Choose a carpenter for the whole job
In short
Find a carpenter who services your Perth suburb and has completed the kind of repair, fit-out or outdoor construction you need. For larger projects, ask your local council about permits and building classification, then check whether the contracting business needs WA building contractor registration. Give each company the same photos, dimensions and finish requirements. Compare the complete installed result, including any design, painting and waste removal, before agreeing to a contract and payment schedule.
Step 1
Match the company to the timber work
Describe the outcome rather than simply asking for a carpenter. Adjusting a sticking door, making a fitted cupboard and altering roof framing require different skills and equipment. Ask who will measure, make and install the work, and whether other trades or a structural engineer are needed.
What kind of carpentry do you need?
| The work | What to establish first |
|---|---|
| Doors, skirting or timber repairs | Whether the existing item can be repaired, what profile needs matching and who finishes the surface. |
| Built-in cupboards or cabinetry | Whether the company provides cabinetmaking, final measurements, manufacture and installation. |
| A deck, patio or other outdoor structure | The design, supports, materials and council approval requirements before settling the construction scope. |
| Framing changes or a new wall opening | Structural assessment and plans, with a clear responsibility for the wider building work. |
Step 2
Check registration for the proposed building work
WA building contractor registration depends on the work, its value, whether it requires a building permit and the Building Services Board's jurisdiction. The threshold is $20,000 or more for most types of building work requiring a permit. For Class 10a buildings, such as private garages, sheds and carports, it is $50,000 or more. That higher threshold took effect on 1 July 2026.
Where registration is required, check the contracting business with Building and Energy and match its details to the quote. Practitioner registration allows an individual to supervise a registered contractor; it does not allow them to provide building services directly to you. Ask the council to confirm the classification if you are unsure which threshold applies.
For any job, ask for examples of similar completed work and evidence of relevant insurance. Confirm the company's service area and timing directly. Small repair work still needs appropriate experience, even where builder registration is not required.
Step 3
Resolve council requirements before construction
Contact the local government responsible for your property about building permits and any development approval. A project below the builder registration threshold may still need a permit. WA guidance identifies roofed outdoor areas, commonly called patios, as Class 10a buildings; ask the permit authority about your particular design rather than assuming every timber structure has that classification.
The City of Perth lists residential alterations, patios, decking and garden structures among work that usually requires a building permit. Its guidance also says major changes may need development approval before a building application. Use your own council's advice if your home is elsewhere in metropolitan Perth.
Agree who supplies drawings, arranges engineering, submits applications and pays approval fees. Include these responsibilities in the quote. For a rental or strata property, obtain the relevant owner's or strata permission before committing to alterations.
Step 4
Provide enough detail for comparable quotes
Photograph the whole area and any damaged joints, trim or supports. Include approximate dimensions and say what you want retained, repaired or replaced. Let the company confirm final measurements before ordering custom pieces.
Explain access for carrying timber or assembled cabinetry, where vehicles can unload and any limits on work hours. For outdoor work, show drainage, ground levels and where the structure will meet the house. Ask the company to specify suitable timber, coatings and fixings for the actual site.
Step 5
Agree on the finish, exclusions and payment terms
Request written quotes that specify materials, hardware, installation and the final finish. Check whether sanding, painting or staining is included, along with repairs to surrounding plaster or flooring. Ask how concealed damage will be recorded and priced if it is discovered after removing timber.
WA's Home Building Contracts Act covers fixed-price home building and associated work contracts between $7,500 and $500,000, including cabinetry. Covered contracts must be written, dated and signed by both parties, and the contractor must give you the Notice for the Home Owner before you sign. These protections can apply even when the business does not need builder registration.
For covered contracts, the usual maximum deposit is 6.5 per cent. A limited exception allows up to 20 per cent where off-site cabinetry represents more than half the contract value. Progress payments should cover work performed or materials already supplied. Agree the payment stages and completion date before signing.
Changes to covered contracts generally need a dated, signed written variation supplied before the extra work begins, although statutory exceptions exist. At handover, check moving parts, joins and the agreed finish, and record outstanding items. Keep the contract, approved changes, invoices and any approval documents.
Sources and useful links
Sources checked 7 October 2026
- WA Government: builders' registration
Contractor and practitioner distinction, permit requirement and current registration thresholds; updated 14 September 2026.
- WA Government: building or renovating your home
July 2026 Class 10a change, patio classification, continuing permit requirements and off-site cabinetry deposit exception; updated 21 September 2026.
- City of Perth: building and extensions
Local examples of work usually needing building permits and the order of development and building approvals; applies within the City of Perth.
- Building and Energy: Home Building Contracts Act fact sheet
Fixed-price contract range, written agreement and homeowner notice requirements, and variations with statutory exceptions.
