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2nd Fix Carpentry & Detailing in Adelaide

Need doors hung, skirting and architraves fitted, or finishing work done after a renovation? Tell us about it and we’ll pass your enquiry to a local carpenter, for a free, no-obligation quote.

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Find a 2nd fix carpenter in Adelaide

Second fix carpentry is the finishing stage of a build or renovation, and it’s what people notice: doors that close properly, skirting that sits tight to the floor, clean mitres on the architraves. Tell us what you need and we’ll connect you with a local carpenter who does finishing work.

Carpenter Adelaide is a free referral service. We don’t do the work ourselves: the carpenter quotes, contracts and does the job, and you deal with them directly. Our article on second fix carpentry explains the work in more detail.

2nd fix work we can help with

  • Hanging internal and external doors
  • Skirting boards and architraves
  • Door handles, locks and hinges
  • Electronic and keyless lock hardware
  • Plasterboard (Gyprock) installation
  • Shelving, built-in robes and storage
  • Window trims and reveals
  • Replacing old or damaged trims

Getting a good finish

The difference between average and great 2nd fix work is in the details: tight joins, even gaps around doors, trims that line up from room to room. When you talk to a carpenter, it’s worth asking:

  • Have they seen the doors, trims and hardware you’ve chosen, or will they supply them?
  • Are the trims pre-primed, and who does the painting?
  • How will they handle walls or floors that aren’t straight?
  • Is cleaning up and removing offcuts included?

Small jobs welcome

Not every job is a whole house. A sticking door, a new security door frame or skirting in a single room can all be done by a 2nd fix carpenter. Mention the size of the job in your enquiry so we can pass it to a carpenter who takes on that kind of work.

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.

2nd Fix Carpentry & Detailing: common questions

What is 2nd fix carpentry?

Second fix carpentry is the finishing work done after the walls are lined and plastered: hanging doors, fitting skirting boards and architraves, installing door hardware, shelving and other trim. It’s the carpentry you see every day.

How do I know if I need 2nd fix carpentry?

If you’re finishing a renovation, extension or new build, or replacing old doors and trims, you need a 2nd fix carpenter. It’s also the trade to call for smaller jobs like a door that sticks or new skirting in one room.

Can a carpenter install smart or electronic door locks?

Many carpenters fit door hardware, including electronic locks that run on batteries. If the lock needs to be hard-wired to mains power, a licensed electrician must do that part.

How long does 2nd fix carpentry take?

A few doors and some skirting can be done in a day or two. A whole house takes longer. The carpenter will give you a timeline with the quote.

Should 2nd fix be done before or after painting?

Usually trims and doors are fitted before the final coat of paint, so the painter can fill nail holes and paint everything together. Ask your carpenter and painter how they’d like to sequence it.

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 →

1st Fix Carpentry & Structural Timber

Wall, roof and floor framing for extensions, renovations and new builds.

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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