Joinery

Joinery is a very old craft and one that is still thriving today. Modern construction techniques and the rise of mass-production may have changed the nature of the demand for a joiner’s skills, but they haven’t removed the need for joinery altogether. While many joiners today find themselves subcontracting out to construction companies, there are still pure joinery companies in existance, at least in the UK.

First of all, there is a difference between joinery and carpentry: technically speaking, a joiner specialises in making and fitting joints without the use of nails. Traditionally, such work would be undertaken in a workshop as much of the machinery required is non-portable, whereas carpenters work on site. Cabinet makers and specialists in furniture are said to practice fine joinery, although many joiners today offer bespoke furniture manufacture and furniture repair.

In the USA, of course, the language is different: the differentiation between ‘joiner’ and ‘joinery’ and ‘carpenter’ and ‘carpentry’ is no longer used, and instead somebody who works with wood is referred to as a carpenter. In the UK, however an apprentice can choose between studying Bench Joinery or Site Carpentry and Joinery. Bench Joinery refers to the preparation and manufacture of joinery components, and, as described above, is mainly a workshop based craft. Site Carpentry and Joinery on the other hand focuses on the setting out and fabrication of timber elements of construction, as well as the installation of the joinery components.

As a general rule of thumb, one can roughly designate carpentry as the timber work installed before the plasterer does his work, and the joinery aspect can be assumed to refer to that timber work installed or fitted after plastering.

Double Glazing
High quality double glazing and other window fittings can be found here!