Guide to how much a joiner and carpenter costs
| Job | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Bespoke chair | £300 |
| Bespoke shelving | £200 |
| Bespoke small furniture | £300 |
| Bespoke large furniture | £600 |
| Internal doors | £100 |
| External doors | £100 |
| Flatpack assembly | £100 |
| Furniture repair | £200 |
| Flooring | £250 |
| Board a loft | £600 |
| Skirting boards | £250 |
| Window frame | £700 |
3 tips for finding a good carpenter and joiner
Finding a good carpenter that is up to the job is not as difficult as you may think. With some good research and planning, you can be sure of getting the best work for your money. Here are three essential tips to keep in mind when looking for a carpenter.
Know who you need
Before you begin asking for quotes, you need to know just who you need help from. The carpentry industry is divided into three main areas. Rough carpenters or framing carpenters specialise in building the basic framework for a building. Finish carpenters will finish the work that rough carpenters started. They will complete roofing installations, window frames and decking. Cabinet makers create wooden furniture, such as beds, shelving and cabinets, and often focus on the more intricate types of woodworking jobs in the home.
Recommendations, reviews and references
When employing any tradesperson, it is always a good idea to ask friends and family for recommendations. Also, check trusted websites for customer reviews to determine people's experiences of using a particular carpenter's services. A quality carpenter will be proud of their work so do not be afraid to ask them for references and to see photos of their work.
Ask the right questions
Before you decide which carpenter and joiner to hire, do not be afraid to ask them some questions. For instance, ask them what type of carpentry they specialise in. There are various types of carpentry so you want to find out they have the expertise you need. Ask about their qualifications and whether they are a member of The Institute of Carpenters (IOC) or the British Woodworking Federation (BWF). Before work begins, make sure you know how long the work will take and that you receive a full breakdown of the costs.
Search our extensive directory to find an experienced and qualified carpenter and joiner in your area.
Carpenter and joiner rates in the UK
If you have a woodworking project beyond your level of expertise, you need to call a carpenter. Carpenters are skilled craftspeople who do a wide variety of jobs that involve making or repairing things using different types of wood, such as handmade bookshelves to fitted wardrobes, made-to-measure staircases to door and window frames, roof timbers and floorboards.
In some cases, you may need the services of a joiner together with or instead of a carpenter. A joiner is also a trained craftsman but their speciality is making, joining and building structures in a workshop. Meanwhile, a carpenter builds smaller projects onsite.
Hiring a carpenter or joiner can often be the perfect solution to adding the last finishing touches to a building project or simply adding something bespoke to your home. In this guide to carpentry prices, we will explore the different types of jobs a carpenter will do and what affects carpenter prices.
How much does a carpenter charge per hour?
Most carpenters tend to charge a fixed price for a job rather than charging an hourly rate. However, you can expect to pay a carpenter £25 per hour although this price will vary depending on where you live and the carpenter's experience. For instance, in London, you should expect to pay more for a carpenter than in a rural area.
How much do carpenters charge per day?
For larger and more complex projects, a carpenter may charge you a day rate. In this case, you can expect to pay a carpenter £200 per day. This rate can again vary depending on the carpenter's experience, the type of work involved and where you live.
How much do joiners charge?
Joiner prices can vary considerably depending on the location and the work involved, but you can expect to pay £25 per hour for a joiner.
Factors affecting the cost of hiring a carpenter
A variety of factors can affect joiner and carpenter prices, such as the location. Also, the size and complexity of the job, how long the work takes, the property's condition as well as the type and quality of the wood, materials and fittings used.
What is the going rate for a carpenter?
If you are wondering what the hourly rate for a carpenter is, you can expect to pay £25 per hour for their services. However, it's worth noting that carpentry prices vary depending on which carpentry or joinery service you choose and where you live. Here are the average costs associated with each job to give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay for common carpentry and joinery jobs.
Cost of fine woodworking
Fine woodworking involves creating intricate items from wood, such as sculptures, figurines or more elaborate furniture designs. The average cost per hour for a woodworking carpenter is £35.
Cost to hang a door
A carpenter will usually come and measure, hang and trim internal or external doors when it comes to door hanging. The average cost per door is £75.
Cost to install flooring
If you need to install new flooring, a carpenter will measure and fit your chosen flooring, including solid oak, parquet, laminated and engineered wood. Depending on the type of flooring, the average for installing flooring is £45 per square metre.
Cost to fit skirting boards
Skirting boards or baseboards are a decorative frame used to hide the join between the floor and the wall. The average cost for fitting skirting boards per house is £30.
Cost to repair cabinets
A cabinet carpenter will repair cabinets and their finishes, or skins, to enhance the appearance of your cupboards. The rate per hour for a cabinet carpenter is £22.50.
Cost to refinish furniture
Furniture refinishing is when a carpenter will repair or re-apply wood finish to a piece of furniture, such as a cabinet or chest of draws. You can expect to pay £25 an hour for this work.
Cost to build a fitted wardrobe
For a carpenter to build a fitted wardrobe, the cost will depend on the placement, style and type of wood, and the size of the area for the fitted wardrobe. The average cost for a carpenter to build a fitted wardrobe is £1,000.
Cost to install decking
To install decking outside, a carpenter will measure, build, fit and finish. The cost to install decking depends on the size of the job and the quality of the wood used. You can expect to pay £600 per 10 metre square.
What is a second fix carpentry cost price?
Most carpentry jobs are split into two stages, pre- and post-plastering, or the first and second fix. The first fix is the foundation work to prepare a house for plastering. It begins at the building's frame and ends when it is ready for decorating. The first fix includes the stud work, staircases, exterior doors, floating floors and bathroom boxing. The second fix is when the carpenter makes sure that all the woodwork is finished to a high standard. This phase includes skirting boards and mouldings, internal doors, staircase components and architraves. The average carpenter cost for this work is £200 a day.
How much do joiners charge per hour for a second fix?
The average joinery price for completing a second fix is £25 per hour.