Carpentry splits into two quite different jobs that share a name. Rough carpentry is structural - framing, joists, sheathing, decks. Finish carpentry is everything you look at closely - trim, built-ins, stairs, cabinetry, crown moulding. Some carpenters do both well; many specialise, and hiring a framer to build your library shelving will disappoint everyone involved.
Say which one you need when you call, and ask to see photographs of the specific type of work. A portfolio of decks tells you very little about someone's ability to scribe trim to an out-of-square wall.
What carpenters do
- Framing, structural repairs and load-bearing modifications
- Decks, pergolas, fences and outdoor structures
- Interior trim, baseboard, casing and crown moulding
- Custom built-ins, shelving and cabinetry
- Stairs, railings and newel posts
- Door hanging and hardware fitting
- Basement framing and partition walls
Does a carpenter need a licence in Ontario?
General carpentry is a voluntary trade in Ontario, not a compulsory one. A Certificate of Qualification exists and is a genuine signal, but it is not legally required.
Certificate of Qualification, 403A General Carpenter
Voluntary rather than compulsory, which makes it a useful differentiator. It indicates completed apprenticeship and a passed exam.
Verify with: Skilled Trades Ontario maintains the public register.
Open the official lookupGeneral liability insurance and WSIB clearance
Standard checks, particularly for structural and deck work.
Building permit for structural work and most decks
Ontario municipalities generally require a permit for decks above a certain height, any structural alteration, and load-bearing changes. Guard and railing heights are code-specified.
Verify with: Your municipal building department.
Engineered drawings for load-bearing removal
Removing a load-bearing wall requires a beam specification from a qualified professional. This is not a place to accept a verbal opinion.
What it costs in Ontario
Finish carpentry is usually quoted hourly or per linear foot; structural work and decks are quoted per project or per square foot. Custom built-ins vary more than any other item here because the design drives the labour almost entirely.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Hourly rateFinish carpenters with strong portfolios sit at the top. | $60 – $110 / hour |
| Baseboard and casing, installed per linear footIncludes cutting, fitting, nailing and filling. Painting usually separate. | $4 – $10 |
| Crown moulding, installed per linear footHigher than baseboard because of the compound angles and working overhead. | $8 – $16 |
| Custom built-in shelving or cabinetryDepends on size, material and whether doors and drawers are involved. | $2,500 – $12,000 |
| Deck, per square footPressure-treated at the low end, composite with aluminum railing at the high end. | $35 – $70 |
| Interior staircase rebuildRailing and spindle style drives a large part of the cost. | $2,500 – $8,000 |
| Basement partition framing, per linear footFraming only, before drywall, electrical or insulation. | $25 – $50 |
These are planning estimates for Ontario, not quotes, and they move with material prices and demand. Use them to sanity-check a quote, not to argue one down.
Questions to ask before you hire
- 1Do you mainly do rough or finish carpentry? Can I see photos of work like mine?
- 2Is this quoted hourly or as a fixed price, and what is the estimate if hourly?
- 3Does this job need a permit, and are you pulling it?
- 4Who supplies materials, and is there a markup on them?
- 5For a deck: what footing depth, and how is it attached to the house?
- 6Is painting or staining included, or am I arranging that separately?
- 7How do you handle changes I ask for mid-project?
Warning signs
- Willingness to remove a wall without establishing whether it is load-bearing.
- Deck construction with no permit on a structure that clearly needs one. This surfaces when you sell.
- Hourly work with no estimated total and no cap.
- Vague material specifications on a custom piece. "Wood" is not a specification.
- A portfolio consisting entirely of a different kind of carpentry than yours.
How to read reviews for this trade
Photographs matter more here than in any other trade - read reviews with images and look at the corners, the joints and the reveals rather than the overall shot. Reviews describing how the carpenter handled an out-of-square or out-of-level existing condition are especially telling, because every older Ontario home has them.
Some of this you can do yourself
Not every job in this trade needs a contractor. These guides cover the ones that do not, and say plainly where to stop.