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Carpenters or Joiners – What is the difference ?

The difference between a carpenter and joiner may have been lost in time. Today we tend to use both job titles for the same skill; making and installing wooden structures, fixtures and fittings etc.
However, there are still different skill levels; for example on a building site a carpenter or joiner is called a 'Chippy' and may be involved in 'First Fixing' or 'Second Fixing'.

First Fixing is the construction of basic wooden structures of a building, these comprise; floor and roof joists, roof timbers, floorboards, staircases, partition walls and door and window frames.

Second fixing is installing the finishing (final touches) such as skirting boards, door surrounds, doors, cupboards and shelving, as well as door handles and locks.

We won't argue that one is more skilled that the other because they are two different jobs and whilst first fixing holds op the building, second fixing is seen by those within and a quality cosmetic finish is required.

First fitting could also include tasks and skills such as fitting floorboards, skirting, window frames and doors. Roof trusses and partitions as well as shop fronts, storage and shelving designed for retail premises, not forgetting wooden casements to support setting concrete in structures such as bridges or foundation pillars, this is called 'formwork'.

Another job is 'bench joinery'. preparing and assembling doors, window frames, staircases and fitted furniture for buildings. It is likely that traditionally the 'carpenter' made the components for such fixtures and the 'joiner' literally joined them.

On a larger scale job there is likely to be an individual 'machining', this person would be preparing and shaping timber for floorboards, skirting boards and window frames.

We mentioned 'first fitting' of shop fronts, this is accepted that the shop front has been made and is ready to fit. Shopfitting is a specialist skill not restricted to shops, producing and fitting interiors for shops, hotels, restaurants, banks, offices and public buildings.