At a more lowly level he may have advised on the best type of wood to use. I am no carpenter, but I needed to match a piece of wood a few years ago and went to a wood merchant. There was much debate between two employees, various woods were looked at, for colour and grain, some were rubbed with a wet thumb to see how thry would look when finished etc. I got the right bit and a lesson in how complex the whole trade can be.
Rod
