6 pros and 6 cons of being in the carpentry business
Carpentry can be a rewarding profession, but is it the right one for you? Read on to know about the 12 advantages and disadvantages of being a carpenter.
The positives of working as a carpenter
A carpenter’s life can offer several positives. This section takes a detailed look at six of the most prominent among them.
1. Learning how to fix and repair things
When you train to be a carpenter, you take on board the skills required to repair a variety of things – from structures to wooden objects to furniture and more. By learning a myriad of construction of carpentry skills, you can get into a position where applying them in your personal life becomes effortless.
2. Opportunities for creating unique and artistic works
Learning the ropes of carpentry involves getting educated on what you can do with your hands. You would also get to learn to use a diverse array of techniques and hand tools to craft something artistic from scratch. Eventually, the skills and techniques you learn can allow you to work on complex projects such as homes and buildings.
3. Working flexibly
If you work as a carpenter for a company, your work schedule would most likely be around 8 hours every working day. Most carpentry businesses in the United States operate 5 days a week. So, that amounts to around 40 hours every week. This would give you enough time to spend with your family and on other interests. Work flexibility increases even more if you choose to start your very own carpentry business.
4. Constant movement
Carpentry is one of those professions that require individuals to be on their feet. Quite simply, if you want to stay physically active as you work, it is a great career. From heavy lifting to bending to walking to crouching and beyond – there’s a lot of effort that goes into being a professional carpenter. In the long run, your muscles are bound to get stronger.
5. More skills required than educational qualifications
A degree in management can be beneficial in terms of running a carpentry business. However, if you want to work as a carpenter, you don’t need to have multiple educational qualifications under your belt. What you need, more than anything else, are carpentry skills. So, if you are not too keen on choosing a career path that would require a lot of academic learning, carpentry is a respectable profession to consider.
6. High skill level translates to high earnings
The more you upskill yourself as a carpenter, the better your chances are of earning a high wage. Of course, carpenter wages vary from place to place depending on demand. If you are open to relocating to a city like Seattle, New York, or Chicago, you can earn upwards of $25 per hour.
The negatives of working as a carpenter
Beyond the positives, there are also particular negatives you should be aware of before you start working as a carpenter. You should also consider carpenters insurance types to protect yourself financially. To learn more about carpentry business risk management, click here
1. Physical fitness and endurance are mandatory
While carpentry can help you maintain your health and fitness, it also requires you to be consistently healthy and fit. Without a basic level of physical fitness, you are likely to struggle engaging in hard labor. You may also injure yourself as you work.
2. No independent work without completion of safety training
There are stringent safety standards and regulations that carpenters must adhere to. Without adherence to these standards, a carpenter could be at risk of injuring himself or others during work. If you hope to work on lucrative projects independently, you have to invest in multiple safety training programs and complete them successfully.
3. Training completion may take multiple years
Apart from successfully completing safety training programs, you may be required to serve several years as an apprentice. This would allow you the time necessary to learn all the skills needed to safely navigate the challenges involved in professional carpentry.
4. Sub par growth outlook
The growth outlook in the carpentry profession is sub par and limited jobs are expected to be created in the years ahead. However, the silver lining in the cloud is that you can upskill yourself and make yourself stand out from your competitors.
5. You may be forced into becoming a contractor
If work availability is minimal, you may have to become a contractor. A contractor’s work is often unreliable, and you have to go through phases of work with minimal pay. However, contractors have certain freedoms as well. For instance, you can choose the projects based on your preferences instead of taking on every work you are assigned.
6. Economic uncertainties
The state of the economy is often decisive in terms of the work opportunities that come your way. For example, if you are working in an area where the real estate market is in a state of limbo, work may be hard to come by. In such a scenario, you may have to relocate, and relocation comes with its own financial hardships.
Conclusion
Carpentry, like any other profession or occupation, comes with its unique set of opportunities and challenges. So, before you decide to pursue a career in carpentry, spare some thought for the pros and cons. It would help you to make an informed decision – one which you hopefully won’t regret in the coming years.
Photo by Austin Ramsey on Unsplash