- Plan your shed base
You must have a sturdy base for your shed, otherwise the frame won’t stand properly and could stop the door from opening. Decide whether you’re going to have:
- A concrete base laid on hardcore
- Concrete slabs on sharp sand
- Treated wood beams on hardcore or shingle
- An interlocking plastic system
- Treat wood with preservative To help your shed last as long as possible, you should coat all the wooden parts with timber preservative before you put it together.
- Put the shed floor together Some will need more assembly than others, but you need to make sure that the floor panel is attached to the joists; follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the correct spacing.
- Put up the shed walls
- Mark the centre point of each wall on its bottom edge, then do the same for the shed floor so you can line them up together.
- Stand the gable end on the base and line it up. Check that it’s vertical with a spirit level – you might need someone to support the panel while you do this. Use a temporary holding batten to keep it in place.
- Fix a side panel to the gable end panel with countersunk screws, then add the second side panel in the same way.
- Fit the roof
- If the shed comes with a support bar, put this in position before you put the roof panels in.
- Nail the roof panels in place, ensuring there’s a parallel and equal overlap at each end.
- Roll out some roofing felt from front to back, leaving a 50mm overlap at each side. Secure it with clout-headed felt tacks at 100mm intervals.
- Apply mastic sealant to the outside corners, then fix each corner trim with 30mm nails.
- Add the fascias and finials, predrilling 2mm holes to avoid splitting the wood. Nail them through the felt into the shed using 40mm nails.
- Add the shed windows
- Slide each windowsill into the tongue and groove cut out, then put the window cover strip in position, fixing it to the vertical framing.
- From inside the shed, put the glazing sheets into the window rebates, making sure the bottom edge of the glazing sheets sit on the outside of the sill.
- Fix the window beading on the top and sides with 25mm nails.
- Fix the walls to the floor Before you do anything, make sure you check that the centre marks on the walls line up with the marks on the shed floor. Then fix the wall panels to the floor with 50mm screws, aligning them with the joists. And that’s it! But if you’re not confident in building a shed yourself, there are plenty of professionals available who will be happy to help.
Find a Carpenter you can trust near you.
Choose from 4395 Carpenters, all rated by people like you.
Over 1924 reviews & an average rating of 4.4/5 stars, you'll find the right pro
Enter your location to refine your search
Choose and shortlist
Use the shortlist button to select up to 4 tradespeople, enter your project details and press send
Keen to get on with the job?
Get up to 4 quotes from local Carpenters near you
Dartman
Home Services
JM Fencing and Landscaping
First Class Tree Care
CERTIFIED PAVING
CA Surfacing
Find a local Carpenter you can trust...
How much do Carpenter services cost?
Do you have a need for a carpenter in or around your house? If yes, then one of the first things you’d probably want to know is the exact amount it would cost to get the project over the line. Now, carpenters are skilled craftsmen that are able to make things with wood and fabricate all sorts of wood constructions. The price charged by carpenters are determined by a wide range of factors which makes it nearly impossible to provide a short and accurate estimate without having a look at your unique requirements. In this post, we’re going to give you an in-depth insight into general carpentry charges while also considering some of the influencing factors. Let’s take a look!
Some of the most common factors that determines the price charged by a carpenter includes the project type, the size as well as scope of the project, the location of project, ease of access, experience and qualification of the carpenter and lots more. For instance, if the job is a minor one such as building a shed, it’ll cost a lot less than something more complex which requires a bit more experience like constructing a staircase. In general, building a shed will have a labour cost within the range of £150 to about £250, while a staircase construction will require a labour cost in between £1,000 to £1,500. For general carpentry, you can expect to pay within the range of £20 to £30 hourly rate depending on a number of factors which are stated above. It’s also important to state that while some carpenters charge per hour, others by the day and several of their projects will be charged at fixed prices.
The table reveals the kinds of work that Carpenters normally do and also the regular cost range of these jobs. Some tasks take longer to finish than others so costs do differ by task.
View our Carpenter cost guide View our Carpenter adviceThe average price
of a Carpenter is:
£1,495
Carpenter job | Carpenter cost in 2024 |
---|---|
Kitchen Fitting | £1,140-£4,416 |
Carpenters and joiners | £365-£3,216 |
Plasterboard dry lining | £315-£863 |
Wood flooring | £750-£1,150 |
Wooden decking | £765-£4,718 |
Garden shed | £528-£1,740 |
Wooden window repair | £210-£740 |
Carpenter service qualifications and accreditations
Carpenters qualifications and also certification's: Having the appropriate training and learning exactly how to do your profession is essential for any trade including Carpenters. View the profile of each Carpenter you are looking at to see what accreditation they hold and also what trade associations they belong to. Some trade associations that Carpenters might possibly be a member of include: HomePro, Federation of Master Builders, Guild of Master Craftsmen. Equally Carpenters might also have the following accreditations: BM TRADA, Chartered Institute of Building, City and Guilds.
