What is the difference between a Cabinet Maker and a Carpenter?

If you need some work done in your house who do you call? What do you look for? Do you search for a local carpenter or a cabinet maker? Do you know the difference? It really does matter so I want to try and explain the differences.

A cabinet maker builds fine furniture and cabinets and works primarily in a workshop with a vast array of woodworking machines, hand tools and work-benches. Carpentry is a skilled trade. A carpenter works mainly on site, building structures out of wood and wood substitutes. While both professions do work with wood, it is the cabinet maker who goes one step further by focusing on the finer details of the wood, the joints, the finishing. It is this attention to detail that distinguishes them from carpenters. And just so you know – we are cabinet makers.

Sometimes people think they need a carpenter, when actually it is a cabinet maker that they need. As a result of this, people do call us carpenters sometimes. In fact, when our youngest son was born at home on Christmas Day in 2010 the local paper (Evening Post) printed a story ‘Carpenter’s son born at home on Christmas Day’, and we didn’t mind really! Therefore, when people ask we do like to clarify the difference.

We design and make fitted and freestanding furniture and kitchens, do get in touch if you would like to have a chat about your projects.