Carpentry Is Where Calico Began
Before Calico became the wider building and renovation company it is today, carpentry was at the heart of what we did. In fact, our original name, Calico Cabinets, came directly from those roots.
That experience still runs through our work today. From structural timber and first-fix carpentry hidden behind the finished room to doors, skirting, storage and bespoke features you see every day, good carpentry is about accuracy, planning and understanding how everything fits together.
We undertake individual carpentry projects as well as integrating carpentry into complete renovations, extensions and conversions throughout Hampshire. Our carpentry experience has also taken us outside the traditional home, including bespoke scenery, theatrical installations and production set construction.
That work can also connect directly with flooring, particularly where timber floorboards, structural decks, plywood preparation, skirting and thresholds need to be considered before or alongside the final floor finish.
Carpentry From Structure to Final Detail
Some carpentry forms the structure of the building. Other pieces become the details that define the finished room. We work across both.
First-Fix Carpentry
Structural and preparatory carpentry including studwork, floor structures, roof timbers, openings, framing and other timber construction required before the finished surfaces are installed.
Second-Fix Carpentry
The visible finishing work that brings rooms together, including doors, architraves, skirting boards, trims and other interior timber details.
Doors & Frames
Internal doors, frames, linings, architraves and associated ironmongery fitted and adjusted as part of renovations or individual carpentry projects.
Bespoke Carpentry
Custom-made timber solutions for spaces where an off-the-shelf product doesn't provide the right fit, appearance or function.
Staircases & Timber Features
Carpentry around staircases, balustrades, handrails and other architectural timber details within the home.
Built-In Storage
Make better use of alcoves, awkward spaces, under-stair areas and unused wall space with fitted storage designed around the room.
Timber Floors & Preparation
Timber floor repairs, structural floor carpentry, suitable overlay preparation, skirting, thresholds and timber flooring where carpentry and flooring naturally overlap.
Explore Flooring Services →
Production Sets & Scenery
Our carpentry and fabrication experience also extends into theatrical, television, event and commercial production environments where imaginative ideas need to become physical sets, scenery and installations.
Explore Production Set Construction →
Sometimes the Right Solution Doesn't Come in a Box
Homes rarely consist of perfectly square rooms and standard-sized spaces. Older properties in particular can contain alcoves, slopes, chimney breasts, uneven walls and areas that standard furniture simply does not use effectively.
Bespoke carpentry allows the solution to be designed around the building rather than forcing the building to accommodate a standard product.
That could mean fitted storage beneath a staircase, cabinetry around an alcove, shelving across an awkward wall or a completely individual timber feature made specifically for your home.
The same problem-solving approach is also what allows us to work on production sets and scenery, where the finished structure may begin as little more than a drawing, theme or creative idea.
Staircases & Balustrades
A staircase is one of the largest pieces of carpentry in many homes and often one of the first architectural features you see when you enter the property.
Calico can refurbish existing staircases with new bannisters, handrails, newel posts and spindles, carry out repairs or upgrade painted softwood with materials such as natural oak and glass balustrades.
New staircase carpentry can also form part of loft conversions, basement conversions and wider renovation projects where new access or a changed layout is required.
Explore Staircases & Balustrades →
Timber Floors, Subfloors & Finishing Details
Some flooring projects begin with carpentry. Existing floorboards may need repairing or securing, damaged timber sections may need replacement and a suitable overlay may be required before the chosen floor covering can be installed.
Carpentry also affects the details around the finished floor. Skirting boards, door clearances, thresholds and transitions between rooms all need to work with the final floor height.
Where timber or engineered timber flooring is selected, the condition and type of subfloor still matter. For carpet, vinyl, lino, LVT and tiled floors, the preparation required depends on the existing construction and selected finish.
Explore Flooring Services →Production Sets, Scenery & Creative Builds
Carpentry has taken Calico into some less conventional environments too. Over the years we have been involved in the construction of themed sets, scenery and commercial installations where the challenge is very different from working inside somebody's home.
Our early production work included themed sets for automated gaming and roulette environments, including pirate and Egyptian-inspired designs. More recently we have worked alongside theatre and production companies on stage sets, television-related projects, commercial installations and event scenery.
These projects draw on the same skills that sit behind our bespoke carpentry: understanding an idea, working out how it can actually be made, building it accurately and adapting when the real-world installation requires something different from the drawing.
Explore Production Set Construction →
The Difference Is Often in the Millimetres
Carpentry is full of details that may appear small individually but become very noticeable when they are not right.
Doors, cabinetry and trims need to relate properly to floors, walls and surrounding features.
Clean junctions and carefully considered connections contribute enormously to the finished appearance.
Skirting, architraves, panels and bespoke features should feel appropriate for the scale and style of the room.
Different timbers and sheet materials behave differently and should be selected for their intended purpose.
Walls and floors are not always square or level, so good carpentry often involves adapting carefully to what is already there.
