Built-Ins — 2024
Pantry Shelfs
Custom pantry shelving fit on site — wrap-around shelves with crisp paint-grade returns, built to hold the everyday load.
Finishing Carpenter — Calgary, AB
The work
that lives
in the details.
I'm Justis Tan — a finishing carpenter based in Calgary, working on high-end custom homes for builders like Light House and Baywest. Doors, trim, baseboards, casings, and custom built-ins.
Doors·Baseboards & Casings·Window Trim·Custom Built-Ins·Blueprint Reading
On Site — Calgary, AB
About
Calgary-based finishing carpenter on a path to the full ticket.
I've been working full-time in finishing carpentry since January 2024 with Martinwood Finishing Ltd, subcontracted through Echo House Finishing on custom residential homes for builders including Light House Homes and Baywest Homes.
My day-to-day is doors, baseboards, casings, window trim, and custom built-ins — reading blueprints, working alongside other trades, and keeping finished surfaces protected from start to finish. I'm continuing to develop my skills and am pursuing my formal apprenticeship training next.
2024
Started
YYC
Based In
Class 5
GDL Licensed
Selected Work — 2023 / 2024
Rooms, refined.
A small collection of recent commissions. Every piece below was built, fit, and finished on site.
Door Installation — 2024
Cased Double Closet Doors
Double closet doors set plumb and trimmed with full casing — tight reveals on both jambs and a clean centre meeting line.
Trim Carpentry — 2024
Picture-Frame Wainscoting
Two-tier picture-frame wainscoting — eight panels laid out, cut, and pinned to a perfect grid across the wall.
Cabinetry — 2024
Basic Pantry Shelving
Straightforward pantry shelving installed across the wall — long, level runs ready for everyday use.
Built-Ins — 2024
Bedroom Closet Shelving
Bedroom closet shelving framed and fit on site — clean wrap-around shelves sized for daily use.
Finishing — 2024
Pantry Shelving
Walk-in pantry shelving wrapped around the corner — clean white shelves set level on solid cleats, ready for finish.
Craft
What I bring to the site.
Skills I rely on every day across custom residential builds in Calgary — listed plainly because that's how the work is done.
01 — On Site
- Finishing Carpentry
- Door Installation
- Trim, Baseboard & Casing
- Custom Built-Ins
02 — Cuts & Layout
- Blueprint Reading
- Miter & Bevel Cutting
- Layout from Floor Plans
- Scribing & Fitting
03 — Tools
- Miter Saws
- Table Saws
- Finish & Brad Nail Guns
- Pneumatic Tools
Index
Experience & education.
Jan 2024 — Present
Finishing Carpenter — Custom Homes
Martinwood Finishing Ltd · Calgary, AB
- —Finishing carpentry on custom residential projects subcontracted through Echo House Finishing.
- —High-end custom builds for Light House Homes and Baywest Homes.
- —Installed interior and exterior doors, baseboards, casings, and window trims with clean, accurate finish work.
- —Read and interpreted blueprints and floor plans to determine layout and installation requirements.
- —Constructed and installed custom shelving, closet systems, and built-ins.
- —Collaborated with supervisors and other trades to complete projects safely and efficiently.
- —Maintained organized, clean work areas to protect finished surfaces and flooring.
Education
High School Diploma — STEM Strand
Foundation in problem-solving, math, and applied sciences
- —Valid Class 5 GDL Driver's License.
- —Pursuing formal carpentry apprenticeship training.
Journal
Notes from the shop floor.
Short essays on craft, tools, and the slow work of building things that last.
Nov 2024 · 4 min read
Starting Out in Finishing Carpentry
Notes from my first year on custom home sites in Calgary — what I learned, what surprised me, and what I'd tell anyone thinking about the trade.
Read essay →
Aug 2024 · 3 min read
The Road to Apprenticeship
Why I'm pursuing my formal carpentry apprenticeship — and what I'm building toward.
Read essay →Get in touch
Let's build
something quiet.
Hiring, subcontracting, or just want to talk shop? Send a note — I read every message personally and reply within two business days.