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The Evolution of the Craft

The job of a carpenter today is a very different job than it was 30 years ago. As technology, materials, and housing needs have changed over time, we adapt. Lately, specializing has become much more common. A crew comes in to build forms to pour the concrete foundation, another to frame the house; some builders use a separate crew to install doors and windows, a crew to drywall, and a crew to trim. Stairs arrive from the factory and are installed by the crew that delivers them. It’s less common to find someone who can frame a house and build a custom staircase.

You may get the idea that the trade is less than it was. That isn’t a new idea. In 1918, Gilbert Townsend wrote in the introduction to his book a sentence that has stuck with me since I read it many years ago:

“In the very nature of things, the present-day carpenter is not the same sort of a workman as his brother of twenty-five years ago; but if anyone imagines for a moment that he is a disappearing species, that person should inspect some building operations in his own locality in order to correct this impression. With all the strides which have been made in steel and concrete construction, and in the manufacture of special building materials, no method has ever been devised for dispensing with the services of the skilled worker in wood.

...But whereas the carpenter formerly did all the work connected with the building or decoration of the structure, he now performs only a small part of it. At one time he was called upon to prepare the rough lumber for framing, erect the building, make the doors and windows together with their frames, and make and put in place all the outside and inside finish, even including the furniture. Nevertheless, the principles upon which the art of carpentry is based have not changed, and we still use the formulas and profit by the wisdom which has come down to us from our fathers.”

The Work Changes, the Principles Don’t

While the job has changed, the principles of woodworking haven’t. Even with new materials and techniques, wood framing is still the predominant form of housing. Advances in fire suppression and mass timber have allowed for taller wood-framed buildings than ever before. Today, carpenters have to understand much more than just wood; we work with plastics, composites, and light steel.

To meet tighter construction standards, carpenters now have to understand building envelopes and how moisture and air move through buildings. As the field has become more diverse, it has become more specialized.

What We Lose When Everything Is Specialized

I often think back to the carpenters showing up to an untouched site, clearing the trees and hewing their own lumber to build a house from materials found onsite. While nobody wants to go back to a time before sawmills, I do feel there is something lost with specialization.

When a skilled carpenter can take a project from a hole in the ground to a finished house, there is a level of ownership and pride in the project. It allows for planning and coordination that is hard to accomplish with crews that are often onsite for only a few days before moving on to the next project.

Honoring the Craft Through the Whole Story

While we deeply respect the specialized crews who master their one piece of the puzzle, we choose to stay in the middle of the whole story. To us, the honor in honoring the craft is found in that connection—the thread that runs from the first layout line to the final piece of trim.

When I see an old home, I see craftsmanship that has lasted through generations, providing homes for families. Our mission is to preserve what has been passed down to us: the homes, and the skills and traditions of the craft.

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If you value craftsmanship that honors both tradition and innovation, we invite you to explore our carpentry services and see how we approach every project with pride and precision. Have a project in mind? Contact us today to start a conversation about bringing your vision to life.