Unlike electrical or gas work, carpentry is a different profession where no particular certification is legally required for a carpenter to possess. Generally speaking, the only thing you’ll need so as to practice the trade as well as carry out on site work is to demonstrate your competence as a carpenter. To do this, there’s a number of ways you can consider but one which clearly stands out is to complete a portfolio of work and also earn the NVQ Level 2 Carpentry qualification.
In order to obtain your NVQ Level 2 certification, there’s a need for you to actually learn the trade. You can do this through apprenticeship, working alongside an established carpenter and gradually learning the trade from them. However, it should be noted that it’ll take a couple of years to climb up the ladder from an apprentice to a fully-fledged carpenter. Therefore, if you want to start your new carpentry career sooner rather than later, you might want to consider enrolling on an accredited carpentry training course.
Insurance for Carpenters: Any individual who works in your house, including Carpenters, really should have valid public liability insurance, which safeguards you the house owner and also the Carpenter should unfortunately anything go wrong while they are doing the work. Planning permission for Carpenters Most of the tasks that a Carpenter will do for you will not require planning permission unless its a listed property. Definitely discuss with the Carpenter if planning permission would be needed for the job you are doing, they can suggest the steps that require to be taken.
Services offered by Carpenter
Generally, carpenters are skilled craftsmen who are trained to work in construction as well as cabinet making industry. When it comes to making things with wood, they’re able to fabricate all sorts of wood constructions; from minor projects like custom kitchens or ornate details on wood trim to major ones like carrying out the entire framework of buildings. With that in mind, let’s take a more in depth look at what carpenters does.
In general, carpenters carry out a wide array of unique job duties which depends on whether they work in rough carpentry or finished carpentry. What’s more? There are a number of areas in which carpenters can specialize in special types of wood products or engage in specialized carpentry processes.
For rough carpentry, this typically involves carpenters who work on large scale construction projects where they make use of blueprints to determine the amount as well as type of material required for a job. When they work, they may need to build sleds to haul timber via wooded areas and rough terrain where motorized vehicles cannot access. Finished carpentry, on the other hand, involves carpenters who are skilled in making cabinetry, furniture, models as well as instruments. They’re also able to make ornate, detailed as well as fine wood products for a number of different uses. They must be able to work efficiently on a small scale while also being detailed oriented.
There are a variety of tasks you can employ a Carpenter for, as well as some of one of the most typical jobs that Carpenter are asked to do consist of:
Carpenter FAQs
The flight of steps in your multi-storey household doesn’t have to be purely efficient. With just a little thought given to banister design, the boring flight of stairs can turn into something you would like to show to people and be proud of. Replacement of your banister can even enhance the worth of your property, giving the entry an outstanding presence. But how much will new banisters and spindles cost you?
If you are considering starting with this project, having a help from a professional is always advised.
New banister cost
Banisters are also known as handrails. They are reinforced by balustrades or spindles – a row of pillars that improve the security of the stairway and donate in the direction of the overall look and feel. Banisters and spindles may appear dull due to use over time. A fresh coat of polish might help your staircase get a new facelift.
The cost of new banisters and spindles will fluctuate solely reliant on the material. The price for a new banister starts around £40 for softwood and can reach £120 for a metal one.
Spindle prices are also a contributing factor in determining the cost with prices in the range of £30 to £150 per meter based on the materials used.
How much does a new staircase banister cost?
Hiring a professional is very important when trying to properly install a new banister since they are familiar with the process and work as per safety compliance. Fitting your new banister can be easily taken care by a general builder as well as a carpenter.
Below is a table depicting the average costs of different types of bannisters and spindles:
White oak bannister is around £105 and spindles are around £13.50.
Pine bannister is around £35 and spindles are around £7.
Primed wood bannister costs around £31 and spindles costing around £18.
Metal bannister is around £110 with the spindles being around £6.
Two of the commonly used terms in the UK and Irish construction industry is “First Fix and “Second Fix First fix encompasses all the work required to take a building from foundation to stroking plaster on the interior walls. This comprises of building walls, floors and ceilings, and implanting cables for electrical supply and pipes for water supply.
Some claim that First Fix starts after the shell of the building is complete, and ends when the walls are plastered. Some of the elements in the first fix are as follows.
