Top 10 Carpenters in Gouldsboro, PA
Frequently asked questions about carpenters
Carpentry is one of the oldest professions — for as long as people have needed shelter to live in, there has been some form of carpentry. Today, carpentry has become a very specialized trade and most carpenters have a niche. The hallmark of all types of carpentry is that carpenters are experts in working with wood. There are some small exceptions to this for buildings that use steel studs or other types of metal framing, for example. However, for the most part, when you think carpenters, think wood.
- Rough carpenters – Rough carpenters are one of the first trades you'll have on-site if you’re building a house. Their expertise is in the overall structure and stability of buildings and the big-picture aspects of building a home.
- Framing carpenters – Framing carpenters are the pros responsible for putting up the base structure that will become the interior and exterior walls of a building. Framing carpentry goes hand-in-hand with rough carpentry, however, framing is often seen as a specialized skill.
- Jointers – Joint carpentry involves putting together floor joists that create the surface you'll walk on once it's finished.
- Cabinet makers – Carpenters specializing in cabinetry are extremely skilled at fine woodworking and excel at precise and detail-oriented work. They are some of the last carpenters that work on a project because cabinetry is a part of the finishing process and is generally one of the last things that are installed.
- Finish carpenters – similar to cabinet makers, finish carpenters are responsible for the finer details that are not structural but make up the parts of your home that you'll see daily. Finish carpenters will be the ones to install your trim, wood flooring, railings, and handrails and are also sometimes referred to as trim carpenters.
Have they done the work being requested before?
This is an important question that can often be overlooked, with potential clients assuming that all carpenters work on all types of projects. As we discussed before, carpentry has several specialized skill sets, so it's important to make sure that any carpenter you're considering has worked on your type of project before.
Are they examples of their work?
Carpenters near you will have pictures of past projects they've done that they can share with you. The building process is impressive, and the change from beginning to end can be staggering, so these proud tradespeople will likely have work they'll be happy to show you.
How much experience do they have in your type of project?
This ties into the first question, however, it’s a bit more detailed. Many clients have fallen into the trap of only asking basic questions, like “Have you done a project like this before?” and failing to follow up with, “How many times?”
In many cases, it may not matter if a carpenter has only done a certain type of work once or twice, but it could make a huge difference if your project is complex — and that’s not something you want to find out mid-project.
Are they licensed (if necessary)?
Many municipalities will require permits for carpentry work, depending on the scale. These permits are only applicable if a certified carpenter will be doing the work. In addition, your carpenter may need to have a Red Seal in carpentry to obtain the correct insurance.
Are they insured?
There are three different types of insurance that carpenters will need to carry to conduct work safely. These are general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and Worker's Compensation insurance.
Don't be shy about asking a carpenter you're thinking of hiring for proof of the appropriate insurance, and be wary if they can't provide documentation.
The short answer to this question is that a carpenter isn't always a builder, but a builder is most often a carpenter. Don't worry — we’ll clarify what that means below.
Carpenter
As we discussed above, there are many types of local carpenters who specialize in one or more distinct areas of carpentry. Depending on where you are in your construction process, multiple carpenters who are experts in their niche may be needed.
Builder
If a construction professional refers to themselves as a builder, they are likely saying that they are a general contractor or a construction project manager who can take more of a full-scope approach to your project. Most builders are carpenters by trade but have expanded their skillet to encompass more of the building process.
It can be a bit confusing because carpenters do build things, but when someone is referred to as a builder, it generally means that they are experienced in integrating multiple stages of construction and tradespeople on one project.
However, this is definitely a bit of a gray area. Make sure to clarify what type of professional you’re working with when you vet tradespeople, so you know exactly what their specialty is.
A carpenter is absolutely the right tradesperson to build a beautiful, sturdy deck for you. Depending on what you're picturing for the finished product, however, you might want to look at bringing in both a rough carpenter and a finishing carpenter.
