Get Quotes from Top Carpenters in Charlotte, NC

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Carpenter in Charlotte?

Carpenters seeking to offer services to residents of Charlotte must be registered with the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC). This is because carpenters are generally categorized as general contractors or specialty contractors in North Carolina. The laws and regulations of the NCLBGC also demand licensing when carpenters execute works that are valued at $30,000 or more. Carpenters registered as specialty contractors can perform carpentry work involving interior constructions like flooring and finishing and installing doors, windows, or cabinets. In comparison, carpenters registered as residential contractors can perform carpentry work in residential units.

Licenses issued by the NCLBGC are also broadly grouped by limitations. Limited licenses give contractors the right to handle projects with a monetary value of up to $500,000, and intermediate licenses allow contractors to perform tasks with an economic value of up to $1,000,000. In contrast, unlimited licenses enable the holders to perform projects without an upper monetary limit. Carpenters can be found guilty of class 2 misdemeanors by the state and fined up to $1,000 or sentenced to up to 60 days in jail if they engage in woodwork services under the following conditions:

• Impersonation of a licensed contractor.
• Performing work without the proper license.
• Working with a false or forged license,
• Engages in services using an expired or revoked license.

Carpenters seeking to be licensed general contractors must first submit an adequately filled application to the NCLBGC and meet the following additional requirements:

To verify a carpenter's license in North Carolina, you can use the license verification portal maintained by the NCLBGC. Alternatively, you can download the license verification tool maintained by the NCLBGC, available on Android or iOS. If you have any inquiries about carpenter licensing requirements or contractor license verification, you can contact the NCLBGC by email, faxing to (919) 571-4703, or calling (919) 571-4183.

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

The rates per hour charged by carpenters in Charlotte depend on:

• The nature of the project to be completed.
• The type of materials to be used during the project and associated costs of these materials.
• The amount of staffing required to complete the project.

Carpenters can sometimes provide quotes as flat rates instead of hourly rates as they are not constrained to charge based on hourly estimates. However, it is a good idea to seek several estimates from several carpenters. This would enable you to gain insight into the average costs of the project you wish to execute. Retrieving multiple estimates from carpenters would also help you avoid getting scammed.

A carpenter in Charlotte earns an annual average wage of $41,300. The table below provides a comparison of the mean hourly wage for carpenters in Charlotte against those of carpenters in the rest of the State of North Carolina as well as across several other major American cities:

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

Broadly, the North Carolina Building Code is the piece of state law that serves as the guide for the construction, alterations, relocation, enlargement, replacement, repair, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal, and demolition of buildings, structures, or any structure connected to such buildings or structures. More specifically, Chapter 23 of the Building Code serves as the law governing wood materials, woodwork design, construction, and the quality of wood members and their fasteners. When you hire a carpenter, you should ensure that the carpenter understands the provisions of the state building code since the code contains specific and technical requirements regarding the minimum moisture allowed for wood used in woodwork within the State and the specifications of the equipment used in any woodwork.

Also, hiring a carpenter who does not understand the intricacies of the North Carolina building code would put you at risk of violating the code and putting the health and safety of others at risk. If you have specific questions about the North Carolina Building Code related to carpentry and woodwork, contact the Charlotte Department of General Services by email or phone at (704) 336-2291.

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

According to Section .0212 of the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC) laws and regulations, contractors must obtain permits from the relevant local code enforcement agency before commencing any type of building or construction work. Furthermore, the North Carolina Administrative Codes and Policies stipulate that no person should begin the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement to another site, removal, or demolition of any building without first obtaining a permit from the relevant government organization. Permits applicable to carpentry or construction work in Charlotte are issued by the Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement Department (CED). Homeowners or carpenters seeking to obtain permits from the CED can utilize any permit application portals maintained by the CED. These permit application portals are:

• Homeowner Internet Permitting: for carpenters and homeowners performing carpentry or building with a monetary value of less than $30,000.
• Trade Internet Permitting for carpentry projects that do not require the submission of plan reviews.
• Other Permit Not Requiring Plan Review: This is the portal for a commercial building or carpentry project piloted primarily by contractors.
• Permits requiring plan review: Use this portal for carpentry projects or building projects involving Residential Plan reviews, Small Commercial Project Plan Reviews, Commercial Plan Reviews, Mega-Multi Family Plan Reviews, and Special Projects Plan Reviews.
• Demolition Permits: This portal is useful for projects involving the partial or total demolitions of building or carpentry projects.
• Special Event Permits: These are for unique building or carpentry projects as specified by the North Carolina Building Code.

Alternatively, you can visit the office of the CED with inquiries on how to apply for a permit for your carpentry project. The CED's office is located at:

You can direct any inquiries you might have about permit requirements, inspection requirements, and inspection application procedures for your carpentry projects to the CED either by email or phone at (980) 314-2633.

What Kind of Carpentry Services Do You Offer?

Carpenters in Charlotte provide different services related to woodwork in the City. These services include creating new carpentry projects, repairing existing woodwork, routine checks, and maintaining existing woodwork in your home. It is best to ensure that the carpenter you wish to hire possesses the right skillset relevant to the carpentry project you want to begin. Inquiring about the cost estimates for carpentry projects you wish to embark on is also advisable. These would enable you to create a reasonable budget suitable to cover the cost of hiring your carpenter and buying materials for the project. These are some of the prices of carpentry projects performed in Charlotte:

Third-party services like Yelp or Better Business Bureau serve as great tools for you to use to quickly find a carpenter with the right skill set to handle your carpentry project. You can contact the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors(NCLBGC) by email, fax to (919) 571-4703, or phone at (919) 571-4183 with any queries you might have about carpenters and the services they can offer in the State.

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

While there are no general liability insurance mandates for carpenters in Charlotte, the North Carolina Industrial Commission(NCIC) enforces the Worker's Compensation Act, which mandates that employers with three or more workers must have authentic Worker Compensation Insurance for all workers. Employers who fail to heed the Worker's Compensation Act provisions can face steep financial fines imposed by the NCIC, be charged with a misdemeanor, get charged with a felony, or be sent to prison as determined by the NCIC. Nail guns often used by carpenters cause up to 37,000 emergency room visits annually nationwide. Looking at these statistics provided by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), we can see that hiring an adequately insured carpenter for your woodwork project is crucial.

Ultimately, it is a good idea to hire only carpenters with authentic general liability insurance and who comply with the Worker's Compensation Act. Doing so shields you from the potential financial liabilities that would arise if a carpenter is injured performing your carpentry project. The NCIC maintains an Insurance Coverage Search System, which you can use to verify the authenticity of the insurance maintained by the carpenter you wish to hire. Finally, before you sign a contract with a carpenter regarding your project, you should verify the contractor license of the carpenter.

You can utilize the license verification portal maintained by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors(NCLBGC). Contractor license verification can also be done using the license verification mobile applications available on android and iOS. If you have any inquiries about carpenters' insurance requirements in Charlotte, you can contact the NCIC with the questions by email, fax to (919) 715-0282, or the NCIC toll-free line (800) 688-8349.