Carpentry & Joinery in Brighton & Hove
Good carpentry is what makes a room feel finished. Doors that close properly, skirting and architraves that match, built-in storage that fits the space, and floors that do not squeak or move. In Brighton and Hove, most homes are older, so walls and floors are rarely square or level and joinery has to be set out and scribed to suit. We repair original woodwork where it can be saved and make new work sit alongside it cleanly.
When This Service Is Needed
- Doors are sticking, dropping or no longer closing against their frames.
- Skirting, architraves or window boards are damaged, mismatched or missing.
- You want built-in storage such as alcove units, wardrobes or shelving.
- Floorboards are loose, squeaking, split or rotten in places.
- A stud wall is needed to divide a room or form a new opening.
- Original period joinery needs repair rather than replacement.
Brighton & Hove Property Context
Brighton and Hove is full of Victorian and Edwardian terraces and converted flats, and their original joinery is a big part of their character. Over time these houses settle and move, so door frames go out of square, floorboards work loose and skirting pulls away from the wall. The coastal weather does not help either — timber near draughty windows and external walls takes on moisture and can rot at the ends. In flats and leasehold properties, floor repairs and new stud walls also need to consider noise to neighbours and any lease or managing agent rules, so it is worth checking before work starts.
Timber & Approach
| Area | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|
| Internal doors | Correctly hung on suitable hinges with adjusted frames |
| Skirting & architraves | Profiles matched to the period and fixed to sound backing |
| Built-in storage | Scribed to walls and floors that are rarely square or level |
| Floor repairs | Like-for-like timber, seasoned and fixed to sound joists |
| Stud walls | Correct timber spacing, noggins and fixings |
How We Approach the Work
- 01Inspect the joinery, timber and fixings and identify the underlying cause.
- 02Check for rot, woodworm, damp and movement before quoting the work.
- 03Confirm profiles, materials and finishes so new work matches the property.
- 04Set out the work carefully, allowing for walls and floors that are out of square.
- 05Cut, fix and hang joinery accurately with the right fixings for the substrate.
- 06Scribe built-in units to uneven walls and floors for a tight fit.
- 07Ease and adjust doors, drawers and moving parts so they work properly.
- 08Sand, fill and prepare surfaces ready for painting or finishing.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is treating an old room as if it is square. Cutting skirting and fitting units to standard measurements looks fine on paper, but in a period house the walls and floors run out. Joinery has to be scribed to the space, otherwise you end up with visible gaps that fillers and caulk cannot hide.
The other mistake is covering up rot instead of dealing with it. Painting over soft, damp timber or boxing in a rotten floorboard end only hides the problem until it spreads. Affected timber needs cutting out and the cause of the damp addressed before new work goes in.
Building Regulations
Most everyday carpentry — doors, skirting, architraves and built-in storage — does not need Building Regulations approval. It becomes relevant when the work affects the structure or safety of the building. Forming a new opening or removing part of a load-bearing wall needs structural engineer calculations and Building Regulations sign-off, and this is structural work rather than joinery alone. Larger jobs such as loft conversions, extensions and garage conversions all require Building Regulations approval covering structure, insulation, fire safety and escape, and the staircases and fire doors within them must meet those standards. Any electrical work carried out alongside joinery falls under Part P and should be done by a qualified electrician. In conservation areas and listed buildings there may also be planning and consent restrictions on altering or replacing original joinery, so it is always worth checking before starting.
Cost Factors
- The amount of joinery involved and the number of rooms.
- Whether work is repair, replacement or fully bespoke.
- Timber species and quality of materials.
- How much timber is out of square, uneven or damaged.
- Complexity of built-in storage and any curved or angled work.
- Hidden rot, woodworm or damp found once work starts.
- Matching original period profiles that are no longer stocked.
- Access, floor levels and site conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get a Free Site Survey
We cover Brighton, Hove, Worthing, Lewes, Shoreham-by-Sea and the wider Sussex area. Call us or fill in the contact form.