Have you been considering refurbishing the wooden shelves and cupboards in your home? Or perhaps you have been thinking about putting hardwood floors down as a finishing touch to your perfect home in Abu Dhabi. Luckily, there is a good carpenter in Abu Dhabi for all of these jobs. The trick is asking the right questions before you decide to hire someone for the job. ServiceMarket, with the advice of some of our handyman and carpentry experts, has compiled a list of the most important things you should know about any carpenter in Abu Dhabi before you hire them.
Type of carpenter
All carpenters are not equal. They will have specialized in different fields when acquiring their trade so the first thing to understand is the type of carpenter you need.
- Rough carpenters specialize in building framework and structures for buildings and homes.
- Finish carpenters do the installation of decks, sliding doors and roofing. They will often finish what was begun by rough carpenters. Sometimes you can find an individual who has specialized in both rough and finish carpentry.
- Cabinet makers are highly specialized tradesmen who build furniture items for your home (e.g. cupboards, cabinets and shelves).
Credentials and experience
Training
Many carpenters train through an apprenticeship with other carpenters. In this way, they get experience in the field while working their way towards their qualification. Take note of the apprenticeship that your desired carpenter had, as the more experience that they have the more likely they are to deliver what you require. This apprenticeship should have also led to a valid certification to prove that they have learnt all the tricks of the trade.
Reviews
If the company that the carpenter apprenticed with is real, there should be some record of it on the internet. Also, reading reviews and comments on the carpenter and their business is always a surefire way to find out if you are likely to be a satisfied customer or not. You can easily find reviews of carpenters on ServiceMarket.
Certifications
Another way to determine if the carpenter is the real thing is to ask to see their qualification certificate. In order to gain employment in Abu Dhabi, there must be proof of training. If they cannot provide you with a qualification certificate, then it may be best to find a carpenter who has had some legitimate training and has a certificate to show for it.
License to trade in Abu Dhabi
All carpenters in Abu Dhabi need a license to practice their trade. Ask to see the license and make sure it is endorsed by the Abu Dhabi Municipality. Without this license, the carpenter has not been vetted and is operating illegally in the UAE.
Work history references
Asking for a work history with references to their three most recent contracts is a great way to get some first-hand information on the carpenter and his work. The carpenter should also be able to present you with a portfolio detailing all of their projects, the timeline, the cost which should ideally contain photographs of the before and after products.
Don’t be afraid to call up the references that the carpenter provides as people are often more than happy to share their experiences with a contractor and you will get honest and first-hand feedback. This is important if the carpenter will be spending a lot of time in your home. You want someone who is trustworthy.
Detailed contract
After you are satisfied that you have found the right carpenter, you should ask to see a sample of a detailed contract outlining the terms and conditions of the job. The contract should define what the job will entail, how long it will take, what the responsibilities of each party are and also what the warranty or the guarantee is on the finished product.
The contract should also outline a complaints procedure in case you are not satisfied with the work at the end of the job.
There are many avenues you can take in order to find a carpenter, but the important thing is to do as much research about carpenters in Abu Dhabi as possible. A good platform that makes this process easier is ServiceMarket.