Ongoing Demand for Carpenters in Australia

Contrary to popular belief, carpenters in Australia are more than simply glorified labourers. Despite the scope of work being fairly standardised, especially in modern housing estates where houses can be fairly similar in terms of building style and construction materials – carpenters do still need to possess a wide range of skills to cope with the day to day challenges that inevitably arise during the construction phase of a house, apartment block or commercial site.

Fundamental Skills Every Carpenter Must Have

A carpenter, like many other trades, needs to possess the knowledge to be able to read and interpret drawings and specifications.  This may involve everything from sourcing the correct materials in addition to installing them in accordance with the building plans.

Aside from the usual tasks of framing and lock up, a carpenter may also be involved in other elements during the building phase of a house. These may involve the construction of framework prior to concrete being poured, the installation of flooring (and sub flooring if it is a multi-storey house), sheathing roofs and fitting exterior cladding and panels to the outside walls.

The ‘lock up’ stage is a pretty big milestone in any project and as the name conveys, is the point at which a building is able to be locked up.  Aside from the obvious, being the external brickwork having been completed it also includes all windows having been installed, as well as doors, skylights, and perhaps even the garage roller door.

Creating the Best Insulation Conditions with Standard Timber Spacings

One aspect of the framework that a carpenter will need to pay attention to is the necessity for the timber wall frames to be of the correct width to ensure a snug fit for the insulation batts that will be subsequently installed after the brickwork has been completed. Most experienced installers would agree that the best insulation batts for ceilings are simply the ones that stay in place when they have been fitted.

White Card Requirement for Working on Building Sites

The first requirement to being a carpenter in Australia is first and foremost to possess a ‘White Card’. This is not unique to carpentry but is a mandatory accreditation needed by anyone planning to work on a construction site.  It is something that can be done online and the White Card itself is nationally recognised evidence that you have completed a General Construction Induction course.

Aside from that every carpenter needs a tool belt which ensures essential, commonly used tools are always within reach.  These include tools such as a good hammer, as well as the must-have essentials for whichever task is being undertaken.  Framing for example would require tools like a tape measure, pencil, speed square, chalk line and chisel, amongst other things.

Carpentry in Australia is not as physically demanding in winter as other places around the world. A carpenter does need to be physically fit however, as there is a lot of manual labour on the job.

Carpenters Are Still in High Demand

The trade itself has been in high demand, mainly due to the housing boom in the major cities in recent years.  Even with a recent downturn in the mining sector, the construction industry continues to experience steady growth nationwide, and carpenters are currently in relatively high demand in most capital cities.