Carpenters in London.

Where a carpenter covers your postcode, quick jobs like hanging a door, fixing a sticking sash or putting up shelving can often be booked within the same week. Loacally is still growing across London, so check who covers your postcode first. Bespoke joinery, such as fitted wardrobes or a new staircase, is usually scheduled further out because items are made to measure, often in a workshop, before fitting. Booking the first visit early gets your measurements taken and the project moving.

Carpentry is not a licensed trade in the UK, but it is a skilled one with recognised qualifications. Every carpenter’s application is reviewed by hand before their profile goes live, and a City & Guilds or NVQ in carpentry and joinery is a good signal to look for on a profile. Reviews and previous work photos are the clearest signal of finish quality, which matters enormously for visible joinery. For period London homes, look for a carpenter who lists sash window or heritage experience, as working with original timber takes a specific skill set.

Most London carpenters charge a day rate starting from £250, rising to around £350 for experienced trades or fine joinery. Smaller jobs are often priced per item: hanging a single internal door runs £80 to £180, and a sash window overhaul with draught-proofing is typically £300 to £700 per window. Bespoke fitted wardrobes are usually £600 to £1,200 per linear metre supplied and fitted. London rates sit above the national average, and access in flats and terraces can affect the price.

The distinction is mostly about where the work happens. Site carpentry, including first fix (floor joists, stud walls, roof timbers) and second fix (doors, skirting, architrave, staircases), is done in your home. Bench joinery is the making of bespoke timber items like wardrobes, windows, and staircases, usually in a workshop, which are then fitted on site. Many London tradespeople do both and list as carpenter and joiner. For a made-to-measure piece, you want someone with genuine joinery skill, not only site carpentry.

Yes, and for most of London period housing stock, repairing original sash windows is far better than replacing them. A skilled carpenter can splice in new timber to repair rot, replace broken sash cords and weights, ease sticking sashes, and add discreet draught-proofing to cut rattles and heat loss. This is usually cheaper than full replacement and is often required anyway in conservation areas and listed buildings, where original windows must be retained. Choose a carpenter who specifically lists sash window work on their Loacally profile.

You pay your carpenter directly after the visit, in whichever method they accept (bank transfer, card, or cash). For bespoke joinery, the payment schedule is agreed in their quote, often with a deposit to cover materials before the item is made. Loacally does not take payment for the work. The visit price you see on the profile is the price the carpenter has agreed to honour, captured at the moment of booking.