlap in responsibilities, creating and installing many of the same features. However, as craftspeople, joiners and carpenters have differing skill sets.

Joiners specialise more in the manufacturing side of woodworking, and carpenters use their on-site knowledge to securely install and repair structural features.

How do I choose between a carpenter and a joiner?

In many situations, employing both a carpenter and a joiner may be useful.

Installing a new staircase, for example, requires joiners to craft your fixture and carpenters to fit it. Or, you could seek out a construction company that puts the two trades together. That’s where we come in.

At EH Joinery, we’ve assembled the finest joiners and carpenters for your construction needs.

If you’re looking for a new staircase for your domestic build, repairing a tired fixture with top-of-the-line stair parts, or making your home safer with a loft staircase, EH Joinery will work alongside you to bring any vision to life.