Restoration Carpenter - Historic Structures

Job Description

Job Description

If you've ever looked at a production build and thought 'I was made for better work than this,' you were right.

Renaissance Historic Exteriors restores the woodwork on buildings that have stood for 100 to 200 years — and our goal is to make them stand 100 more. That means mortise-and-tenon joinery, custom millwork, historic window restoration, intricate trim replication, and structural carpentry executed with the kind of care that production construction never demands.

We're looking for a carpenter who has mastered the fundamentals and is hungry to use them on work that actually matters. Your peers here are craftsmen, not just workers. The standard is high, the projects are extraordinary, and the career is long.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• Restore and replicate historic windows, exterior trim, siding, cornices, and structural wood elements.
• Execute custom millwork and architectural detail work from original or measured drawings.
• Apply traditional joinery techniques — mortise & tenon, wooden pegs, and period-appropriate fastening.
• Assess deteriorated wood conditions and develop scope-appropriate repair and replacement solutions.
• Collaborate with project managers and other trades on multi-discipline historic restoration projects.
• Travel to landmark project sites throughout the Midwest.

WHAT YOU BRING:

• 5+ years of carpentry experience with strong finish carpentry skills.
• Ability to produce detailed, precise work — consistently, not occasionally.
• Preferred: direct experience in historic restoration, window restoration, millwork, or traditional joinery.
• Preferred: timber framing experience or familiarity with period construction methods.
• Valid driver's license.

WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT:

• Your work goes on buildings that appear in history books and on the National Register of Historic Places.
• You'll be part of a team that values craftsmanship over speed — every time.
• Long-term, stable employment with a company that's grown every year since 1992.
• Pay that reflects your skill — $25 to $45/hr based on what you bring to the work.
• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance after 90 days. Paid holidays and PTO.