Get Quotes from Top Carpenters in El Paso, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Carpenter in El Paso?

The Business Licensing Center of the El Paso Planning and Inspections Department issues licenses to contractors wishing to offer home improvement services in the city, including carpenters. Any individual who carries out work in the city as a contractor without a valid general contractor license will be committing a misdemeanor punishable with a fine not exceeding $500.

Carpenters applying for general contractor licenses must satisfy certain requirements, including submitting the following:

Applicants who have satisfied the relevant requirements can complete an online application by utilizing the Business Licensing Center Citizen Access Portal. Alternatively, applicants can complete and submit the contractor registration application form accompanied by payment of the relevant fees at:

Interested persons can also direct queries regarding the licensing process for carpenters to the city's Department of Planning and Inspections at (915) 212-0104.

Before hiring a carpenter, you should always confirm they possess the relevant license that qualifies them to take on the job. You can verify this by contacting the city's Department of Planning and Inspections at (915) 212-0104 or via email.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Carpenters in El Paso?

According to the figures released by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, carpenters offering services across El Paso earn a mean wage of $16 per hour. What influences how much these carpenters charge includes the nature and scope of your woodwork project, labor that will be required to complete this work, cost of materials, permits necessary to commence work, and the experience of the carpenter. Hence, it is smart to get bids and estimates from three or more carpenters near you before hiring a carpenter to commence work on your project. This helps you determine the average rate charged by carpenters around you and helps you pick the most suitable carpenter for your budget.

A carpenter in El Paso earns an annual average wage of $34,710. The table below provides a comparison of the mean hourly wage for carpenters in El Paso against those of carpenters in the rest of Texas as well as across several other major American cities:

Do You Comply with the El Paso Building Code for Carpentry Work?

When you hire a carpenter in El Paso who possesses the right qualifications and is well-versed with the city's relevant code, it guarantees your work will be up to standard. Particularly, the El Paso Building Code establishes minimum standards to comply with when handling carpentry projects to ensure public welfare, health, and safety. Accordingly, hiring a carpenter who understands the Code and its provisions as it relates to your project is crucial.

Failure to comply with the Code when carrying out any carpentry project is a misdemeanor that attracts the payment of a fine that may not exceed $2,000. You can direct your inquiries or queries regarding the Code to the El Paso Planning and Inspection Department by contacting (915) 212-0104 or by email.

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

A building permit is typically required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or demolish a building or structure across El Paso. However, buildings that do not exceed one story in height and 200 square feet are exempted from permit requirements, subject to specific conditions. Building permits are issued by El Paso Planning and Inspection Department.

Upon due application, a homeowner or their hired contractor may be issued a building permit. Applicants must complete an application online via the city's online permitting portal. To use this platform, an applicant must create a new user account or log in with an existing account. Thereafter, the applicant can fill out the application form, upload the necessary documents, and pay the non-refundable permit fee. Alternatively, the applicant can complete and submit a permit application form to be provided by the Department, accompanied by a nonrefundable permit fee, to:

Applicants should note that they may need to submit plans for review where required. If the property is in a historic district or designated historic landmark, the city staff will need to review any construction, reconstruction, alteration, removal, or demolition on the property before a building permit can be issued. After the applicant has successfully applied, the Department will review and issue the permit where necessary. Afterward, permittees will be required to request an inspection when relevant at certain stages of the projects via the online permitting portal. The building official must conduct these inspections to ensure compliance with the city's Building Code. For more information regarding the permitting process and inspection, you can contact the Planning and Inspections Department at (915) 212-0104.

What Kind of Carpentry Services Do You Offer?

Carpenters in El Paso offer different types of carpentry services to city residents. These services include the construction and installation of doors, frames, windows, cabinets, and countertops. This makes it essential for you to ensure that your intended carpenter has the qualifications, skillset, and experience to handle your proposed woodwork project. This is because some carpenters are more experienced in handling more complex carpentry work.

Besides verifying the carpenter is licensed, you can also request previous work references to prove their experience in handling your type of project. Advisably, you can contact these references to inquire about the carpenter's work quality and professionalism. In addition, you should ensure you find out the cost of the carpenter's services.

Some cost estimates for common carpentry services that are readily available in El Paso are provided below:

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Carpenters in El Paso?

In 2019, over 600 fatal occupational injuries were recorded by the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation. Carpentry handheld tools account for approximately eight percent of all compensable workplace injuries in the country, including El Paso. This makes hiring a carpenter with an active insurance policy very important. This not only protects the carpenter but also protects you from out-of-pocket costs when bodily injury or property damage occurs during your project. Nevertheless, carpenters registering for contractor licenses are mandatorily required to provide proof of a general liability insurance certificate with liability limits of the following:

• $500,000 for bodily injury liability
• $100,000 for property damage.
• Blanket building construction bond of up to $25,000

When hiring carpenters, ensure you request a copy of their certificate of insurance and take steps to verify its validity from the issuing insurance carrier or contact the city's Department of Planning and Inspections at (915) 212-0104.

Note that if your intended carpenter has at least one employee, you must confirm if they are carrying the required worker's insurance compensation for the employees. If you have further questions regarding workers' compensation insurance, you can contact the El Paso Human Resources Department by completing an online form.