Rough carpenters are experts at putting in the proper foundation to make your deck safe and secure, as well as grading the ground below and ensuring adequate drainage. They'll also be the best people to advise on what types of materials the structure of your deck should be made of, including foundation, stairs, and railings.
It’s important to note here that in most municipalities, you’ll need a permit to build a deck. Your carpenter will need to be licensed to have the expertise and certification to apply for the proper licenses.
Once the structure of your deck is complete, a finish carpenter can give your project a different level of polish and aesthetic appeal, putting that final touch onto your new deck.
If your vision of your new deck involves built-in seating or an outdoor kitchen, a finish carpenter will also be the best tradesperson to help you bring your unique space to life.
Many rough carpenters are very skilled at finishing, and others don’t prefer to do finishing work, so it’s worth it to ask upfront.
Licensing for carpenters can be complicated. Not everyone who refers to themselves as a carpenter is a licensed carpenter, handypersons often do carpentry work. Only some states require carpenters to be licensed for specific types of work.
In many cases, licensing is required in order to ensure that a carpenter has an adequate level of knowledge and experience. There are plenty of unlicensed carpenters with a wealth of experience and talent, but the licensing process is a way for employers and clients to feel secure that a tradesperson has a standardized level of knowledge and experience. Most licensing programs require four years of work experience and the passing of a certification exam.
Below, we’ll go through some common questions and misconceptions to help you untangle the licensing web.
States that require carpenters to have licenses
Alabama, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah have state-level requirements for carpenters to be licensed to do certain types of carpentry work. While each state has its own list, some common types of carpentry often require licenses:
- Millwork
- Framing
- Structural work
- Cabinetry
- Installing metal studs or framing
When can you hire a carpenter that does not have a license?
In some cases, lighter carpentry work on non-structural areas of a home doesn’t require a carpenter to carry a license. This may also mean they don’t have the proper workplace insurance, so make sure to ask those questions and weigh the risks accordingly.
Locations that fall outside city or municipal regions may have fewer restrictions on building permits. If you’re confident, you can have a non-licensed carpenter do structural work. This varies by location, so research the rules that cover your property before agreeing to have any work done.
Carpenters are integral to the home-building process, and their various areas of expertise are what allow the vision of a home designer or structural engineer to go from vision to reality.
If you’re unfamiliar with the home-building process, you may be surprised at first to learn that, in many cases, one carpenter does not handle the entire process. Particularly on large or complex projects, you’re likely to have several different types of carpentry experts. Beginning with rough carpentry to create the foundation and structure of your home, you’ll bring in framing carpenters for the exterior and interior walls, joint carpenters, roofing carpenters, and finish carpenters and cabinetmakers.
Depending on your location, finding the right carpenters near you can be simple, or you may have to look at bringing in the right pro from a larger city or town.
Other trades will need to work alongside carpenters during the building process. Homes are built in many layers and stages, so you can expect to have several trades working simultaneously at certain times.
Here’s a list of other trades you’ll need to build a house:
- Machine operator
- Electrician
- Plumber
- Gasfitter
- Drywaller
- Septic installer
Recent reviews for Gouldsboro Carpenters
Has anyone had work done by this company?
Jeremy and his crew arrived on time and finished the installation of 25+ sheets of wall paneling on our basement. Very courteous, and neat. They did an excellent job. I know where to go if I have additional work to be done on "my old house". I should ...
Jeremy arrived early for the appointment and didn't waste any time. I was unable to move the furniture up the stairs, so Jeremy took it upon himself to take the rather heavy furniture and multiple pieces at that, all by himself. He worked continuously and...
stole money left us in shambles reported to elderly abuse dept
this buisiness is a sham scam run by mike and diane they will be caught and have to pay back every one big brothers watching
Subcontracted Penn a large deck that my company could not complete. They did an excellent job. Inspections went smoothly and my customer was very happy with the work. I will be recommending them to my customers in the future for any deck work that comes ...
