Get Quotes from Top Carpenters in Seattle, WA

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Carpenter in Seattle?

Anyone who intends to provide carpentry services in Seattle must hold the appropriate specialty contractor registration certificate issued by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. A specialty contractor registration certificate permits its holder to perform work related to the particular specialty they are registered for. Acting as a specialty contractor or providing carpentry service for which a specialty contractor registration certificate is required without the appropriate registration certificate carries substantial penalties and fines.

Carpentry work-related specialty contractor registration certificate types issued by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries include:

• Cabinets, millwork, and finish carpentry specialty contractor registration certificate
• Closets specialty contractor registration certificate
• Framing and rough carpentry contractor registration certificate
• Siding specialty contractor register certificate

To register as a contractor in any of the aforementioned construction work specialties, interested persons must register their business with the State's Department of Revenue, get a surety bond or assignment of savings, purchase a general liability insurance policy, and mail a completed, signed, and notarized contractor registration application form to:

In Washington, a contractor registration application is processed and activated within three to four weeks after submission. However, once your business is registered, it will be listed on the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries' verify a contractor, tradesperson, or business portal. This tool allows you to verify the registration status of the individual you intend to hire before finalizing any agreement for your construction or home improvement work. For more information concerning the requirements and processes for obtaining a carpentry-related specialty contractor registration, contact the Washington State Department of Labor and Industry at (360) 902-5226.

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

While the hourly rate for carpentry services in Seattle depends on common factors like the type of work, the cost of materials, and the amount of labor required to complete the work, carpenters may charge different prices for the same work depending on their availability for the job. Accordingly, getting a second opinion on any home improvement work you want to do is crucial. You can do this by getting and comparing multiple estimates from different carpenters. This will help you choose the right carpenter while ensuring that you do not pay more than the average market price for the job.

A carpenter in Seattle earns an annual average wage of $69,160. The table below provides a comparison of the mean hourly wage for carpenters in Seattle against those of carpenters in the rest of the State of Washington as well as across several other major American cities:

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

The Seattle Building Code is a set of rules regulating the construction and occupancy of any building or structure in the city. These include, but are not limited to, rules governing the designs of electrical systems, mechanical systems, plumbing systems, and woodwork involved in constructing, altering, and improving a structure or building. Before hiring a carpenter in Seattle, you should always confirm if the individual is familiar with the Building Code.

Anyone who intends to perform carpentry work involved in the construction or alteration of a building or structure in Seattle must be conversant with Chapter 23 of the Seattle Building Code, which establishes the minimum requirements for the design of buildings or structures that use wood and wood-based products.

Hiring a carpenter who is not familiar with the Building Code, especially the rules regulating carpentry work, increases the chances of code violations and potential city fines. To reduce your chances of code violations resulting from carpentry work, you should always ensure that the carpenter you intend to hire is conversant with the Building Code.

You can also reduce the chances of code violations by reading and familiarizing yourself with the Seattle Building Code. You can contact the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections at (206) 684-8850 to find out more about the provisions of the city's Building Code.

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

Per the requirements of section 106 of the Seattle Building Code, a permit is required before you can erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, and improve a building or part of a building within Seattle. Failure to obtain the required permits before starting a home improvement, remodeling, or construction project can attract a fine of not more than $500 per violation each day. Nevertheless, not all activities involved in the construction or alteration of a building require a permit. Some plumbing, mechanical, and carpentry-related work does not require a permit. Listed below are some carpentry works that do not require a building permit:

• Installation of kitchen cabinets
• Display cases, cabinets, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high
• Replacement of siding that does not involve structural changes, such as replacement of sheathings or alteration to doors and windows

While not every carpentry work requires a permit, residents of Seattle must ensure that their home improvement, remodeling, and construction work comply with the city's Building Code even where no permit is required.

The Seattle Department of Constructions and Inspections is the agency that handles the issuance of permits for home improvement and construction work. However, you must apply for and meet the requirements for obtaining the permit before a building permit can be issued to you. To obtain a building permit, the applicant must identify and describe the type of work to be done, the land where such work will be done, construction documents including plans and specifications, and the valuation of the construction or home improvement work. Interested persons can apply for a building permit online or by calling (206) 684-8850.

Besides the issuance of building permits, the city's Department of Construction and Inspections also performs inspections on home improvement or construction work for which a permit was issued. The homeowner or owner's authorized agent is responsible for informing the Building Official that the work for which a permit was obtained is ready for inspection. You can request inspections for construction or home improvement projects involving woodwork online or by calling (206) 684-8900. To schedule an inspection, you must provide their permit number, name, and phone number.

The city's Department of Construction and Inspections also maintains the District Inspector map that allows homeowners to find their inspector. You can find your inspector's name and telephone number on the aforementioned map and inform the inspector about the project's progress before scheduling an inspection. However, if you discover that you made a mistake on the project after scheduling an inspection and you want to rectify the problem before your inspector arrives, you can call (206) 684-8950 to cancel the scheduled inspection. Call the city's Department of Construction and Inspections at (206) 684-8600 for further inquiries concerning building permits and inspections.

What Kind of Carpentry Services Do You Offer?

Seattle carpenters generally provide two kinds of carpentry services. The two carpentry service types provided by Seattle carpenters include rough carpentry and finish carpentry. Rough carpentry includes every kind of woodwork that focuses on the skeleton of the building's roof, walls, and floors, and they are usually not visible after the completion of the project.

On the other hand, finish carpentry generally involves all the woodwork done after the home's structure has been completed. Examples of finish carpentry include the installation of doors, trims, moldings, cabinets, and shelving.

While both carpentry services are necessary for the completion of your construction and home improvement work, the type of carpentry service you need is usually determined by the stage you have reached in your construction or home improvement work. However, you should always ask the individual you intend to hire if they can provide the type of carpentry service you need. More so, you should also confirm that the carpenter has the necessary tools and equipment they need to handle your project. Once you have confirmed that the carpenter is competent to handle your job, you can now discuss the cost of the particular carpentry service you need.

Listed below are the average cost of some carpentry services in Seattle:

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

Specialty contractors in Seattle are mandatorily required by the State of Washington to purchase a general liability insurance policy as part of the requirements for obtaining a specialty contractor registration certificate. These contractors include but are not limited to, cabinets, millwork, and finish carpentry specialty contractors, closets specialty contractors, framing and rough carpentry contractors, and siding specialty contractors.

When considering hiring a carpenter near you, ensuring that the individual is insured is always important. This protects you from claims that may result from work accidents during your construction or home improvement work. You can ensure that the carpenter is insured by asking for their insurance certificate and contacting the insurance company that issued the certificate.

This is particularly important because carpenters make use of tools that may lead to injuries, such as nail guns, chainsaws, and wood chippers. It is estimated that nail guns are responsible for over 37,000 emergency room visits annually, with 68 percent of the 37,000 emergency visits involving construction workers.