National Carpentry Authority

Carpentry Services for New Construction: Phases and Responsibilities

New construction projects depend on carpentry at every structural and finish stage, from the framing of load-bearing walls to the installation of interior trim and cabinetry. This page maps the distinct phases of carpentry work in new builds, the professional roles responsible for each, and the regulatory and coordination standards that govern how those phases connect. Architects, general contractors, and project owners navigating new construction will find this a direct reference for how carpentry scope is structured across a full build cycle.

Definition and scope

Carpentry services for new construction encompass all wood-framing, structural, and finish woodwork performed during the construction of a building before occupancy. This distinguishes new construction carpentry from carpentry services for home renovation, where work must integrate with existing structures, finishes, and mechanicals. In new construction, carpentry proceeds on a cleared or prepared site in a defined sequence tied to building inspections, trade scheduling, and permit milestones.

The scope splits broadly into two professional categories: rough carpentry and finish carpentry. Rough carpenters build the structural skeleton — wall framing, floor systems, roof trusses, and sheathing. Finish carpenters arrive after drywall, installing trim, doors, windows, stairs, and cabinetry. A third category, structural specialty work, covers engineered lumber installation, beam placement, and prefabricated component assembly, which may require coordination with a structural engineer licensed under state board requirements.

Carpentry licensing and certification requirements vary by state, but most jurisdictions require rough framers on commercial and multi-family projects to operate under a licensed general or specialty contractor. Residential single-family work thresholds differ; in Texas, for example, no state-level residential contractor license is required for carpentry alone, while California's Contractors State License Board (CSLB) classifies framing under Class B General Building Contractor licensure.

How it works

New construction carpentry follows a phased sequence tied directly to the project's inspection schedule. The general contractor coordinates each phase, with carpentry subcontractors mobilizing according to the construction timeline documented in the project planning schedule.

The standard phase sequence operates as follows:

  1. Foundation and sill plate installation — Anchor bolts set by concrete crews receive pressure-treated sill plates installed by framers. This phase occurs after foundation inspection clearance.
  2. Floor system framing — Joists, beams, and subfloor sheathing are installed. Engineered I-joists are now specified on the majority of production homes in the US due to dimensional stability requirements.
  3. Wall framing — Exterior and interior load-bearing and partition walls are erected, plumbed, and sheathed. The framing inspection by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) occurs before sheathing is closed.
  4. Roof framing or truss setting — Prefabricated trusses, delivered from a manufacturer, are craned into position, or stick-framed rafters are cut and set by the framing crew.
  5. Rough openings and blocking — Window and door rough openings are framed to manufacturer specifications. Blocking is installed for future hardware — grab bars, cabinets, and fixtures — per the plans.
  6. Mechanical rough-in window — Carpentry pauses while HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors run their systems. Framing crew may return for fire blocking and penetration framing.
  7. Drywall and insulation installation — Handled by separate trades after framing inspection passes.
  8. Finish carpentry — Interior doors, window casing, base trim, crown molding, stair systems, and built-ins are installed after drywall. See staircase carpentry services and door and window carpentry services for scope detail on those components.
  9. Cabinet and millwork installation — Cabinet installation carpentry services typically fall in this final phase, coordinated with countertop and appliance trades.

The distinction between what the carpentry contractor controls and what the general contractor schedules is addressed under carpentry contractor vs general contractor.

Common scenarios

Three scenarios define most new construction carpentry engagements:

Production homebuilding — High-volume residential builders contract framing to dedicated framing crews operating under piece-rate or per-square-foot pricing structures. Speed and repeatability are the primary performance metrics. Framing packages for production homes are typically pre-ordered as cut packages or truss packages from lumber mills or manufacturers.

Custom residential construction — A custom home builder or owner-builder contracts carpenters who work from architectural plans with more complex detailing, custom millwork, and site-built features. The relationship between custom woodworking vs carpentry services becomes relevant here, as some finish elements cross into furniture-making or architectural millwork territory.

Commercial and multi-family construction — Light commercial and multi-family wood-frame construction (typically Type V or Type III construction under the International Building Code) involves larger framing crews, engineered lumber specifications, and more rigorous inspection schedules. Residential vs commercial carpentry services covers the trade and regulatory distinctions in detail.

Decision boundaries

Determining which carpentry contractor handles which phase requires explicit scope documentation before the project starts. Ambiguities between framing and finish scopes — particularly around blocking, backing, and prefabricated component assembly — generate disputes and schedule delays on a significant portion of residential projects. The scope of work documentation framework exists precisely to assign these boundaries.

Permit and inspection responsibilities follow a parallel boundary. Carpentry services permits and building codes govern when inspections must occur and who is responsible for calling them. On most new construction projects, the general contractor of record holds the permit and is accountable for inspection sequencing, even when carpentry is subcontracted.

Cost allocation between rough and finish phases can vary significantly by region and project type. The carpentry services cost guide provides structural cost breakdowns for each phase. Warranty obligations, particularly for structural framing defects, fall under state-specific implied warranty statutes; carpentry services warranty and guarantees addresses how those obligations are typically documented in contracts.

For a sector-level orientation to how carpentry trades are organized across service categories, the National Carpentry Authority index provides the reference map for this vertical.

References

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