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Crafting Quality

Crafting Quality

The craft of carpentry and joinery has shaped the built environment for centuries. Today, these skills remain just as vital, not only for ensuring the structural integrity of buildings and canopies but also for elevating their aesthetic appeal. At their best, carpenters and joiners create structures that are both robust and beautiful, merging engineering with artistry.

Carpentry and joinery are essential pillars of the UK’s £370 billion construction sector, which represents around 7% of the country’s GDP. More than 300,000 carpenters and joiners are employed across the UK, with demand expected to rise steadily between 2024 and 2026.

Skilled tradespeople are in high demand: the industry faces a shortfall of over 250,000 workers by 2028, highlighting just how critical these professions are. With house prices climbing and homeowners seeking home improvements and loft conversions, the need for skilled carpenters and joiners has never been greater.

This growing demand also underscores a generational challenge. Over a third of the current workforce is aged 50 or above so attracting and training the next generation of craftspeople is vital for the industry’s future.

Carpenters and joiners contribute in different but complementary ways:

  • Structural Integrity – Carpenters build the framework of walls, roofs, and floors, ensuring strength and stability.
  • Precision and Joinery – Joiners craft components with techniques such as dovetailing and mortise-and-tenon joints, ensuring durability without relying solely on nails or screws.
  • Aesthetic Appeal – By working closely with architects and engineers, carpenters and joiners help bring design visions to life, balancing beauty with practicality.
  • Collaboration & Technology – Traditional craftsmanship is now enhanced by CNC machines and laser cutting, but the essence of the trade remains human skill and precision.

The Role of Glulam Timber in Modern Construction

As the industry embraces sustainability, Glulam timber has emerged as an environmentally responsible and versatile material that combines tradition with innovation.

  •  Eco-Friendly – Producing Glulam requires far less energy than steel, reducing carbon impact.
  • Lightweight & Cost-Effective – Easier to transport and install, lowering overall emissions.
  • Durable – Resistant to rot and chemicals, ensuring a longer lifespan.
  • Design Versatility – Available in straight or curved forms, offering striking architectural possibilities.
  • Proven Strength – From the historic 1860 King Edward College hall in Southampton to Norway’s record-breaking Filsa Bridge, Glulam has stood the test of time.
  • Certified Quality – Fully compliant with BS EN 386:2001, giving assurance of safety and reliability.

Case Study: Barking Abbey School, London

A recent project at Barking Abbey School, delivered for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council, perfectly demonstrates how carpentry, joinery, and Glulam timber come together to deliver both function and style.

Working with Munday & Cramer Architects, Able Canopies designed and installed three Tarnhow Glulam Timber Canopies across the school’s two campuses:

As part of our Outdoor Projects Canopy Package, we also handled extensive groundworks, including drainage, paving, and tarmac works, reducing the need for multiple contractors and simplifying the project for the council.

The result? Covered outdoor dining areas seating over 380 pupils across both sites, dramatically easing congestion inside the dining halls while giving students more space and fresh air during break times. The canopies not only solved a practical challenge but also enhanced the aesthetic appeal of the campuses with their striking Glulam frames in a Nutwood finish.

Timber Canopies That Combine Strength and Style

At Able Canopies, we bring the best of carpentry, joinery, and sustainable design into our Glulam timber canopies. These structures provide both practicality and visual impact, delivering shelter, enhancing outdoor spaces, and creating long-lasting architectural features that embody both craftsmanship and innovation.

From schools and public spaces to bespoke architectural projects, our canopies showcase how traditional skills and modern materials can work together to create structures that truly stand the test of time.

Able Canopies Ltd. design, manufacture and install commercial grade canopies, shade sails, awnings and shelters across the UK. We specialise in servicing the education, leisure, healthcare and retail sectors and have extensive experience working with schools, councils, architects and contracting firms.
For more information on our products and services, please contact us

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Design and Specifications
BIM and NBS