Carpenters BrisbaneQuotes from QBCC-licensed carpenters for decks, pergolas, doors, stairs & timber repairs
Carpentry for Brisbane homes: deck building in spotted gum, merbau and composite, deck repairs and oiling, timber pergolas, doors, stairs and balustrades, and Queenslander verandah and VJ repairs.
- Built-in wardrobes, skirting and architraves
- Floorboard, window sill and weatherboard repairs
- Timber fences, paling fences and side gates
Get a quote from a QBCC-licensed carpenter
- QBCC licence over $3,300 Which licence covers the job
- Carpenter and door prices Hourly rates and door prices
- Deck and pergola approvals When a certifier is needed
- Queenslanders and older homes Character overlay rules
Carpenters for Brisbane homes, from Queenslanders to new builds
Carpenters Brisbane is for the carpentry jobs on Brisbane houses: new decks and the stairs and balustrades that go with them, deck repairs and oiling, timber pergolas, internal and front doors, built-in wardrobes, skirting and architraves, floorboards, timber fences and gates, and the verandahs, VJ walls and windows of Queenslanders. Send the details of the job and get a quote from a QBCC-licensed local carpenter, anywhere from Chermside and Clayfield to Mount Gravatt, Wynnum, Paddington and Kenmore.
Brisbane's houses set the work. Highset timber homes need long front stairs, balustrades that meet the code and decks well off the ground. Pre-war Queenslanders and workers' cottages have VJ walls, casement windows and verandah boards that are repaired to match. Newer brick and lowset homes need doors, robes and trims fitted square. Describe the job with the details that change the price, and say when the house was built.
Carpentry services in Brisbane
Decks, pergolas, doors, robes, trims, floors, fences, stairs and timber repairs, each quoted by a QBCC-licensed carpenter.
Decks
New timber and composite decks off the back door or the verandah: low decks over the lawn, raised decks on highset houses, and steps, stairs and balustrades to go with them. Spotted gum, merbau, treated pine or composite boards on a treated-pine or steel frame.
More about deck building
Deck repairs & oiling
Split, cupped or loose boards, nails lifting, wobbly steps and timber that's gone grey in the Queensland sun. Damaged boards and fixings are replaced, then the deck is sanded and oiled or stained so the timber is protected again.
More about deck repairs and oiling
Pergolas
Timber pergolas over a patio or deck, freestanding on their own posts or fixed to the house where the fascia and frame can take it. Open battens, a clear or Colorbond roof, and shade on the western side of the house.
More about timber pergolas
Doors
Internal doors hung in existing frames, pre-hung doors and jambs fitted, cavity sliding doors installed, and front doors replaced in the same opening. Sticking doors planed, hinges and strikes reset, and new handles and locks fitted.
More about door installation and repairs
Built-in wardrobes
Built-in wardrobes and robe fit-outs: a carcass of shelves, drawers and hanging rails across a bedroom wall, with sliding, hinged or mirrored doors. Walk-in robe shelving and linen cupboards too.
More about built-in wardrobes
Skirting & architraves
New skirting boards after new floors, architraves around doors and windows, and matching profiles cut in where old trims were damaged. Pine, MDF or hardwood, mitred and scribed to uneven floors and walls.
More about skirting and architraves
Timber floor repairs
Damaged, springy or squeaking floorboards replaced or re-fixed, boards matched to the existing hardwood, and joints and edges made good before sanding. Common under fridges, in old kitchens and where a wall or fireplace came out.
More about timber floor repairs
Timber fences & gates
Timber paling and lapped-and-capped fences built or repaired, leaning posts replaced, and side gates rehung so they swing and latch. Front fences and screens in timber battens too.
More about timber fences and gates
Stairs & balustrades
Timber stairs and balustrades for decks, verandahs and highset houses: worn treads and stringers replaced, wobbly handrails fixed, and new balustrades where the old ones are loose or too low.
More about stairs and balustrades
Timber & window repairs
Rotten window sills and frames, weatherboards, fascias and door frames repaired or replaced in matching timber. Borer or water damage cut out and new timber spliced in, ready to paint.
More about timber and window repairs
Queenslander carpentry
Carpentry for Queenslanders and other timber-and-tin houses: verandah boards and balustrades, VJ walls, front stairs, battens and lattice, and casement and sash windows, repaired or replaced to match the house.
More about Queenslander carpentryHow a carpentry quote works
Tell us what needs doing and the details that change the price.
Describe the job
Choose the job, add your suburb and give the size or quantity, how high it sits off the ground and when the house was built. Photos help.
The carpenter looks at the job
A fixed price comes after a carpenter has seen the job or photos of it. Ask for the scope, timber and price in writing.
Check the QBCC licence
Over $3,300, the carpenter or builder needs a QBCC licence in the right class. Check it on the QBCC licensee register before you sign.
How much does a carpenter cost in Brisbane?
Carpentry is priced per job once the carpenter has seen it or photos of it. As a guide, here are published hourly rates and per-door prices, with who publishes each.
