How to Pick a Reliable Carpenter When you need carpentry work performed at your home, you should ensure that you use the services of a well-reputed carpenter. However, you first have to understand the nature of the work you need done so as to select a pro with the right skill set to produce the outcome you need. For example, if you would like to have a deck or porch built or repaired, find someone with experience in structural carpentry. Or if you were thinking of having custom trim milled to fit the existing material in an old property, look for an expert in finish carpentry or cabinetry. At any rate, ask prospects to show you photos of their projects to prove they can give you the finished product you want, and check their references to find out what their previous customers have to say about them.
Before you go looking, be sure you to have a clear picture of the characteristics of a skilled carpenter. Before submitting a bid, a good carpenter will first assess your priorities for the project, check the site and plans, and propose viable solutions. They know that your needs and preferences must first be considered before they can give you a realistic and accurate quote. Of course, good carpenters will be licensed and insured in your city and state, as well as have excellent reviews from previous customers. They will have pure confidence in their skills and provide a written guarantee. Red Flags to watch Out For When you look for a carpenter, be wary of those who give an oddly low estimate or submit a quote without having personally seen the site or plans. An aversion to having you specify the exact finish details you want for the project where appropriate, or not being able to provide a written work schedule or contract, may be signs of an unreliable carpenter or someone who is not devoted to quality and client ssatisfaction. Also watch out for carpenters who don’t seem to be happy to provide references, a written guarantee, photos of their previous projects, design recommendations, and/or proof of insurance. Costs of Using a Carpenter’s Services Even when a project is priced as one, labor prices are usually based on the time a carpenter thinks the job will take. , but mostly range between $30 and $60 hourly. As the variety of services offered by carpenters is rather wide, the cost of hiring one will be influenced by many details. These include, among others, the job’s nature and scope, the required skill set, and the types and quality of materials to be used. Finally, it is wise to request two or three bids from different carpenters so that comparisons can be made.