In short: a carpenter handyman handles timber work as part of general small jobs, which covers most of what London homes actually need: doors that stick, shelves in alcoves, skirting and architrave, floorboards, flat-pack and worktops. You need a dedicated carpentry or joinery firm only for made-to-measure fitted furniture, structural timber or staircases. Work is priced hourly, by half day or by day, with the day rate better value beyond roughly three hours. Materials and waste removal are usually separate lines.
Updated 18 September 2026 · 7 minute read · London Handyman Pro
What is on this page
- Carpenter or handyman, what the difference really means
- Carpentry jobs a handyman handles
- When you genuinely need a specialist
- How long each job takes
- How carpentry work is priced in London
- Why old London houses cost more in time
- Repair before replace
- Frequently asked questions
Carpenter or handyman, what the difference really means
A handyman is defined by the range of work. A carpenter is defined by the material. Neither word tells you much about skill on its own.
What matters is whether the person turning up can cut, fit and hang timber properly. Plenty of handymen can. Plenty cannot, and the difference is obvious the moment they meet an out-of-square Victorian door frame. When people search for a carpenter handyman near them, this is usually what they are trying to establish.
The practical advantage of the combination is the visit itself. A carpentry-trained handyman can hang the door, fix the sticking window, put up the shelves and refit the loose skirting in one appointment. A specialist joinery firm will quote the door and leave the rest.
Carpentry jobs a handyman handles
- Doors. Hanging new internal doors, easing doors that stick, adjusting or replacing hinges, fitting handles and latches, draught-proofing.
- Shelving. Alcove shelving, floating shelves, bookcases, and getting fixings right in lath and plaster or plasterboard.
- Skirting and architrave. Cutting, scribing and fitting, including matching existing period profiles.
- Floors. Squeaking and loose boards, replacing damaged boards, thresholds and trims. See our floor repair service.
- Windows. Easing sticking sashes, replacing cords and beading, fixing catches.
- Kitchens. Cupboard doors and hinges, drawer runners, worktop trims, plinths and end panels.
- Flat-pack and fitted units. Assembly, levelling and securing to the wall.
- Stairs. Creaking treads, loose spindles, handrail fixings.
- Outside. Gates, fences, decking boards and garden storage. See fence repair.
- Furniture. Repairs to timber furniture rather than replacement, covered on our furniture repair page.
That list covers the overwhelming majority of carpentry enquiries we take across London.
When you genuinely need a specialist
Being straight about this saves everybody time.
| Job | Who you want |
|---|---|
| Made-to-measure fitted furniture | A joinery workshop |
| Structural timber, joists, roof work | A structural carpenter, with a structural engineer where loads change |
| A new or rebuilt staircase | A staircase specialist |
| Timber sash window rebuild from scratch | A sash window specialist |
| Anything needing building control sign-off | A builder who manages the approval |
| Everything above this line | A carpentry-capable handyman |
If a job crosses into electrical or gas work, that is a different matter entirely and legally restricted. Our guide on what a handyman can and cannot do with electrics sets out where the line sits.
How long each job takes
| Job | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Easing a sticking door | Under an hour |
| Hanging a new internal door | Two to three hours |
| Alcove shelving, one alcove | Half a day to a day |
| Skirting to one room | About a day |
| Flat-pack unit | One to two hours each |
| Replacing damaged floorboards | Two to four hours |
| Loose stair treads and spindles | Two to four hours |
Treat these as a planning guide. Add time in older properties, and add time if the existing work was done badly, because undoing someone else's shortcut often takes longer than the job itself.
How carpentry work is priced in London
Three common structures, and the right one depends on the size of the job.
- Hourly, with a minimum. Suits one or two small jobs. The minimum usually covers the first hour or two, so it rarely makes sense to call someone out for a fifteen minute task on its own.
- Half day and day rates. Better value once work passes roughly three hours, and the sensible choice if you have a list.
- Fixed price per job. Works where the scope is genuinely clear, such as hanging three specified doors.
Materials are normally separate. So is waste removal, which is the line most often missing from a cheap quote and the one that turns into a surprise. Ask about it before the work starts. Our London handyman prices page sets out how we structure rates, and the day rate guide covers when a day booking is the cheaper option.
The most expensive mistake: booking by the hour for a long list. Four separate hourly call-outs with a minimum charge each costs meaningfully more than one day booking that clears everything, and you lose four mornings waiting in.
Why old London houses cost more in time
Most of London's housing stock is Victorian, Edwardian or interwar, and almost none of it is square.
Door frames have moved. Walls bow. Floors slope. Skirting cut to a clean 45 degree mitre will leave a visible gap against a wall that is not straight, which is why a scribe is the correct method and why it takes longer. Fixings are another one: lath and plaster and old brick both behave differently from modern plasterboard, and a shelf fixed as though the wall were new will not stay up.
This is the honest reason quotes vary between a period terrace and a new-build flat for what looks like the same job. Anyone quoting the same time for both has not asked enough questions.
Repair before replace
A lot of timber that looks finished is not. Before agreeing to replacement, ask whether repair is possible.
- Sticking doors and windows can usually be eased and rehung rather than replaced.
- Split or damaged floorboards can often be replaced individually and blended in.
- Loose stair treads and spindles are almost always a repair, not a new staircase.
- Kitchen units can frequently be saved by new hinges, runners and doors rather than a new kitchen.
- Damaged worktop edges and trims can be repaired in place.
Repair is cheaper, faster and usually keeps original material that a replacement cannot match. Ask for both to be quoted, and see our page on small jobs for how we group this kind of work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a carpenter and a handyman?
A handyman is defined by breadth, covering small jobs across trades, priced hourly or by the day. A carpenter specialises in timber. Many handymen are carpentry trained, which is the useful combination for most homes, because one visit clears several jobs.
Can a handyman hang a door in London?
Yes, with carpentry skills. Doing it properly means checking the frame is square, planing the door to fit, setting hinges to depth and aligning the latch. Old London frames are rarely true, which is exactly where the difference in skill shows.
How much does a carpenter handyman cost in London?
Usually priced by the hour, half day or day, with the day rate better value beyond about three hours. Small jobs often carry a minimum charge. Materials are separate, and you should confirm whether waste removal is included.
Can a handyman build fitted wardrobes or alcove shelving?
Alcove shelving and simple fitted units are standard carpentry work. Full fitted wardrobes with doors and internal fittings are a project of a day or more and are better quoted as a project than booked hourly.
Do I need a carpenter for skirting and architrave?
You need someone who can scribe as well as mitre. London walls are not straight, so skirting cut on a mitre saw alone leaves gaps. A carpentry-trained handyman gives a visibly better finish here.
Can a handyman repair rather than replace timber?
Often, and it is usually cheaper. Sticking sashes, dropped doors, loose treads, split boards and damaged worktops can frequently be repaired in place. Ask for repair to be quoted alongside replacement.
How long does a typical carpentry job take?
Easing a door, under an hour. Hanging a new internal door, two to three hours. Alcove shelves, half a day to a day. Skirting to a room, a day. Flat-pack, one to two hours per unit. Older properties take longer.
Which areas of London do you cover?
Across Greater London, central, north, south, east and west, with dedicated pages for many individual areas. If you are not sure about your postcode, ask. Travel within London is normally included rather than charged separately.
Got a list? Send it over
Tell us what needs doing and roughly where you are in London. We will tell you whether it is an hour, a half day or a day, and whether repair beats replacement. Get a quote.