Hiring a Division 6 Millwork Subcontractor in Florida: A GC's Guide

Hiring a Division 6 Millwork Subcontractor in Florida: A GC's Guide

A Division 6 millwork subcontractor fabricates and installs the architectural woodwork on a commercial job: casework, wall paneling, reception desks, countertops, trim and other items specified under section 06 40 00 (Architectural Woodwork) and its subsections. For a Florida general contractor, the right sub is the one whose bid matches the spec section line by line, who produces shop drawings in-house, and who shows up on site ready to coordinate with the trades around them. This guide covers what to expect at each step.

What Division 6 Actually Covers

In the MasterFormat system, Division 06 is Wood, Plastics, and Composites. It includes rough carpentry (06 10 00) and finish carpentry (06 20 00), but the scope most GCs buy from a millwork sub sits in 06 40 00 Architectural Woodwork. Common subsections include:

• 06 41 00 Architectural Wood Casework — base and wall cabinets, nurse stations, lab casework, break rooms, built-in storage.
• 06 42 00 Wood Paneling — wall paneling and cladding systems, often on concealed cleats.
• 06 46 00 Wood Trim — standing and running trim, door and window casings, base.
• Countertops in plastic laminate, solid surface, quartz or resin, depending on how the spec is written. Some specs place solid surface or stone in Division 12, so read carefully.

Before you compare bids, confirm each sub is pricing the same sections. The most common gap is a scope that lives in two places: countertops split between Division 6 and Division 12, or blocking that the drawings show but nobody carries.

Questions to Settle at Bid Time

A clean millwork bid should state clearly what is included and what is not. Ask every bidder to address:

1. Spec sections included. List them by number, not just "millwork per plans." 2. Quality grade. Many specs reference the Architectural Woodwork Standards grades (Economy, Custom, Premium). Custom is typical for commercial interiors; Premium is often called out for feature walls and executive areas. The grade affects joinery, tolerances and finish, so it affects price. 3. Materials and substitutions. Core material (particleboard, MDF, plywood), moisture-resistant core at sinks, edge banding, hardware manufacturer, and any proposed equals. 4. Blocking and backing. Who furnishes and installs in-wall blocking? Usually the framer, but the millwork sub should provide locations on shop drawings. 5. Finishing. Factory finish in the shop or field finish on site. 6. Installation and cleanup. Whether install is included, plus any hoisting, after-hours work or phasing requirements. 7. Exclusions. Electrical, plumbing connections, appliances, glass and stone are typical exclusions. You want them written down.

Shop Drawings and Submittals

Shop drawings are where a millwork package succeeds or fails. They translate the architect's design intent into buildable elevations, sections and details with real dimensions, materials and hardware.

A good submittal package normally includes:

• Shop drawings — plans, elevations and sections for every item, keyed to the architectural drawings.
• Product data — hardware, laminates, solid surface, finishes and adhesives.
• Samples — laminate chips, wood species and stain samples, edge profiles.
• Field dimension notes — which dimensions must be verified on site before fabrication.

A sub that draws in-house can turn comments around faster and keeps the drafter close to the shop floor, which reduces errors between drawing and fabrication. Build time into your schedule for at least one round of architect comments. Releasing fabrication before approval is the fastest way to pay for a cabinet twice.

Field Verification and Fabrication

Commercial millwork is built to fit between finished walls, so the sub needs to field measure once framing and drywall are in place, or work from verified dimensions you provide. Agree early on who owns field verification and when the site will be ready for it.

Once drawings are approved and dimensions are confirmed, fabrication runs in the shop. This is the time to confirm delivery logistics: site access, loading, storage space protected from weather and humidity, and the sequence the installers will follow. In Florida, storing casework in an unconditioned space is a real risk; panels and doors can absorb moisture and move. Ask for the HVAC to be running, or at least the building dried in, before millwork arrives.

Installation and Coordination with Other Trades

Millwork installation touches almost every finish trade. Coordinate these points before install starts:

• Electrical — box locations in casework and paneling, grommets for desks, under-cabinet lighting.
• Plumbing — sink cutouts, access panels, rough-in heights.
• Flooring — whether flooring goes under or stops at the base cabinets.
• Painting — touch-up responsibilities around scribes and trim.
• Low voltage and AV — conduit paths and equipment cabinets.

Punch list work goes faster when the same crew that installed the work handles corrections.

Why Division 10 Coordination Matters

Division 10 (Specialties) covers toilet partitions, toilet and bath accessories, signage, corner guards, lockers and similar items. In restrooms and locker rooms, Division 6 and Division 10 share walls: vanity tops, mirrors, grab bars, paper towel dispensers and partitions all need blocking and layout that agree with each other.

When one subcontractor handles both millwork and Division 10 installation, a single crew owns the layout of vanities, accessories and partitions, which reduces conflicts at ADA clearances and mounting heights. If you hire them separately, put both on the same coordination drawing.

Choosing a Florida Millwork Sub

Look for a shop that has done work comparable to yours: hospitals, universities, stadiums, retail, hospitality. Ask to see shop drawings from a past project, not just photos of finished work. Ask who draws, who builds and who installs. A sub that does all three under one roof has fewer handoffs to go wrong.

Work with SJ Woodwork

SJ Woodwork & Cabinetry designs, fabricates in its own shop and installs architectural millwork and casework for general contractors across Florida, with shop drawings produced in-house and Division 10 installation available. Examples include casework, locker room furnishings and restroom vanities at Jaguars Stadium in Jacksonville and Division 10 work at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Venice.

See our commercial millwork and Division 10 services, or contact us to send a bid package. You can also call +1 786-915-1719.