Find a trusted carpenter in Perth

Carpentry in a city of brick homes

With most Perth houses built in double brick, carpenters here spend less time on wall frames and more on what sits on top of and around the brick: roof framing, patios, pergolas, decks, doors, robes and trims. An extension or patio that ties into the existing roof needs careful framing so the new section sheds water and lines up with the old.

Older homes are another story. In Fremantle, Subiaco, Mount Lawley and Guildford, many houses still have their original jarrah floorboards, doors, skirtings and window frames. Patching jarrah boards or matching an old skirting profile is slow, careful work, so it’s usually charged by the hour rather than as a fixed price.

Decks, sun and termites

Perth’s summer sun dries timber out quickly. Decks that aren’t oiled or coated regularly turn grey, then the boards cup and split. Jarrah and merbau are popular for their looks and durability, while treated pine keeps the cost down. Termites are active across Perth, so ask what treatment the timber has: H3 for framing exposed to the weather above ground, H4 or higher for posts set into the ground, and stirrups to keep timber clear of the soil.

On blocks in the Perth Hills and other bush fire prone areas, a deck may need to meet the BAL rating for the site, which limits the timber species and how it’s detailed. Some decks, pergolas and patios also need a building permit from your council, depending on their height, size and roof, so check before work starts.

Who needs to be registered for carpentry in WA

WA has no carpentry licence. Timber decking, cabinet making and second-fix joinery such as doors and skirting are exempt from builder registration. But if the carpentry is building work that needs a permit and is worth $20,000 or more, like framing an extension, it has to be done by a registered building contractor. You can check that on the WA Online Licence Search. For smaller jobs, look up the carpenter’s ABN on ABN Lookup and ask for proof of public liability insurance. There’s more in our WA licence checks guide.

Carpenter rates in Perth

Most carpenters charge around $60 to $100 an hour, or $500 to $800 for a full day of labour. As a guide, hanging an internal door runs $150 to $450, an external door $350 to $800 before you buy the door, skirting and architraves $300 to $900 a room, and a ground-level deck roughly $300 to $600 per square metre, or $6,000 to $12,000 for 20 square metres. A timber pergola is typically $5,000 to $15,000 without a roof. Materials are extra, and jarrah or composite boards cost more than pine. Our carpenter price guide has the full list.

Matching you with a Perth carpenter

Describe the job and where you are, and we’ll match you with one carpenter who does that kind of work in your area. Before the match, we confirm their ABN, insurance and reviews, plus builder registration where the job calls for it. No call centre and no bidding war.

Other options: carpenters in other cities, more trades in Perth, or get a free quote.