From timber repair to an agreed carpentry job
In short
Find a carpenter who services your Brisbane suburb and has completed similar timber work. Check whether the contracting business needs a Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licence and whether its licence covers the full job. For a new or enlarged deck, check Brisbane City Council's planning rules and speak with a building certifier before construction. Give each company the same brief and compare written quotes for materials, finishes, access and any work excluded.
Step 1
Separate a repair from a change to the structure
Explain what is damaged or what you want to change before asking for a price. Replacing a door, repairing verandah boards and altering a roof frame call for different experience. If the condition of the supporting timber is unknown, ask for an inspection before treating the job as a surface repair.
Match the carpenter to the work
| Work you need | Details to discuss |
|---|---|
| Doors, windows or interior trim | Repair or replacement, existing profiles, hardware and who completes painting or staining. |
| Deck or verandah repairs | Whether the quote covers boards only or also assessment and repair of the supporting frame, stairs and balustrades. |
| A new deck or structural alteration | Design, engineering and approval responsibilities, alongside the construction scope. |
| Custom cupboards or fitted storage | Experience in joinery or cabinetmaking, and who measures, manufactures and installs the pieces. |
Step 2
Check the contracting business and its QBCC scope
Queensland generally requires a QBCC licence to contract for building work valued over $3,300. Some work requires a licence at any value. Check the requirements for your whole project rather than assuming that a small carpentry component settles the question. The licence must have the class and type appropriate to the work and the contractor's role.
QBCC's carpentry scope includes timber and steel framing, timber stairs, flooring, doors, windows and mouldings. Ask how the contractor's licence covers any additional work in the proposal. Use the QBCC licensee register to check current details and match the licence holder to the business named on your quote.
Ask to see a similar completed job, with close-up photos of the finish. Confirm relevant insurance, service to your suburb and proposed timing directly with the business.
Step 3
Check Brisbane approvals before changing a deck
Brisbane City Council advises checking the property's zones and overlays in City Plan online before a deck project. Planning approval may be needed because of the Traditional building character overlay, neighbourhood plan requirements or the extent of the proposed work. Check the actual address rather than relying on the house's appearance.
Building approval is a separate check. Council's exemption for a deck depends on meeting every listed condition, including limits on area, height and length, having no roof, and not affecting structural integrity or a pool enclosure. Size alone does not establish an exemption. Ask a licensed building certifier to confirm the requirements and record who will arrange approvals and inspections.
Step 4
Give each company the same photos and finish requirements
Include an overview photo and close-ups of damaged timber, joins and any profile you want matched. Mark approximate dimensions on a sketch, but have the contractor confirm final measurements before ordering or cutting. Explain whether you want an assessment first, a repair using matching materials or a complete replacement.
Describe access for carrying long timber lengths and where materials can be stored. Include stairs, a narrow side passage, parking restrictions and occupied rooms that need protection. For elevated work, show the ground below as well as the surface being repaired.
Step 5
Agree on the complete job and how changes are approved
Compare specified timber or board products, fixings, hardware, installation and finishing. Ask whether the price includes removing old materials, waste disposal and repairs to adjoining surfaces. Have certification costs and other fees identified before accepting. QBCC warns that accepting a quote, including verbally, can create a binding contract.
Domestic building work priced over $3,300 requires a compliant written contract. Record the scope, payment schedule and start and finish dates. If opening up reveals damaged supports, have the contractor document the proposed extra work, price change and time impact before it proceeds. QBCC requires variations to be provided in writing before variation work begins.
At completion, check the agreed finish, operation of doors or fittings and any outstanding items with the contractor. Keep the contract, written changes, invoices and relevant approval or inspection records together.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- QBCC: when you need a licence
General building-work licensing threshold, exceptions and appropriate licence class and type.
- QBCC: carpentry
Carpentry scope and the need for additional licence classes for work beyond permitted incidental work.
- Brisbane City Council: deck
Property overlays, planning approval, building approval exemption conditions and certifier involvement.
- QBCC: unpacking quotes, contracts and variations
Quote acceptance, written contracts over $3,300 and documenting variations; published 23 September 2025.
