The price of built-ins and finish carpentry is driven less by the wood than by how much has to be made to fit: walls that are not straight, floors that are not level, custom sizes, finish quality, and how many trades touch the piece. Two built-ins of the same size can differ a lot in cost because of what sits behind and beneath them.
What we mean by finish carpentry
Finish carpentry is the visible woodwork that goes in after the walls are up: baseboards, casings, crown moulding, built-in shelving and cabinets, window seats, benches and wall niches. It is the last trade in the room, and everyone notices it.
Some of our recent work includes a cedar sauna with built-in benches and panelling in an Ottawa basement and a powder room with built-in niche shelving.
The five things that move the price
1. How straight the walls and floors are. Built-ins and trim show every wave in a wall and every dip in a floor. On uneven floors, we level before finishing, and on out-of-spec framing, we correct it first. We have opened walls where the framing had not been built to spec and had to fix it before anything could be installed properly. That work is invisible in the photos and very visible in the quote.
2. Custom sizes vs stock. Stock cabinet boxes and standard shelving come in fixed widths. Built-ins made to fill an alcove wall to wall take more measuring, more cutting, and more fitting.
3. Materials. Paint-grade material costs less than stain-grade hardwood, because paint hides joints and grain variation that a stain finish shows. Specialty materials like cedar for a sauna sit in their own category.
4. Finish. A sprayed paint finish, a hand-applied stain, or a natural oil finish each take different time and skill. The finish is often a big share of the labour.
5. Other trades. Lighting inside shelves, outlets in a window seat, or plumbing near a vanity bring in an electrician or plumber, and electrical work in Ontario needs a notification with the Electrical Safety Authority.
Let the wood settle first
Wood moves with temperature and humidity. Material brought straight in from the cold and installed the same day can shrink or open up at the joints once the house warms it. We let materials sit inside for at least a day, longer in extreme weather, so they match the room before they are cut and fitted.
How to get an accurate quote
- Measure the space, but expect the carpenter to measure again.
- Bring photos of what you like and note paint-grade or stain-grade.
- Say whether you want lighting or power inside the piece.
- Ask what happens if the walls or floor turn out to be out of level.
A good quote names those unknowns before work starts. At Ottawa Renovation Specialists, the homeowner hears about anything unexpected the day we find it, before extra work is done.
They use awkward space furniture cannot, like alcoves, under-stair areas, and wall niches, and they stay with the house.
Paint-grade is less expensive and forgiving. Stain-grade shows the wood and costs more in material and finishing.
It depends on the size and finish. It is usually one of the last stages of a renovation.
Ottawa Renovation Specialists is a family-run Ottawa renovation company handling custom cabinetry, trim, and finish carpentry since 1999.
