How to Hire a Framing Carpenter

When hiring a carpenter, look for someone specializing in your area of need. When building an addition, you'll want a carpenter who specializes in this specific kind of carpentry. Look for a framing carpenter who will be able to erect and sheathe the frame of your house and install windows.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Yellow Pages
• Calculators
• Contractor Referral Services
• Personal Organizers
• Home Design Software

1. Contact several framers. Ask friends and relatives for recommendations or check the yellow pages for leads.
2. Have architectural plans available for each framer. Also make sure you have a lumber list. Ask the architect to prepare one as part of the design work.
3. Have the contractors quote a price for the project.
4. Ask each carpenter for references and check these references. Did the contractor perform the work in a timely and professional manner and without wasting material? Was the work site left clean and free of debris?
5. Make sure the contractors have proper insurance coverage.
6. Select a carpenter based on price, references and your impressions.
7. Execute a contract specifying the work to be done, cost, payment schedule, start date and estimated completion date. Attach the lumber list to the contract (in case there is a dispute about the carpenter wasting material).

Tips & Warnings

• See "How to Hire a Trim Carpenter" if you need a contractor to install doors, molding or cabinets.
• Many framers have a single crew of two to six carpenters who all work on the same site, doing one project at a time. Larger contractors have multiple crews and often do most of their work for home builders. You're probably better off with the smaller framer. In all likelihood, you'll have the company owner on-site during the work.
• Never allow work to begin (or make any payment) until the contractor has provided you with a certificate of insurance.
• Always try to minimize any deposit and to negotiate a payment schedule that closely matches the progress of work on the site.

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