Carpenter hourly rates and call-out charges
Carpenter rates per hour
| Rate | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter, general carpentry, Queensland | $55 – $95 per hour | The Quote Yard (Queensland) |
| Carpenter or joiner, metro areas | $85 – $155 per hour | The Quote Yard (national) |
| Carpenter or joiner, regional areas | $75 – $135 per hour | The Quote Yard (national) |
| Call-out or minimum charge | $70 – $120 | The Quote Yard (national) |
The Queensland row is from a quotes marketplace's 2026 Queensland carpentry page (undated; GST not stated), read 28 October 2026. The other rows are from the same publisher's national rate guide (published 18 March 2026), checked 8 October 2026: metro and regional carpenter and joiner rates and its call-out or minimum charge; it advises asking whether a rate includes GST. The two pages differ, so each band is shown with its source. Neither is a Brisbane-only figure, and most carpentry is quoted per job once the carpenter has seen the job or photos of it.
Door installation prices
Door installation prices in Brisbane
| Door | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Internal hollow-core door, installation only (3 doors or more) | $219 per door | Brisbane Door Fitter (Brisbane) |
| Internal solid or glazed door, installation only (2 doors or more) | $329 per door | Brisbane Door Fitter (Brisbane) |
| External door, installation only | $579 per door | Brisbane Door Fitter (Brisbane) |
Installation-only prices from Brisbane Door Fitter, a door installer covering Brisbane (undated price list, read 28 October 2026; GST not stated). The door itself isn't included. More prices, including Bunnings', are on the door installation cost page.
Carpentry for Queenslanders and timber houses
Timber-and-tin houses on stumps are Brisbane's own. Their carpentry is repaired to match: verandah boards, VJ walls, front stairs and the battens and lattice underneath, in the timber, profile and size the house was built with.
Verandah boards and balustrades
Soft or split verandah boards replaced in matching timber, and loose or low balustrades rebuilt. Where it's possible to fall 1 m or more, the building code needs a barrier at least 1 m high.
VJ walls and ceilings
Damaged V-jointed boards cut out and new boards matched to the profile, in walls, ceilings and the enclosed verandahs of older houses.
Front stairs
Worn treads, stringers and handrails on the long front stairs of highset houses, repaired or rebuilt in timber.
Battens and lattice
Timber battens and lattice screens under highset houses and around verandahs, replaced where they've rotted or come loose.
Casement and sash windows
Sticking casement windows eased and rehung, rotten sills and frames repaired, and sash windows freed up.
The character overlay
Brisbane's character overlays protect the "pre-1947 streetscape". Replacing windows, doors, balustrades and fretwork with features of the same style is treated differently from changing the street front: what the overlay allows.
Queensland rules to check before a carpentry job
Four numbers that change who can do the work, how it's approved and what's checked first.
- $3,300
QBCC licence
Building work valued over $3,300, counting labour, materials and GST, needs a QBCC-licensed contractor in the right class.
QBCC licences - 1990
Asbestos in older homes
A house built before 1990 has "a good chance" of containing asbestos, so linings, eaves and sheeting are checked before cutting.
Asbestos checks - 1946
Character houses
Brisbane's character rules mainly cover houses built before the end of 1946, with extra protection for those built before 1911.
Character overlays - 1 m
Deck balustrades
Where a deck or verandah is 1 m or more above the ground, it needs a barrier at least 1 m high, with gaps under 125 mm.
Deck and pergola rules
Carpentry across Brisbane
Quotes for carpentry in every part of Brisbane City, north and south of the river and out to the bay.
Northside
Chermside, Aspley, Nundah, Kedron, Stafford, Everton Park, Clayfield, Ascot, Hamilton, Hendra, Wooloowin, Lutwyche, Windsor, Wilston, Grange, Gordon Park, Kalinga, Albion, Alderley, Newmarket, Kelvin Grove, Herston, Wavell Heights, Northgate, Banyo, Nudgee, Virginia, Geebung, Zillmere, McDowall, Chermside West, Stafford Heights, Carseldine, Bridgeman Downs, Taigum, Fitzgibbon, Bald Hills, Bracken Ridge, Boondall, Deagon, Brighton, Sandgate, Shorncliffe, New Farm, Teneriffe, Newstead, Spring Hill, Fortitude Valley
Southside
Mount Gravatt, Holland Park, Greenslopes, Annerley, Yeronga, Fairfield, Moorooka, Tarragindi, Salisbury, Coopers Plains, Sunnybank, Sunnybank Hills, Macgregor, Mansfield, Wishart, Upper Mount Gravatt, Mount Gravatt East, Holland Park West, Eight Mile Plains, Rochedale, Runcorn, Kuraby, Robertson, Nathan, Acacia Ridge, Archerfield, Rocklea, Tennyson, Yeerongpilly, Dutton Park, Algester, Calamvale, Parkinson, Stretton, Drewvale, Forest Lake, Inala, Darra, Oxley, Woolloongabba, West End, Highgate Hill, Kangaroo Point, South Brisbane
Eastern and bayside suburbs
Wynnum, Manly, Manly West, Lota, Wynnum West, Coorparoo, Camp Hill, Carina, Carina Heights, Carindale, Cannon Hill, Morningside, Bulimba, Hawthorne, Balmoral, Norman Park, Seven Hills, East Brisbane, Tingalpa, Belmont, Gumdale, Chandler, Wakerley, Murarrie, Hemmant, Ransome, Mackenzie
Western suburbs
Paddington, Red Hill, Bardon, Ashgrove, The Gap, Toowong, Auchenflower, Milton, Taringa, Indooroopilly, St Lucia, Chapel Hill, Kenmore, Kenmore Hills, Fig Tree Pocket, Jindalee, Mount Ommaney, Westlake, Middle Park, Jamboree Heights, Sherwood, Graceville, Corinda, Chelmer, Brookfield, Pullenvale, Bellbowrie, Moggill, Enoggera, Gaythorne, Mitchelton, Keperra, Ferny Grove, Upper Kedron
Choosing a carpenter in Brisbane
Six things to check, whether it's a new deck or one sticking door.
