Should general contractors be certified or licensed?

<div>While city and state laws vary on general contractor licensing requirements, hiring an unlicensed general contractor could lead to poor quality work, costly future expenses, and potential code violations. Be sure to check our <a href="https://www.angi.com/angi-license-check.htm">state licensing tool</a> to review the local general contractor guidelines for your area.As you browse our pro listings, take note of the “Angi Approved” badge. Angi Approved businesses meet our standards for certification which include: <ul><li>The owner, principal, or relevant manager passed a criminal background check</li><li>Required to have applicable state and local licenses</li><li>Maintain an average star rating of 3.0 or better on our network, if they have at least one review</li><li>Paying to advertise their services</li><li>Meeting any other eligibility criteria required by Angi</li></ul>Keep in mind licensing is different from certifications. A license is a legal requirement to operate a business, while certifications are voluntary.</div>

How do I choose the best woodworker for my home project?

<div>Every woodworker has different skills and experience, so we recommend asking the following questions when hiring a woodworker for your project:<ul><li>How long have you been in the woodworking industry?</li><li>What experience do you have with my type of project?</li><li>Do you have customer references I can speak with?</li><li>How long do you expect my project to take?</li><li>What is my recourse if I have an issue with your work?</li><li>Do you charge hourly or per project?</li><li>Will you work on-site or in your own workshop?</li><li>Does your fee include the necessary post-job clean-up?</li></ul></div>

What is the difference between a woodworker and a carpenter?

<div>While they perform similar tasks, a carpenter is responsible for the woodworking that goes into construction—like framing, installing sheathing, and hanging kitchen cabinets—while a woodworker tackles more intricate and custom projects—like building custom furniture and <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/types-of-wainscoting.htm">installing wainscoting</a>. Based on these definitions, most woodworkers can tackle the jobs of a carpenter, but you should always ask about your specific project when choosing a woodworker to ensure they have the necessary skills to tackle the job.</div>

Top 10 Best Carpenters in San Jose, CA

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Verified Reviews for Carpentry pros in San Jose, CA

*The Angi rating for Carpentry companies in San Jose, CA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Carpentry needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Carpentry companies in San Jose, CA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Carpentry needs.

Last update on August 06, 2025

Reviewed in December 2023
Nelco Design Build was an amazing partner to have. Working with them was straightforward and most importantly, honest. Very talented crew that can tackle foundation, framing, siding, interior trim, and much more. I will continue to partner with Nelco Design Build to do more projects.
Nelco Design Build Inc.
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Reviewed in November 2007
Dave presented a competitive bid and told us he would send one of his workers who would do much of the work under his supervision. However, he briefly came once on the first day but never really supervised the work. In fact, after the job was done, he never examined the finished product. One of...
DOT CONSTRUCTION
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Reviewed in November 2012
After purchasing our new home we decided to add a ground level 1 bedroom apartment roughly 1000 square feet. The available space required some dirt removal to be able to build the appropriate apartment. After receiving several quotes me and my husband decided to go with B-Side Construction. They...
B Side Construction
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Reviewed in July 2012
We found John when we were looking for a skilled carpenter to build some custom bookcases to take up the entire wall of a fairly small room. We weren't entirely sure what we wanted, and John provided us with excellent ideas and helped guide us through the process. The wood he suggested was...
Dufficy Fine Carpentry & Design
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Reviewed in June 2015
The 2 carpenters they sent out were amazing, they were very punctual, polite and obviously experienced with the job. They took off all of the old wood and replaced it so that it matched the original woodwork only better. They installed the new window and it looks so good. And they cleaned up...
Next Stage Design + Build
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Reviewed in April 2010
Tony is an exceptional person to work with, an amazing balance of artisan and manager. He was able to conceptualize and actualize the ideas and plans that we developed with a mix of his own work along side the appropriate subcontractors. Because Tony is both an accomplished carpenter who does...
TNT Construction
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Reviewed in November 2009
Very well. David is a talented painter and carpenter. He does professional work at a very reasonable price.
Valenz Construction
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Reviewed in September 2016
We were looking to update our backyard with a custom storage cabinet and AC cover. Most contractors did not respond or were busy with larger projects. We received a referral from another woodworker to contact Heartwood Residential for the scope of our project. Michelle was very responsive and...
Heartwood Residential
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Reviewed in July 2015
Don Carpenter was a pleasure to work with. He was very responsive when I first contacted him, came to our house and helped us with the design of the deck, and pointed us in the right direction on where and how to select materials. The price was a little higher than other quotes but in the end...
Carpenter Construction
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