Guides
Hiring a carpenter, explained
What the trade actually does, what things should cost, what a quote ought to contain, and how to check somebody is who they say they are.
Carpenter or joiner: what each one does
A carpenter fits timber on site. A joiner makes it in a workshop. In Scotland and the north of England the word joiner covers both.
First fix and second fix carpentry explained
First fix is the structural timber that goes in before the plaster. Second fix is everything fitted after it. The split decides when a carpenter is on your job and how they price it.
Carpenter and joiner rates across the UK
Most UK carpenters charge £30 to £90 an hour, or £200 to £350 a day. London and the South East sit at the top of both ranges.
How long common carpentry jobs take
Realistic timings for the jobs people ask about most, from an hour to hang a door to two weeks for a kitchen.
Do you need planning permission for a garden room?
Most garden rooms fall under permitted development, which means no application. The limits that catch people out are height, boundary distance and how the building is used.
Questions to ask a carpenter before you hire
Nine questions that separate a carpenter who has thought about your job from one who has priced it from the doorway.
Carpenter qualifications and accreditation in the UK
Carpentry is not a licensed trade in the UK, so anyone can call themselves a carpenter. Here is what the qualifications and memberships actually mean.
What a carpentry quote should include
A quote you can compare has seven things in it. Most of the disputes people have with tradespeople come from one of the seven being missing.
How to find a good carpenter
Where to look, what to check, and the four warning signs that are worth walking away from.