I would gladly write a review for PBI. They did a very nice job for my interior remodeling and deck replacement. The deck was an emergency replacement for unsafe conditions and they worked hard during these cold snowy days to finish the job. Massimo exped...
I had my house renovated by Penn Builders. I hired them in July of 2014 was told the project would take 6 to 8 weeks, it was completed April of 2015. 9 months later. Some small things were not completed and clean up of site was not finished. I tried reach...
We hired PBI to remodel our bathroom. Overall a great experience and genuine nice guys to boot. We will use them again in the future and recommend to our neighbors, family and friends. Thank you
I had an overwhelmingly positive experience with this company during my full bath and kitchen renovation this past winter (2018). I have never had any major work done before but the initial estimate of cost and time were both accurate, and Massimo and the...
The project is "complete" except it isn't. When they installed my shower there was a leak and it was coming through my newly grouted wall tiles. He asked me not to use my shower for a few days to let it dry. Once it dried he would fix the leak and fix ...
We gave Massimo Barille of Penn Decks in Kunkletown, PA a 10K deposit in August 2022, he started work in late October 2022 and the first day on the job billed me for another deposit. This is not normal. Upon completion of our deck in November 2022 (and af...
Everything You Need to Know About Gouldsboro Carpenters
How does invoicing/payment work for most Carpenter projects in Gouldsboro?
Every project differs, but you should ask any carpenter for an estimate, before they do any work. In fact, ask for their general payment terms before any carpentry services work is done.
If the job is large and going to take longer than a day, it's common practice for carpenters to request a down payment. Usually, this will be around 25% so they can commence work on your carpenter project.
If it's a quick job, you'll likely be given an invoice/bill when the job is complete. Then it's up to you and the carpenter to determine if you pay immediately or can send payment at a later date.
Who should I hire if I need Carpentry Services in Gouldsboro?
Right now there are about 50 companies in and around Gouldsboro ready to help you with your carpentry services project.
Below we've listed a few of the top Carpenters on Porch:
- Abington Cabinetry & Constr
- J J Custom Woodworking
- M & S Carpentry
Does the carpenter I want to hire need to be licensed in Gouldsboro?
Before you start any project, it is crucial to learn about the certifications and licenses that you or your Carpenter need to have. There are 0 carpenters in Gouldsboro that are licensed.
Here are the types of license(s) Carpenters need to have to work on Carpentry Services jobs in PA:
All Carpenters in Gouldsboro, PA
Latest projects near Gouldsboro
Within a year
Replace deck
Yes, the deck has been removed
No, but I know what I want
250 to 500 square feet
I'd like a professional recommendation
Wood
Not listed here
Something else
Yes, I just need construction
I'm flexible
I'm not sure
Floating
Lake or pond
I'm not sure
No
Door Replacement
I'm flexible
I'm flexible
Under 100 sq ft
Permanent
Lake or pond
Sandy bottom
Yes, I have sketches and a basic idea of what I want
Within a month
Build new deck
No, but I know what I want.
I haven't decided
Looking for advice
Wood
Custom stairs, Structural support for hot tub, Roof, awnings, other overhead covering
Deck lighting
No, pro must provide the materials
I'm flexible
Pressure-treated pine
Stairs and railings, Decking or deck surface
Rotting, cracked or missing boards, Needs to be refinished
Minor (the deck just needs cosmetic repairs)
No
No, and I'd like the pro to provide them
Within a month
Build new deck
Yes, I have design plans.
500 to 1000 square feet
Wood
Custom stairs
Something else
Yes, I just need construction
Within a week
100-200 sq ft
Floating
Lake or pond
I'm not sure
No
I'm flexible
Replace deck
No, pro should remove existing deck
No, but I know what I want
500 to 1000 square feet
Wood
Wood
Not listed here
Something else
No, pro must provide materials