Depending on where you are in Britain there can be different opportunities for carpenters and joiners. A lot of work may be minor repair jobs in the homes of people who don't know one end of a hammer from the other. Other jobs, usually in other neighbourhoods, could involve larger scale construction projects such as bookcases and cabinets. There are also industrial contracts, although it is not clear how many huge joinery projects will need temporary workers who are only in the country for a few months.

As with all manual labour, the harder you work and the fairer your prices, the more popular you will be with your customers and the better your reputation will be.

Some phrases you may hear or need to say:

The table wobbles. Can do something about it to make it steady?

It squeaks a bit. Try putting a bit of oil on it.

This door sticks. Can you plane the edges a bit?

The hinges are rusty. Squirt a bit of WD 40 on it.

WD 40 is a popular type of oil which comes in an aerosol can.

How long will it take to finish the cabinet?

Is it possible to save the old timber or will the whole lot need replacing?

Could you give me an estimate?

Remember that most estimates in Britain are free, at least for domestic work. If you work privately, you won't be very popular if you charge people to tell them how much you are going to charge! One of many images people have of manual workers in the UK is that they always end up charging far more than they originally said. Your reputation will be very good if you keep your promises.

Can this be repaired or is it too badly damaged?

Can you put up a shelf for me?

We can fix it, but it won't look the way it was before/as good as new.

We can use a better quality wood for the job, but it will cost more.

The windowsill is completely rotten. You'll need a new one.

There's a lot of dry rot here.

The wood has warped in the heat.

Warping is when the wood bends as a result of temperature changes.

This cupboard is infested with woodworm.

It has been damaged by rising damp.

Rising damp is when water moves up through the building, damaging everything as it does so.

It looks like the person who built this did a bad job of it!

One of your colleagues might say this. It's a stereotype of any builder or carpenter that they 'slag off' (make rude comments about) whoever did the job before them. Try to avoid saying it yourself, as it doesn't give carpenters or joiners a good name.

It's the wrong size. Take a bit off the end.

Hold it the other way round. This end goes at the bottom.

This will just need a spot of wood glue to keep it in place.

Plug the hole and leave it a couple of days.

When it's dry we can drill the screw holes in it.

Don't push the drill too hard or you'll split the wood.

Sand this down to remove the splinters.

You hold it steady while I saw it.

We'll need to get more from the timber yard.

Tools:

a plane strug

an awl przebijak

a hacksaw piła do metalu

a fretsaw wyrzynarka

a circular saw piła tarczowa

a chisel dłuto

a Stanley knife nóż do wykładzin

a penknife scyzoryk

a lathe tokarka

a tape measure taśma miernicza

Other vocabulary:

sawdust trociny

wood shavings strużyny

hardwood twarde drewno

softwood drewno miękkie

oak dąb

teak drewno tekowe

willow wierzba

chestnut kasztan

yew cis

ash jesion

putty kit

a window frame rama okienna

sandpaper papier ścierny

One last point to bear in mind: Britain has been badly affected by flooding in several areas this summer. There will be areas where work which had been in demand last year has now evaporated as homeowners have more pressing needs than the odd loose door fitting.

Warunki użytkowania | Kontakt