• Drain runs: must be downhill and straight
• Spare conduits: drawstrings
• Soil pipes
• Copper pipes
• Normal pipes
• Doorbell
• Door frames
• Pocket doorframes
• Stairwell
• MVHR (mechanical heat recovery ventilation runs)
• Push-fit or other plastic piping
• Electrical back boxes
• Electricity cable runs
• Telephone, data and audio-visual cables
• Socket location
• Security
• Fire alarm
• Sound insulation
• Plasterboarding
It is to be kept in mind that the list goes on as there are several things that you can do when you are building a house from scratch and it is impossible to cover each and every aspect in detail.
The second fix includes all the work after the plastering of a complete house. These include linking cables to the electrical fittings, coupling pipes to the baths and sinks and fitting doors into doorframes. Second fix work requires a tidier finish than the first fix.
Carpenters, electricians and plumbers get a proper idea on the division of work. They will also be able to visit the construction site at different times.
Project managers can simply report it as the "first fix complete" or "the second fix 50% done" and others would very easily understand.
Regardless of the fact that a construction company might specialise in a certain form of fix, be it the first or the second, they are obligated to have a rudimentary understanding of both and are required to perform them from time to time.
Yes, it is possible to insulate a shed. You might want to do this if you’re planning on working in it during the winter. A professional will be able to help you find an insulated shed or advise you on how to insulate a shed that you already have. Always seek professional advise first before attempting to do this yourself!
- Start in one corner of the sub-frame and position the first board across the inner joists. You want the deck board in the opposite direction to the inner joists, ensuring that it’s flush with the frame. Position any end-to-end joins between the deck boards halfway across an inner joist so you can screw both boards into the joist for stability. Make sure you keep a gap of between 5-8mm to allow for expansion of the wood.
- Begin to screw your deck boards to the joists. You’ll need to secure the deck board to every joist is covers along your deck frame. Use two screws for every joist. Mark where you’re going to add your screws, ensuring that they are at least 15mm from the end of the board and 20mm from the outside edges. Drill pilot holes for the screws, being careful to only drill through the deck board and not the joist. Then screw the decking screws into the holes.
- Continue to screw in the deck boards, ensuring you leave the correct expansion gap. You can stagger the deck board joins across the deck for more strength.
- Sand down any cut ends if you need to before applying decking preserver to protect the timber from rotting.
How To Plasterboard A Wall
If you’re looking to plasterboard your wall, one of the essential things to have in mind is that the plasterboard must be hung horizontally and not vertically. Due to the way they’re manufactured, plasterboard sheets normally possess a “grain along the length. This implies that, it’s only when they’re firmly placed perpendicular against the wall that they’re able to achieve their maximum strength. Materials you’ll need to complete this task includes: Tape measure, stanley knife, pencil, spirit level, drill driver or screw gun, surform, drywall screws and handsaw. Now let’s have a look at the wall plasterboarding steps!
• To plasterboard a wall the first step to take is to place each board in such a way to make the edges the centre of the noggins and upright. Also, the the adjoining walls and door openings should fit closely to the edges.
• Work from the door opening to the ending wall. From the the stud’s edge to the noggin’s centre, use your tape measure to measure a cut board and as a rule to mark up.
• Place your spirit level on the marks and use the Stanley knife to run a line along the intended cut. Once done, turn the board on its edge and give a sharp push on the back to split.
• Cut the paper left with the knife after folding the split edge back on itself. This way, you should get a nice and clean edge.
• In its right position, place the board up against the studwork. Install the screws on the board’s edges where a noggin or upright can be seen.
• Mark lines down across the board at the stud’s centre.
• Cut the end boards to length.
• Install the remaining boards as mentioned above. While doing this, make sure the factory edges are together.
• Cut any board extending into an opening and finish the edges using a surform.
We’d recommend you hire the professional services of a plasterer for the best results especially if you lack the necessary training or experience. Plasterboarding a wall can be a tricky challenge and you’d save yourself some time, money and effort by getting it right on the first trial.
The cost of just the engineered wood flooringis from £18 to £73 per m2.
The cost of wood flooring varies by the type of wood and by the finish required. As a guide though oak solid wood flooring cost about £35 - £45 per m2. The average wooden cost by material are approximately £40 per m2 for pine, £45 per m2 for cherry, £60 per m2 for maple and £75 per m2 for walnut. This price does exclude the laying of the flooring and the underlay required.
Carpenter help and advice
How it works
Tell us about your Carpenter project
Answer a few quick questions to help us match you with the right Carpenter
Get up to 4 free quotes
Receive no-obligation quotes from 4 Carpenters working in your area.
Pick the right pro for you
Compare prices, customer reviews and services, and hire the right Carpenter.
