Get Quotes from Top Carpenters in Houston, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Carpenter in Houston?

Houston does not have any specific licensing or registration requirements for carpenters who intend to offer services to city residents. However, you can utilize other methods to determine your prospective carpenter is ability to handle your work. For example, you can check if the carpenter is a member of any reputable national or international professional organization relevant to carpentry services. Examples of such organizations include the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) and the National Association of Home Builders. These organizations and associations hold their members to certain standards, making them likely to operate more professionally than their counterparts who do not belong to any professional organization.

You can verify your carpenter's membership claims by contacting the organization or association in question. In addition, you can request that your prospective carpenter provide references from previous clients. Advisably, you should contact these clients and make further inquiries on the carpenter's professionalism, expertise, and service delivery. Be wary of carpenters who are reluctant to provide references, as this usually signifies that the individual does not provide satisfactory services. Furthermore, you can also search for reviews and feedback about your prospective carpenter on consumer-oriented online platforms like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review.

If you have any questions regarding other regulatory requirements for carpenters in Houston, you can contact the Houston Permitting Center at (832) 394-9000.

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

Several factors influence the hourly fees of carpenters in Houston. These include the work's scope, the building's age or condition, and the type of materials needed for the work. Also, you can generally expect to be charged between $11 and $29 per hour for labor fees alone by carpenters in Houston. Nonetheless, always ensure that you get cost estimates for your work from at least three carpenters and compare these estimates. Comparing estimates will help you understand the scope of your project, including all relevant stages of the work. Additionally, receiving several bids for your work can open you up to cost-effective alternatives and help you budget for your project.

A carpenter in Houston earns an annual average wage of $44,780. The table below provides a comparison of the mean hourly wage for carpenters in Houston 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 Houston Building Code for Carpentry Work?

When performing any carpentry service within Houston, carpenters must ensure that this service complies with the minimum safety standards and other requirements established by the Houston Building Code. This Code is tailored after the 2012 International Building Code, and it also includes city-specific local amendments.

The Houston Building Code regulates several carpentry and woodwork in the city, including joist construction, trim works, framing, and roofing. The minimum safety standards established by the Code are designed to ensure that structures are constructed with the appropriate materials and that these constructions follow necessary building processes. Failure to comply with the provisions and established standards of the Houston Building Code is an offense.

Per Section 114 of this Code, such a violation is punishable with fines between $500 and $2,000 per day of violation. Depending on the nature of the violation, homeowners may also be fined for failing to supervise their carpenter. Therefore, to avoid penalties and issues with the city's building officials, always ensure that your carpentry work is done in line with the Code. This can only be possible if your prospective carpenter is conversant with the Code's standards and requirements, and you should always confirm this before contracting with a carpenter. You can also make inquiries about the Houston Building Code's requirements and tips for complying with its provisions by contacting the city's Building Code Enforcement Division at (832) 394-9494 or visiting the Division's office at:

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

Section 105.1 of the Houston Building Code mandates residents to obtain relevant permits before embarking on projects that involve the construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, or demolition of a building or structure within the city. This applies to carpentry works. Therefore, ensure that you or your carpenter obtain any permits relevant to your carpentry work. Commencing a project without obtaining the relevant permits is generally an offense that attracts fines and other penalties typically determined by the city's Building Code Enforcement Division. For example, structures with carpentry works done without a permit may not be approved for use.

It should be noted that not all carpentry works in the city require permits. Accordingly, some of the carpentry works that do not require construction permits in Houston include:

• Work involving uncovered decks accessory to a one or two-family dwelling
• Work involving cabinet making, countertops, and other finish carpentry work
• Work involving temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery
• Work involving non-fixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches in height

Note that though these works do not require permits, they must be performed in line with the requirements of the Houston Building Code.

The Houston Permitting Center issues different types of construction permits, and the type of permit for your project typically depends on the nature of the project. Types of construction permits include additional commercial structural permits, additional residential structural permits, new commercial/multi-family building permits, and new single-family building permits. Concerned persons can apply for the appropriate permits either online through the City's iPermit portal or by completing a Building Permit Application (CE1263) and submitting it via email or in person at:

Note that some permit applications may also require electronic submission, review, and approval of building plans. You can contact the Permitting Center at (832) 394-9000 to inquire if such a requirement applies to your project. Also, at particular points in your project, building officials must inspect your project to ensure it complies with the Houston Building Code. However, homeowners are responsible for scheduling this inspection, and they can do so online by utilizing the Houston scheduling website or by calling (713) 222-9922. For inquiries about applicable permits for your carpentry project and other permit-related matters, contact the Houston Permitting Center at (832) 394-9000 or via email.

What Kind of Carpentry Services Do You Offer?

While carpenters in Houston offer a wide range of services, some can specialize in one or more types or subtypes of carpentry services and develop their skills there. Examples of carpentry services where carpenters specialize include:

• Rough carpentry
• Joist making
• Trim carpentry
• Framing
• Roofing

Likewise, some carpenters also specialize in working on certain kinds of structures. For example, residential carpenters usually work in homes and family dwellings, while commercial or industrial carpenters usually perform carpentry work in factories, schools, and offices. Therefore, before hiring a carpenter, ensure that the carpenter's area of specialization is relevant to the kind of carpentry work that you need. This can be done by asking prospective carpenters about their areas of specialization, requesting references from past clients who requested a similar service to yours, and requesting pictures of past projects to be assured that the carpenter actually does your kind of work.

Below are common carpentry works in Houston with estimated costs:

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

Performing carpentry work generally has some on-the-job risks, such as trips, falls, and other accidents that can cause injuries. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, there were 469 fatal occupational injuries across the state in 2020. Twenty-seven of these injuries happened to building exterior contractors, while 14 happened to roofing contractors. Without insurance coverage, the cost of such unexpected accidents can fall on the owner of the building or structure where the accident occurred.

Therefore, while there are no mandatory insurance requirements for carpenters in Houston, hiring insured carpenters is always a good idea. To understand the minimum insurance coverage your prospective carpenter should have before handling your project, you can contact the Houston Building Code Enforcement Division by calling (832) 394-9494. Likewise, you can verify your carpenter's insurance coverage by asking the carpenter for their certificate of insurance and contacting the issuing company.