CalgaryCARPENTRY

FAQ Hub

Questions, answered

564 answers across the site. The 27 general questions are grouped by topic below; the other 537 sit on the page they relate to rather than being repeated here.

Pricing & Quotes

What things cost, how we quote, and why numbers vary between trades.

How much does custom carpentry cost?
It depends almost entirely on the number of doors and drawers, the finish method and the material — those three decide most of the price, and the same wall can be built across a range of roughly three to one. Rather than quote a figure that will be wrong for your space, we measure, produce a drawing and give you a fixed written price.
Are consultations and quotes free?
Yes, and there is no obligation at any stage. You are not charged for the site visit, for the time spent measuring, or for the written quote that follows it — and nothing about accepting a quote is automatic. Charged design work only begins after you have agreed to proceed.
Why do carpentry quotes vary so much?
Usually because they specify different things rather than different labour rates. Carcass material, drawer box construction and hardware grade are the three biggest hidden variables, and they are frequently absent from a quote unless you ask. A quote 30% below the others for the same scope is almost always a lighter product.
Do you charge for drawings?
No. Elevation drawings are part of quoting and cost nothing. You see exactly what you are buying before committing, and changing a drawing is free — changing built cabinetry is not.
Can I phase a large project to spread the cost?
Yes, and for larger homes it is often the sensible approach. The important part is designing the whole programme up front so profiles, materials and finishes stay consistent, then building it in agreed phases each with its own fixed price.

Services

What we build, what we do not, and how to tell which you need.

Do you take on small jobs?
Yes. A single accent wall, a set of floating shelves, a fireplace mantel or a closet conversion are all worth doing and all things we take on. Scheduling small work sometimes depends on grouping it with other jobs in the same area.
Do you do electrical, plumbing or gas work?
No — those require licensed trades. We coordinate them as part of a project rather than replacing them. Where a design needs a new circuit for integrated lighting, a sink in a bar, or work on a gas fireplace, the appropriate licensed trade does that portion and we sequence around it.
Can you match existing trim and cabinetry?
Usually. Profiles can be reproduced by sourcing close stock or having a knife ground, and paint can be matched. The hardest case is matching an aged clear finish on old hardwood, where years of light exposure have shifted the colour — we can get close and will show you a sample on the real species first.
Do you work with builders and general contractors?
Yes. On new builds and larger renovations we prefer to be involved before drywall so blocking, conduit and lighting provision can be specified. That coordination is the difference between millwork that looks integrated and millwork that looks applied.
Do you do commercial work?
Yes — reception desks, office casework, retail fixtures and hospitality millwork. Commercial work is built from architectural drawings with shop drawings submitted for review, to commercial durability standards, and often within restricted installation windows.

Process & Installation

Timelines, what happens on site, and what to expect afterwards.

How long does a project take?
Most residential built-ins run two to five weeks from the measure appointment to final touch-up, with only one to three days on site. Kitchens, basement developments and anything involving other trades take longer because of coordination and lead times.
How disruptive is installation?
Less than most people expect, because the noisy and dusty work happens in the shop. Installation days involve some noise and dust; we protect floors and clean up daily. Most rooms are usable again the same evening.
Do I need to be home during installation?
Usually only for the first hour, when positions are confirmed. After that, being reachable by phone is enough. If access requires someone present throughout, that is agreed in advance.
What if something is not right at the end?
We walk the work with you, write down anything that needs correcting, and come back to fix it. A snag list is a normal part of finish carpentry — what matters is that it gets resolved rather than argued about.

Service Areas

Where we work, and how travel affects scheduling and price.

What areas do you serve?
All four Calgary quadrants and downtown, plus Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, Okotoks, High River, Strathmore, Bearspaw, Springbank and Rocky View County. If you are outside that area it is still worth asking — travel affects scheduling more than feasibility.
Does travel cost extra?
Travel time is accounted for in the quote rather than added afterwards as a surprise, and we group jobs in the same area where possible to keep it reasonable. It is included in the fixed written price.
Do you work on acreages outside the city?
Yes — Bearspaw, Springbank, Elbow Valley, Bragg Creek and the rest of Rocky View County. Access and delivery need planning, since long driveways and gates affect how large a component can arrive in one piece, and county permitting is separate from the City of Calgary.

Permits & Compliance

When work needs a permit, and who issues it where you live.

Do I need a permit?
Carpentry fastened to existing walls does not normally require one. Permits become relevant for basement development, structural changes, and new or altered electrical, plumbing or gas work. Each municipality administers its own — Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane, Okotoks, High River, Strathmore, Bearspaw, Springbank and Rocky View County all have separate processes. Where a permit is needed we say so clearly and coordinate accordingly.
Who pulls the permit — me or you?
It varies by project and municipality. For larger work a general contractor typically holds it; for smaller work the homeowner sometimes does. What matters is that it is agreed explicitly in writing before work starts, because "I assumed you were doing it" is a common and expensive misunderstanding.
What if my basement was finished without a permit before I bought the house?
It is worth addressing rather than ignoring, since it surfaces when you sell and can affect an insurance claim. Your municipality can advise on retroactive permitting, which may require exposing some finished work for inspection.

Materials & Calgary’s Climate

Why wood behaves the way it does here, and what we do about it.

Why do cabinets and trim crack in Calgary homes?
Indoor humidity in a heated Calgary house regularly falls to 15–25% in deep winter from around 40% in summer, and wood shrinks as it dries. Mitres open, painted panel joints crack and wide shelves cup. It is usually normal wood movement rather than poor workmanship, and it is largely preventable with the right materials and joinery.
What indoor humidity should I keep in winter?
Around 35%. Much lower and wood shrinks noticeably; sustained levels above 50% in a Calgary winter risk condensation on cold windows. A whole-house humidifier on the furnace is the easiest way to hold it steady, and it benefits hardwood floors and comfort as well as cabinetry.
Is MDF lower quality than solid wood?
For painted work in this climate, no — arguably the opposite. MDF is dead flat, takes paint beautifully and does not move with seasonal humidity, which is the main cause of opening joints here. Solid wood is the right choice for stained work and where impact resistance matters. MDF should be avoided at floor level in bathrooms, laundries and mudrooms.
What wood species do you recommend?
It depends on the finish rather than on preference. Painted work: MDF for panels, poplar or soft maple for frames. Clear or light-stained work: white oak is the current default and deservedly so. For feature pieces, walnut. We show you a finished sample on the actual species before you commit.

Warranty & Paying for Work

What is covered, and how to make a project affordable.

What does your warranty cover?
A workmanship warranty covers defects in how the work was built and installed. It does not cover normal wear, accidental damage, or seasonal wood movement within normal limits. The specific term and coverage are set out in your written quote — ask for them in writing before you sign, with any contractor.
My cabinet doors have drifted out of alignment. Is that covered?
Doors drifting slightly over time is expected as a house settles and moves seasonally — it is exactly why we specify six-way adjustable hinges. A couple of minutes with a screwdriver restores alignment. If a door was never correctly aligned, that is a workmanship issue and we correct it.
Do you offer financing?
Not at present, and we do not advertise a product we cannot deliver. For larger projects, phasing the work is usually more sensible than borrowing — design the whole programme up front, then build it in agreed stages each with its own fixed price.

Questions on specific pages

Page-specific questions live on the page they belong to, so no two pages compete for the same answer.

Service pages

Service areas

Resource guides

Question not answered here?

Ask us directly. We would rather talk you out of the wrong project than sell you one.

We reply to every estimate request — usually within one business day.

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