Get Quotes from Top Carpenters in Dallas, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Carpenter in Dallas?

In Dallas, carpenters do not need a license to provide carpentry services in both residential and commercial buildings. However, residents of Dallas are advised to take the extra time to evaluate and hire reputable individuals for their home improvement and construction work to avoid being defrauded. Before you hire a carpenter in Dallas, you should ask the individual the type of carpentry service they provide to find out if they are the right person for your project.

Furthermore, you should also ask if the individual has undergone relevant training related to the project. More so, you should request a certificate showing that the individual completed the training and follow up on the matter by calling the organization that issued the certificate. Similarly, you can also ask about the individual's years of practice and experience, and if the carpenter is a member of any reputable trade organization like the Dallas Builders Association. Finally, you should ask the carpenter if they can provide a list of references that you can contact. Speak to satisfied customers on the list and ask if you can visit their homes to inspect the work done by the contractor that you intend to hire.

While a carpenter does not need a license to work in the city, general contractors who intend to provide carpentry services as part of the contracting job for home improvement or construction work must register with the city's Building Inspection Office. Contracting without registering with the Office is an offense punishable by a fine of up to $2,000. You can confirm if your general contractor is registered with the Building Inspection Office by calling (214) 948-4480.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Carpenters in Dallas?

The hourly charge for carpentry services in Dallas is determined by factors like the nature of the work, the amount of labor required to complete the project, and the scope of the project. Nevertheless, you must understand that not all carpenters charge hourly rates for carpentry services. As such, it is always good to ask the individual you intend to hire for a work estimate detailing what has to be done and their billing structure. You should also consider getting estimates from different carpenters, as this can help you avoid paying more than the average market price for the project.

A carpenter in Dallas earns an annual average wage of $42,680. The table below provides a comparison of the mean hourly wage for carpenters in Dallas against those of carpenters in the rest of the State of Texas as well as across several other major American cities:

Do You Comply with the Dallas Building Code for Carpentry Work?

Hiring a carpenter who is conversant with the Dallas Building Code and the Dallas Residential Code has several benefits. Some of these benefits include, but are not limited to, ensuring that your work meets the minimum standard for the safety of life and property, and getting the much-needed protection against statutory penalties that may result from code violations. The Dallas Building Code and the Dallas Residential Code are a set of rules and regulations established to safeguard the lives and properties of residents of the city. Accordingly, these codes regulate the construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, demolition, use, and maintenance of structures or buildings, as well as the materials used for construction work in the city.

Some requirements of these codes pertaining to carpentry work include mandatory use of pressure-preservative-treated wood for portions of wood that give structural support to buildings and balconies and protection of wood and wood-based products from decay before use. You can contact the city's Building Inspection Office at (214) 948-4480 to confirm the other requirements that apply to your carpentry work. This is particularly important as violating any section of the Dallas Building Code and the Dallas Code may attract a fine of up to $2,000.

Will You Get the Home Improvement Permits as Required by the Dallas Code?

In Dallas, a building permit is needed to erect, enlarge, alter, construct, repair, improve, and maintain a structure or building service equipment. As such, any person who wants to perform carpentry work that involves any of the aforementioned activities must first obtain a building permit for the work. Homeowners in Dallas are to ensure that permits are obtained by the appropriate persons before any work is done on their building. Failure to obtain a permit before working on a project for which a permit is required is an offense that may result in payment of investigation and permit fee and issuance of stop-work order. However, it is not all carpentry work that requires a permit. Some carpentry work for which a permit is not needed include:

• Replacement of doors that do not require any modification to the existing wall framing
• Replacement of windows that do not require any modification to the existing wall frames or window frames
• Reroofing if the value of work does not exceed $500
• A work of art
• Installation of storm shelters accessory to single-family or duplex premises provided that the shelter is less than 200 square feet and situated in an area with no utilities

You can contact the city's Building Inspection Permit Center at (214) 948-4480 to confirm if your carpentry work requires a permit. The Dallas Building Inspection Permit Center is responsible for issuing home improvement and construction work permits to interested persons. You can obtain a permit covering your carpentry work by downloading, completing, and submitting a permit application form at:

For more information concerning the requirements for obtaining a home improvement or construction work permit,

call (214) 948-4480.

Besides the issuance of permits for home improvement and construction work in Dallas, the Building Inspection Office also carries out inspections of home improvement and construction work for which a permit was issued via its Inspection Services Section. Per the requirements of section 304 of the city's Administrative Procedures for the Construction Codes, all construction work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection, and such work must be accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved by the building official. You can schedule an inspection for your construction work including carpentry, with the Inspection Services Section online or by calling (214) 670-5313.

What Kind of Carpentry Services Do You Offer?

Carpentry services in Dallas are generally categorized into two broad groups, which include, rough carpentry and finish carpentry. Rough carpentry focuses on the wood support systems that make up a building's frame, roof, wall, and floors. In contrast, finish carpentry includes all the carpentry work done inside a building after framing, sheathing, plumbing, drywall, and wiring have been performed. Common examples of finish carpentry work are door and window installation, cabinet installation, and wood and laminate flooring installation.

Before hiring a carpenter in Dallas, confirming if they can provide the type of services you need is crucial. You can do this by asking about the type of carpentry service they provide and their years of practice and experience in providing such service. You can also ask your carpenter to provide references for previous clients with similar needs. Once you can confirm that the carpenter is the right person for the job, you can now find out how much the type of carpentry service you need costs.

Listed below is the average hourly rate for some carpentry services in Dallas. These services include:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Carpenters in Dallas?

Before hiring a carpenter for your home improvement or remodeling project, you must understand that work accidents may occur at any time during the project, and you may bear the financial burden of these accidents if you do not prepare for them. Considering that the Texas construction industry recorded 123 cases of fatal work injuries, which was about 20.23% of the total fatal work injuries in the state in 2019, it is very important to protect yourself from claims that may result from work accidents during your home improvement project.

While carpenters are not required to carry or maintain general liability insurance in Texas, including Dallas, it is always necessary to ask the individual you intend to hire if they are insured. You can ask the carpenter for proof of insurance. You can also confirm if your carpenter is insured by asking for their insurance certificate and contacting the insurance company to verify the information.