The QBCC licence and its class
Over $3,300, check the carpenter's or builder's licence and class on the QBCC licensee register before you sign.
A written contract and deposit
Domestic work over $3,300 needs a written, dated and signed contract, with the deposit capped at 10% (5% from $20,000, or 20% where off-site work is worth more than half the contract price).
Home warranty over $3,300
QBCC says the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme premium is compulsory for residential work valued over $3,300. Ask how it's covered in the contract.
The approval question first
Ask whether a deck, pergola or stairs need a building certifier's approval. See the approval guide.
Asbestos in older homes
For a house built before 1990, ask how linings, eaves and sheeting will be checked before anything is cut.
Waste and clean-up
Old decking, doors and offcuts add up. Check that taking them away is in the price.
Carpentry questions from Brisbane homeowners
Does a carpenter need a QBCC licence in Queensland?
For building work valued over $3,300, yes: the contractor needs a QBCC licence of the right class, and the value counts labour, materials and GST. Smaller jobs, such as hanging a couple of doors, are below the threshold. Check any licence on the QBCC licensee register. See carpenter or builder: QBCC licences.
How much does a carpenter cost in Brisbane?
Most carpentry is quoted per job, once the carpenter has seen it or photos of it. As a guide, a quotes marketplace's Queensland page lists $55 to $95 an hour for general carpentry in 2026, and the same publisher's national guide lists $85 to $155 an hour for carpenters and joiners in metro areas, with $70 to $120 as a call-out or minimum charge (published 18 March 2026). Ask whether a rate includes GST. See carpenter rates in Brisbane.
Do I need approval to build a deck in Brisbane?
Not if it's small: an unroofed deck no more than 1 m above the ground, no more than 10 m² in plan and with no side over 5 m is accepted development under the Building Regulation 2021, schedule 1. The owner is still responsible for making sure it complies, including size limits and boundary setbacks. A private building certifier can tell you, and Council's planning rules can apply in the character overlays. See the deck and pergola approval guide.
My house was built before 1990. Does that change anything?
It changes the order of the job. The Queensland Government says that if a house was built before 1990, "there is a good chance that it contains asbestos", and that it's often very difficult to identify by sight. Linings, eaves and sheeting are checked before anything is cut or pulled off. See asbestos before renovating.
Can a carpenter replace windows or balustrades on a character house?
Often, yes. In Brisbane's Traditional building character and pre-1911 overlays, City Plan's list of accepted development includes taking out windows, doors, balustrades, window hoods and fretwork so they can be replaced with new features "of the same style and appearance". Demolishing parts of a pre-1947 house forward of the highest, rearmost part of the roof, or any part of a pre-1911 house, needs a development application. Check with Council or a certifier first. See renovating a Queenslander.
Do I need a written contract for carpentry?
For domestic building work over $3,300 (including labour, materials and GST), yes: the contract must be in writing, dated and signed. Deposits are capped at 10% for contracts under $20,000 and 5% from $20,000 (20% where off-site work is worth more than half the contract price), and there's a five business day cooling-off period. Below $3,300, QBCC says a contract isn't required, though a written quote still helps.
Can several small jobs be done in one visit?
Usually. A list of small jobs, such as a sticking door, a damaged skirting run and a sagging gate, is often cheaper done together than as separate call-outs. List them all in one enquiry with the size or quantity of each.
Who supplies the timber, doors and hardware?
Either the carpenter or you. Say in your enquiry whether you've already bought the doors, decking boards or robe system, so the quote covers the right thing. Materials count towards the job's value for the QBCC threshold.
Which parts of Brisbane can I get a quote in?
All of Brisbane City: the northside from Bracken Ridge and Sandgate to Kelvin Grove, the southside from Woolloongabba to Rochedale and Forest Lake, the eastern and bayside suburbs from Coorparoo to Wynnum and Manly, and the western suburbs from Paddington to Kenmore, Jindalee and The Gap.
Get a carpentry quote in Brisbane
Describe the job, the size or quantity, and where it is on the property. Photos help, and mention if the house was built before 1990.