What a carpentry work order is for
Most carpentry callbacks come from a detail lost between the walkthrough and the install: the wrong door swing, a pull at the wrong height, crown that should have stopped at the archway. A work order with the layout drawing, profiles, swings and the owner's requests keeps the crew building what was sold.
What to put on a carpentry work order
- Rooms and runs, with a layout sketch.
- Trim profiles and paint or stain grade.
- Door swings and hardware heights.
- Cabinet order and filler locations.
- Fasteners, adhesive and finish notes.
- Protection for floors and counters.
A worked example
Install day for the kitchen and dining room. Prices are hidden.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set base cabinets level, start at the corner | 14 | ft | Your price |
| Hang uppers, 18 inches above counter line | 11 | ft | Your price |
| Crown, dining room, stop at archway | 48 | ft | Your price |
| Pulls at 3 inches from door edge | 32 | each | Your price |
Put the layout drawing and the pull template in site notes. Those two details cause most cabinet callbacks.
Line items carpenters use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Install crown molding | ft | Profile, paint or stain grade, and inside and outside corners. |
| Install baseboard | ft | Height and whether shoe molding is included. |
| Door casing, both sides | each | Per door; casing profile and head detail. |
| Hang interior door, prehung | each | Swing, size and hardware. |
| Install kitchen cabinets | ft | Linear feet of run; uppers and bases counted once. |
| Cabinet hardware | each | Pulls and knobs, drilled from a template. |
| Built-in shelving | ft | Shelf depth, material and finish. |
| Wainscoting or panel molding | sq ft | Style and height on the wall. |
| Window casing and stool | each | Per window; apron and stool style. |
| Material, paint-grade trim | ft | From your supplier with markup. |
| Fill, caulk and prep for paint | hour | Say whether painting is yours or the painter's. |
| Haul away old trim and doors | load | Disposal of what comes out. |
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer, the site and the date.
- Add who is assigned, the arrival window and access.
- List the tasks and materials in the order the crew will need them.
- Put gate codes, pets and anything to protect in the site notes.
- Print it for the truck or send it to the crew's phone as a PDF.
Free tools for carpentry
The same work order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, deck, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for carpenters: how carpenters run on Koira.