From exhibition stands to cut roofs

Harry Thompson runs How to Cut Ltd, a structural carpentry business based in Surrey. His team builds hand-cut pitched roofs, truss roofs, loft conversions and timber frame structures across Surrey, London and the South East.

Harry's interest started at school in design technology, working with wood and metal. He comes from a creative family, and when he left school it came down to two options: carpenter or fireman. He chose carpentry and studied at Thames Valley University in Reading, and he is honest about how that went.

"When I was an apprentice, I wasn't very good at all. Things just didn't really go in. I guess a normal teenager."

His real education came next. Harry spent four or five years building exhibition stands, including a month in Paris for the Paris Air Show. The work was all curves, radiuses and fine laminating.

"I would say that was more my apprenticeship than my actual apprenticeship. I got accurate at carpentry working there."

The same company had a construction side. Harry watched the crews framing and pitching roofs and wanted a go. A move to a loft conversion company in London followed, and that is where he found his love for framing.

Going out on his own

Harry worked for several builders before going out on his own as HL Thompson Carpentry, a sole trader, around 2019 or 2020. In 2023 he set up How to Cut Ltd and started building a team. He credits the years with other builders for shaping how he works.

"I think it's quite important to see how other people work. It kind of moulds you and your work ethic."

He had no business background going in, and says he is still learning as he goes. His view on mistakes is simple: you have to make them to know what to do next time, as long as they are not too costly.

Winning work on YouTube

Harry started posting to promote the business when he launched How to Cut. He describes himself as reserved, so putting his face on camera did not come naturally. It felt strange at first, but a few videos picked up traction.

He has had more leads from YouTube than from Instagram. Instagram is short and fast. YouTube lets him show a job from start to finish, which is what potential clients want to see. He has also noticed what the algorithm rewards.

He keeps posting because he enjoys it. Views are a bonus, and a couple of jobs from it is better still.

Builders, developers and hands-on homeowners

Most of How to Cut's work is subcontracting for builders and developers. Homeowners who want a loft or a new roof usually get it as part of a full building package, and the builder brings Harry in for the structure.

He also works directly for homeowners on structural packages. That suits clients who are hands-on and want to do other parts of the build themselves, saving them the cost of a full build.

Faster quotes with Assemble Pro

Like every contractor, Harry spends a lot of time pricing work. He had been looking for estimating software for a long time, but what he found felt too complex.

"It's been a game changer for me. It's so simple to use, it's easy to navigate. I'm not great on computers, but it's very quick to learn."

The biggest gain has come from setting up his own templates.

"Once you've got your own templates set up for your line items and pricing, it just massively speeds up the process."

On site

Every morning Harry packs a Construction Master Pro calculator for tricky roof maths, a Dan square for marking out birdsmouths, and an adjustable square for getting every cut accurate. And the worst trade on site? Electricians, because they never sweep up after themselves.

Advice for carpenters starting out

Find what you are passionate about. Learn from the tradespeople sharing what they know on social media. And if you are working for someone, listen and take in everything they tell you. When you get something wrong, own it. In Harry's words, honesty is the best policy.

Follow Harry's work on YouTube and Instagram, or visit howtocut.co.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does How to Cut use Assemble Pro?

Harry Thompson set up his own templates for line items and pricing in Assemble Pro. He says this massively speeds up quoting roof, loft and structural carpentry jobs.

Is YouTube or Instagram better for getting carpentry leads?

Harry gets more leads from YouTube. Longer videos let him show a job from start to finish, which short Instagram clips cannot.

Do structural carpenters work for homeowners or builders?

Mostly builders and developers, who subcontract the structure within a full building package. Some homeowners hire a structural package directly and do other parts of the build themselves.

What tools does a roofing carpenter use most?

Harry relies on a Construction Master Pro calculator for roof maths, a Dan square for marking birdsmouths, and an adjustable square for keeping cuts accurate.