How to choose a good carpenter: checks, quotes and red flags

Most carpentry jobs go smoothly, but doing a few basic checks before you commit to a tradesperson can save you real trouble, and takes very little time. Here's a practical, judgement-free look at what to check, what's normal, and what should give you pause.

Start with the quote itself. A good carpenter should be willing to give you a written, itemised quote rather than a vague verbal figure — one that breaks down labour, materials, and any additional costs such as waste disposal or making good to walls and flooring once the work is finished, rather than a single bundled number. An itemised quote makes it much easier to compare different carpenters fairly, since you can see exactly what each one is and isn't including, and it gives you something concrete to refer back to if a dispute over scope arises later. Be cautious of a quote that comes in dramatically lower than others you've received — a figure that's 30-40% below the next cheapest can sometimes reflect corners being cut on materials or time, rather than simply a better deal.

Deposits and payment stages are worth understanding clearly before work starts. For smaller jobs, it's reasonable for a carpenter to ask for a modest deposit, and there is generally little legitimate reason for this to exceed around 15-20% of the total price. A deposit request above roughly 25% is a commonly cited red flag — it can suggest a tradesperson is using your money to cover costs on another job, taking on more work than they can manage, or, in rarer cases, has no intention of finishing the work. For larger projects, such as a full kitchen fit or an extensive built-in storage job, it's normal to pay in stages tied to milestones — for example, part on starting, part at a defined halfway point, and the balance on completion — rather than the full amount upfront or entirely on completion. Ask for this payment schedule in writing before work begins, and be wary of anyone who insists on cash only or refuses to provide any written terms at all.

Insurance is another straightforward but important check. Ask whether the carpenter holds public liability insurance, and ask to see evidence of it — a certificate or policy schedule — before work starts. This type of cover is commonly sold at levels such as £1 million, £2 million, £5 million or £10 million, and it protects you if something goes wrong during the work, such as accidental damage to your property. A carpenter who bristles at being asked, or can't produce any evidence, is worth thinking twice about, particularly for larger or more disruptive jobs.

A portfolio and references are worth asking for too, especially for bespoke or higher-value work like fitted wardrobes or a kitchen fit. Photos of similar previous jobs give you a sense of finish quality and style, and a carpenter confident in their work should be happy to share contact details for a past customer, or point you to genuine online reviews, so you can ask directly about their experience — timekeeping, tidiness, communication, and whether the finished work matched what was agreed.

For anything beyond a small job, it's worth putting the agreement in writing as a proper contract rather than relying on a text message exchange or a verbal understanding. A standard template, such as a JCT Homeowner Contract or an FMB Domestic Building Contract, sets out payment terms, what happens with variations to the scope of work, and how disputes are handled, and costs relatively little compared with the value of the protection it offers on a larger project.

If something does go wrong despite these checks, there's a sensible order to work through. Start by raising the issue directly and in writing with the carpenter, since many disagreements get resolved simply by both sides having a clear record of what was agreed. If that doesn't resolve things, Citizens Advice runs a free, independent consumer service that can talk you through your options and next steps. Trading Standards enforces consumer protection law, but is generally focused on patterns of law-breaking across a business rather than recovering money for a single individual dispute, so it's not usually the first port of call for getting your own money back. If a financial dispute genuinely can't be resolved any other way, the small claims court is a backstop for recovering money, with a filing fee starting from a modest amount — though it's a process worth trying to avoid through clear communication and a solid written agreement in the first place.

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