Carpentry
First & Second Fix
Carpentry in Littlehampton
Timber work that is straight, solid and finished properly, from the frame behind the plaster to the skirting you see every day. One carpenter, one clear quote, and a job left clean.
Free, no-obligation quote, usually with you within 5 days. Fully insured, with a 6-month workmanship guarantee on most jobs.
Who You Are Dealing With
- Free quotes
- Usually with you within 5 days
- Fully insured
- Public & employers' liability
- Guarantee
- 6 months' workmanship on most jobs
- Established
- Trading since 2012
- Open
- 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm
What this service is, and who it is for
What the service covers
Carpentry splits into two stages. First fix is the structural timber that goes in before plastering: stud walls, floor joists, roof timbers, door linings and noggins for anything that will hang on the wall later. Second fix is the finishing work: skirting, architrave, internal doors, boxing-in, window boards, trims and fitted details.
SGC Carpentry & Construction handles both stages, which means the person setting out your stud wall is the same person fitting the skirting to it. Mistakes made in first fix are not handed on to someone else to hide.
Who it is for
Homeowners in Littlehampton and the surrounding towns who are renovating, reconfiguring a room, finishing a loft or extension, or simply want worn and damaged timber replaced.
It also suits people part-way through a larger project who need a carpenter to slot in between the builder, plasterer and decorator.
When you need it
When you want to split a bedroom, open up a space, add a cupboard, replace tired skirting and doors after new flooring, or finish a room that has been stripped back to bare walls.
Also when something has failed: a sagging floor, a split door lining, a loose stair tread or skirting pulling away from the wall.
Why a professional matters
Timber that is out of level or square shows up in every stage after it. Doors bind, plaster cracks, skirting gaps open and fitted furniture will not sit flat. Getting the carpentry right is what makes the plastering, decorating and flooring look good.
What it costs you to leave it
Small faults spread
A stud wall that is a few millimetres out becomes a door that will not close, a gap behind the skirting and a crack in the plaster. Each later trade has to work around it, and you pay for that time.
Damage gets worse
A loose floorboard, split lining or broken stair tread only gets looser with use. Left alone, a quick repair can turn into replacing the whole section.
Common mistakes
Choosing the cheapest timber, skipping noggins where shelves or radiators will hang, and using too few fixings. All three save minutes on the day and cost money later.
How the work runs
Step 1
Visit and look
We come to your home, look at the job, measure and talk through what you want the finished room to look like.
Step 2
Written quote
You get a free, no-obligation written quote, usually within 5 days, with the work and price set out clearly.
Step 3
First fix
Frames, joists, linings and noggins set out level, plumb and square, and fixed securely.
Step 4
Second fix
Skirting, architrave, doors and trims fitted with tight joints and consistent gaps.
Step 5
Check and hand over
We check doors, fixings and finishes with you, clear up, and confirm the workmanship guarantee.
What you get from it
One trade for both fixes
No handover gap between first and second fix, and no one blaming the last person for a crooked frame.
Finishes that line up
Even door gaps, tight mitres on architrave and skirting scribed to the floor, so decorating is quicker and looks better.
Built to last
Correct timber sizes and enough fixings, so walls feel solid and floors do not creak.
Price agreed first
A written quote before work starts, so there are no surprises when the job is finished.
Tidy working
Dust and offcuts cleared as we go. Reviewers mention clean, tidy and respectful working.
Guarantee in writing
A 6-month workmanship guarantee on most jobs, with the terms in your quote.
Materials, methods and variations
First fix carpentry
First fix is everything the plasterer covers. Stud walls are set out from the floor and ceiling so they are plumb, with noggins added where a TV bracket, radiator, boiler or wall cupboard will hang later. Door linings are fixed square so the door can be hung with even gaps.
Floor joists and roof timbers are checked for size and spacing, and new timbers are fixed properly to what is already there. On older houses around Littlehampton and Arundel, walls and floors are rarely true, so we plan the frame to hide those differences instead of copying them.
Second fix carpentry
Second fix is the part you see. Skirting is scribed to uneven floors, architrave is mitred cleanly around linings, and internal doors are hung with hinges, latches and handles fitted so they open and close without catching.
It also covers boxing-in pipes, window boards, loft hatches, shelving and small fitted details. Each piece is cut to the room, not just to a tape measure.
Materials
Structural work uses graded softwood sized to the job. Finishing work uses the profile you choose, from simple pencil-round skirting to taller torus and ogee styles to match period homes. If you already have a style you want to match, bring a sample to the quote visit.
Situations it applies to
New room layouts, loft and garage conversions, extensions reaching the internal stage, full renovations, and one-off repairs such as a broken stair tread (a job one of our Google reviewers mentions) or a door that no longer shuts.
Most of our work is in homes. If you have a small commercial unit that needs similar carpentry, call us to talk it through.
Questions we are asked
How much does carpentry cost?
Every job is priced individually because no two rooms, materials or finishes are the same. We come out, look at the job and send you a free, no-obligation written quote, usually within 5 days, so you know the price before any work starts.
Is the work guaranteed?
Most jobs come with a 6-month workmanship guarantee. The exact terms for your job are set out in your quote, so you know what is covered before you agree to anything.
Are you insured?
Yes. SGC Carpentry & Construction is fully insured with public liability and employers' liability cover.
Can you come out quickly if something is urgent?
We are open 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm. Call 07734 441628, explain what has happened and we will tell you honestly how soon we can get to you.
Which areas do you cover?
We are based in Littlehampton and work across Rustington, Arundel, Worthing, Bognor Regis, Storrington, West Chiltington, Pulborough and Billingshurst.
What is the difference between first and second fix?
First fix is the structural timber work done before plastering, such as stud walls, joists and door linings. Second fix is the finishing work after plastering, such as skirting, architrave, doors and trims.
How long does a typical carpentry job take?
It depends on the size of the job. A door or run of skirting may be done in a day; a full first and second fix on a renovation takes longer. Your quote sets out how long we expect it to take.
Can you match my existing skirting and architrave?
Usually, yes. Show us a piece at the quote visit and we will find the closest profile or explain the options.
Where this work takes us
Next Step
Get your carpentry done once, and done right
Tell us what you need and we will come out, look at the job and send you a clear written price, usually within 5 days.
Free, no-obligation quote, usually with you within 5 days. Fully insured, with a 6-month workmanship guarantee on most jobs.