Are you a Carpenter?
View our open Carpenter jobs near you
Join todayRecent Carpenter Enquiries
Carpentry
Skelmersdale, Wigan - WN8
Enquiry from: Jacinta B
Start Date: Immediate
Garden arch fitted around an existing plant
Garden | Sheds
Barry - CF62
Enquiry from: David T
Start Date: Immediate
Fencing and a shed roof for garden
Carpentry
Hockley - SS5
Enquiry from: John P
Start Date: Immediate
Quote to purchase and install extra stair handrail
Carpentry
Cockermouth - CA13
Enquiry from: Richard P
Start Date: Immediate
Partition wall with a double door in it
Carpentry
Penmaenmawr - LL34
Enquiry from: Susanne D
Start Date: Immediate
Hello, I've had new carpet fitted in my breakfast room and now my solid timber door doesn't fit. I'll need someone to resize it at the bottom to enable putting it back in. Is this a service you co...
Carpentry
Newcastle upon Tyne - NE16
Enquiry from: ZRIN D
Start Date: Immediate
BESPOKE WARDRIOBE DOORS TO FOLLOW SLANTED LOFT BEDROOM CEILING
Carpentry
Hatfield - AL10
Enquiry from: Sam S
Start Date: Immediate
2 x free-standing kitchen cupboards: - Full-height cupboard (approx. H 93 cm; W 33cm) with variable shelving and ‘storage’ doors. - Fridge housing with cupboard over (approx. H 210, W 60 cm) ...
Carpentry
Buxton - SK17
Enquiry from: Riley H
Start Date: Immediate
Dear whom ever it may concern, I am currently on the look out for a company to take me on as an apprentice through buxton and leek college, please find attached my CV. Thank you for taking the time to...
Carpentry
West Malling - ME19
Enquiry from: Anindya N
Start Date: Immediate
wood cladding of staircase of a new built property and fitted furniture for bedroom and living room
Carpentry
Manchester - M24
Enquiry from: Alan T
Start Date: Immediate
Complete downstairs skirting board replacement (all skirtings were removed for other works to be done). living room, dining room, kitchen, hallway, toilet, under stairs cupboard. I would like some one...
Carpentry
Watchet - TA23
Enquiry from: Kay O
Start Date: Immediate
Fitting of 5 internal doors and door furniture. We have already got the doors, we just need them fitted.
Carpentry
Port Talbot - SA13
Enquiry from: Jordan W
Start Date: Immediate
Hello, I’m trying to get a quote for a living room door with a lock fitted It needs to be a sturdy door with a lock due to my sons autism If someone could get back to me to discuss , social servic...
Carpentry
Tonypandy - CF40
Enquiry from: Kellen H
Start Date: Immediate
Looking for someone to build some units/shelfs/storage/cupboards in small utility room,
Carpentry
Wotton-under-Edge - GL12
Enquiry from: Luke M
Start Date: Immediate
Hi I am looking to have some kitchen unit doors, end shelving and end panels made to replace the current ones. Ideally the doors would be solid wood.
Carpentry
Dorchester - DT2
Enquiry from: Norman T
Start Date: Immediate
hi, i need my worktops fitted in my kitchen. the units are in and levelled
Carpentry
Buxton - SK17
Enquiry from: Alastair d
Start Date: Immediate
New carpets recently installed. Two doors are dragging on the carpet and need to be shaved, skimmed, or trimmed.
Carpentry
Crickhowell - NP7
Enquiry from: Margaret H
Start Date: Immediate
I need a new front door together with replacement frame. Looking for a good quality stable door with small window at the top.
Carpentry
Lyme Regis - DT7
Enquiry from: Sarah C
Start Date: Immediate
Looking to replace several wooden windows upstairs in our cottage.
Carpentry
Belper - DE56
Enquiry from: Paul C
Start Date: Immediate
We are looking for a bench box. 140 cm long 60 wide 85 high ish. Sturdy to live in open fronted bus shelter to use as a book swap storage
Carpentry
Inverurie - AB51
Enquiry from: Jenny M
Start Date: 1 to 3 months
in-built living room units and shelving are you the property owner: owner of the property what type of job are you looking to have done: furniture fitting what level of service do you require: supplie...
Carpenter in your region
- Carpenter Scotland
- Carpenter Northern Ireland
- Carpenter North East
- Carpenter North West
- Carpenter East Midlands
- Carpenter West Midlands
- Carpenter Wales
- Carpenter South West
- Carpenter South East
- Carpenter Greater London
- Carpenter Isle of Man
- Carpenter Channel Islands
- Carpenter Yorkshire & Humberside
- Carpenter East Anglia