What Is a Joiner?

A joiner is a tradesperson who manufactures pieces of wood into furniture, fittings and structural elements -- cabinets, doors, window frames, staircases and more -- typically working indoors in a workshop with tools such as saws, chisels and planes, rather than on-site framing structures the way a carpenter does.

A joiner reads drawings and specifications to determine the materials and measurements required, then cuts, shapes and assembles wood into finished items -- tables, cabinets, door frames, staircases and fitted furniture. The work draws on mathematics and geometry for accurate measuring, and on hand-eye coordination and physical fitness for the cutting and assembly itself. Joiners may also be called on to repair existing joinery, from simple shelving to more significant restoration work.

The two trades are often confused, but they're distinct. A joiner typically works with more precision and higher-value timbers, constructing items such as cabinets, doors, windows and staircases, often building custom pieces in a workshop before installing them on-site. A carpenter's work more often involves on-site structural tasks -- framing, roofing, and fitting trim -- and can extend to a wider range of construction materials beyond wood. In practice today, the distinction between the two trades has blurred, and many tradespeople do work spanning both.

There's no single formal qualification required to become a joiner in the UK, though most learn through an apprenticeship or on-the-job training under experienced tradespeople. Many joiners also hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card, which demonstrates competency to work on construction sites and covers areas such as site safety and the use of hand tools.

• installing cabinets and kitchen worktops
• Traditionally a joiner would build custom fitted pieces for houses