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1st Fix Carpentry & Structural Timber in Adelaide

Building an extension, renovating or managing a new build? Tell us about the framing work and we’ll pass your enquiry to a local carpenter who does 1st fix carpentry, for a free, no-obligation quote.

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Find a framing carpenter in Adelaide

First fix carpentry is the structure behind the walls, under the floor and in the roof. It’s hidden once the job is finished, but everything else relies on it being square, level and built to the plans. Tell us about your project and we’ll connect you with a local carpenter who does structural framing.

Carpenter Adelaide is a free referral service. We don’t do building work ourselves: the carpenter quotes, contracts and does the work, and you deal with them directly.

1st fix work we can help with

  • Wall framing
  • Roof framing and trusses
  • Floor framing, bearers and joists
  • Stud walls and new internal walls
  • Stairs
  • Door and window frames
  • Sheet flooring
  • Demolition and preparation for renovations
  • Framing for extensions and granny flats

What happens during 1st fix

First fix carpentry is done after the slab or footings and before the walls are lined. It typically includes:

  1. Floor framing where the house isn’t on a slab: bearers, joists and sheet flooring.
  2. Wall frames, either built on site or pre-made and stood up, then braced and tied down.
  3. Roof framing, whether trusses or a pitched (cut) roof.
  4. Stairs, door frames and window openings, so other trades can work around them.

Once the frame is up, plumbers and electricians run their pipes and cables before the walls are lined. That’s why getting the frame right matters so much: mistakes found later are expensive to fix. Our guide to what a carpenter does covers this in more detail.

Who is 1st fix carpentry for?

  • Homeowners building an extension or major renovation
  • Owner-builders who need a framing carpenter
  • Builders and project managers who need extra framing crews

What to ask before you sign

  • Have they seen the full set of approved plans and engineering?
  • Is the price for labour only, or labour and materials?
  • Who orders the frames, trusses and timber?
  • What’s included: bracing, tie-downs, stairs, sheet flooring, demolition?
  • Who books the frame inspection?
  • For domestic building work of $20,000 or more that needs approval, do they have building indemnity insurance?
How it works

A quote from a local carpenter, without ringing around

  1. Tell us about your project

    Fill in the short form with your suburb and what you need: a new deck, a pergola, a feature wall, framing for an extension or a repair.

  2. We refer a local carpenter

    We pass your enquiry to a recommended carpenter who does that kind of work in your part of Adelaide. Every carpenter we refer holds a current South Australian building work contractor licence and public liability insurance.

  3. The carpenter contacts you

    They get in touch to talk through the job, arrange a site visit if it’s needed and give you a quote.

  4. You decide

    There’s no obligation. Compare the quote, check the carpenter’s licence and only go ahead if you’re happy with the price, design and timing.

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Before you hire

How to choose a carpenter in Adelaide

Choose a carpenter who holds a current South Australian building work contractor licence and public liability insurance, gives you a written, itemised quote, and tells you who will lodge any council approval.

Every carpenter we refer meets our criteria (a current South Australian building work contractor licence and public liability insurance) when we add them to our list, but it’s still worth checking for yourself. The statutory warranties under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 (SA) come from the carpenter who does the work, not from us.

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Checks before you sign

  1. Check the carpenter’s building work contractor licence on the Consumer and Business Services (CBS) website.
  2. Ask for a current certificate of currency for their public liability insurance.
  3. Get a written quote listing the materials, sizes, inclusions, exclusions and GST.
  4. For decks, pergolas and structural work, ask whether you need development approval and who will lodge it through PlanSA.
  5. Ask whether site preparation, engineering, rubbish removal and making good are included.
  6. For domestic building work of $20,000 or more that needs development approval, the builder must take out building indemnity insurance and give you the certificate before work starts.

1st Fix Carpentry & Structural Timber: common questions

What is 1st fix carpentry?

First fix carpentry is the structural work done before the walls are lined: wall frames, floor framing, roof framing, stairs and door frames. It happens before plumbers and electricians run their services, and before plasterers and 2nd fix carpenters finish the inside.

How is 1st fix different from 2nd fix carpentry?

1st fix is the hidden structure that holds the building up. 2nd fix is the finishing work you see once the walls are lined, such as doors, skirting boards and architraves. Our guide to the two types of carpentry explains the difference.

Does framing need to follow approved plans?

Yes. Structural framing has to be built to the approved drawings, the engineer’s details and the National Construction Code. Inspections may be needed at certain stages. Make sure the carpenter has a full set of approved plans before they quote.

How long does 1st fix carpentry take?

It depends on the size of the job. Framing a small extension can take days; a whole house takes longer. The carpenter will give you a timeline with their quote, and it will also depend on deliveries, weather and other trades.

Other carpentry projects we can help with

Timber Decking

Merbau, blackbutt and other hardwood decks, plus restoring tired old decks.

See this service →

Composite Decking

Low-maintenance composite boards that don’t need oiling every year.

See this service →

Pergolas & Outdoor Entertaining

Timber and steel pergolas, gable and flat roofs, fire-pit and spa areas.

See this service →

Feature Walls & Cement Cladding

VJ panelling, wainscoting, timber ceilings and external cladding.

See this service →

Timber Screening & Bench Seating

Privacy screens, built-in seats and planter boxes for decks and courtyards.

See this service →

2nd Fix Carpentry & Detailing

Doors, skirting, architraves and the finishing work you see every day.

See this service →

Ready to find a carpenter?

Tell us about your project and we’ll connect you with a recommended local carpenter for a free, no-obligation quote.

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