Both carpenters and cabinetmakers are professionals who make structures from wood. But what exactly is so different about what the two do? Are carpenters more versatile? Do cabinetmakers have specialized skills that set them apart? Are they both simply woodworkers who take on somewhat different projects?

If you’re unclear about what the differences are between carpenters and cabinetmakers, you’re far from alone. Indeed, their work is pretty similar, though there are a few key details that set professionals in the two categories apart. Want to get a better understanding of what those are? Here’s what you need to know.

Cabinetmaking is a Little More Artistic Than Carpentry

Both carpentry and cabinetmaking are creative endeavours, involving a transformation of raw material into something functional. However, making cabinets means working with pieces that are relatively small and delicate, and the finished product must be aesthetically pleasing. The work done by carpenters doesn’t always require this same level of detailed care. Working to put together the frame of a house, for example, isn’t a particularly delicate task.

Unsurprisingly, cabinetmaking can be demanding, but cabinetmaking training is geared toward teaching students how to achieve perfection when working on intricate or precise projects. Instruction largely involves hands-on activity, overseen by professionals with a great deal of experience and an eye for the little details that set great pieces apart. If you like the idea of doing complex woodwork, you can learn everything you need to know by enrolling in a cabinetmaking program.

Professionals With Cabinetmaking Training Tend to Use Pricier Materials

For all the griping that people make about the cost of getting new kitchen countertops, those aren’t anywhere near the most expensive part of a renovation. It’s cabinets that hold that distinction, and not just because of the labour that goes into their creation. Another significant contributor is the cost of the materials used, which are often woods like oak or maple.

Wood for cabinets can cost anywhere from $80 to $165 per linear foot. Combine that with the cost of the cabinetmaker’s time and labour and it is little wonder that new cabinets often account for about a third of people’s total kitchen renovation budget.

Materials make cabinets some of the most expensive elements of a kitchen renovation

This reality does put a little extra pressure on cabinetmakers to cut accurately and waste as little material as possible, but this is again something that isn’t much of a concern to those with the right training. A good cabinetmaking school can help you develop the technical skill and patient approach necessary for success working with expensive cabinet materials.

Graduates of Cabinetmaking School Can Take on Other Specialized Tasks, Too

The possibilities for trained cabinetmakers don’t end at cabinets for the home. A cabinetmaker might be hired to do interior trim work, like installing moulding at the top and bottom of walls, to create special cabinets for use in aircrafts, or any number of other interesting opportunities.

Trim work is an interesting task that cabinetmaking professionals are qualified to do

If it relates to cabinets or to delicate woodwork, the opportunity is there for a cabinetmaker to make their mark. Carpenters, for the most part, don’t get to work on projects this diverse. Because of their versatility, cabinetmakers have many professional opportunities available to them, making this a good line of work to pursue if you want interesting and secure employment.

Are you looking for cabinetmaking courses that offer great employment prospects?

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