How an item will eventually be painted, stained or finished needs to be considered while it is being constructed.
From an Idea to Something Made for Your Space
Whether the work is structural, decorative, completely bespoke or part of a creative production project, we first need to understand what the finished result needs to achieve.
Understand
We discuss what you need, the problem being solved and how the finished carpentry needs to work within the space.
Measure & Plan
The existing space, dimensions, materials and surrounding construction are considered before work begins.
Build & Fit
The components are made, prepared and fitted with adjustments made where necessary to suit the actual building or installation.
Detail & Finish
Junctions, trims, ironmongery and final details are completed so the finished carpentry feels considered rather than simply added afterwards.
Make Better Use of the Space You Already Have
Bespoke carpentry can turn awkward, unused or unfinished areas into practical features that look as though they were always intended to be part of the property.
Before 
After Carpentry Connects More of Your Home Than You Might Think
From structural work hidden behind plasterboard to the final skirting board fitted at the end of a renovation, carpentry appears throughout almost every building project.
Explore Flooring Services →
Explore Staircases & Balustrades →
Explore Production Sets →
We Can Help With the Jobs Around the Job Too
The carpentry may be finished, but larger building projects can still leave waste to remove and fine dust to deal with. Calico can help coordinate those final stages too.
Clearing Materials From the Project
Carpentry and renovation work can generate timber offcuts, packaging, old fixtures, removed materials and general building waste.
Where required, we can help organise suitable waste removal, from arranging skips to flexible mobile collections where waste needs to be collected directly from the property.
Explore Waste Clearance & Recycling →
Cleaning After Building & Carpentry Work
We always work to control dust and leave the working area tidy, but larger renovation projects can create very fine dust that settles throughout a property over time.
For customers who want the house brought back to a finished, ready-to-use condition, we can also provide a dedicated cleaning service after the building work has been completed.
That service can also continue as a regular home clean where required.
Explore Cleaning Services →
Carpentry Isn't an Add-On for Us
Calico grew from carpentry. Our original name, Calico Cabinets, reflected the work that formed the foundation of the business before our services expanded into complete building and renovation projects.
That background influences the way we approach work today. We understand how timber construction interacts with walls, floors, roofs, cabinetry, doors and the finishing trades that follow.
It has also given us the confidence to take those skills into very different environments, from bespoke residential work to theatre, production scenery and commercial installations.
Whether we're making one bespoke feature, delivering the carpentry within a complete renovation or turning a creative concept into a physical set, the aim is the same: understand what is actually needed and work out the best practical way to make it happen.
Carpentry Services Across Hampshire
Calico is based on Hayling Island and undertakes carpentry, bespoke joinery and wider renovation projects throughout Hampshire and surrounding areas.
Hayling Island • Havant • Portsmouth • Southsea • Emsworth • Waterlooville • Chichester • Fareham • Petersfield • Southampton
If your location is not listed, please still get in touch. The distance we travel can vary depending on the scale and nature of the project. Production, scenery and specialist commercial work may also take us considerably further afield.
Carpentry Services FAQs
Do you undertake small carpentry jobs as well as renovations?
Yes. Carpentry can form part of a larger Calico renovation, but we can also discuss individual carpentry projects depending on the nature and scale of the work required.
Do you undertake first-fix carpentry?
Yes. First-fix carpentry can include timber framing, studwork, floor structures, roof timbers and other structural or preparatory timberwork required as part of a building project.
Do you undertake second-fix carpentry?
Yes. Second-fix work can include doors, linings, architraves, skirting boards and other visible finishing carpentry.
Can you fit internal doors?
Yes. We can fit internal doors together with the associated linings, architraves, hinges, handles and other ironmongery required for the project.
Can you make bespoke fitted furniture?
Yes. Bespoke carpentry is particularly useful where standard furniture does not suit the dimensions, shape or intended use of a room.
Can you build storage under my stairs?
Yes. Under-stair spaces are often ideal for bespoke storage because the cabinetry can be designed around the exact slope, depth and available space.
Do you make fitted wardrobes?
Yes. We have a dedicated bespoke wardrobe service for customers looking for fitted storage designed around their room and individual requirements.
Can you install wall panelling?
Yes. Decorative wall panelling and other timber features can be designed to suit the proportions and character of the room.
Can you repair existing timberwork?
Potentially, yes. Existing timberwork can be assessed to determine whether repair, alteration or replacement is the most appropriate solution.
Can you provide carpentry as part of an extension or renovation?
Yes. This is an important part of our wider service. Carpentry can be coordinated with building work, plastering, electrical work, plumbing, decorating and the other elements involved in completing the project.
Do you build theatre or production sets?
Yes. Our carpentry and fabrication experience extends beyond residential building work into production sets, theatrical scenery, commercial installations and other creative projects. Visit our Production Set Construction page for more information.
Can you arrange waste removal after the work?
Yes. Depending on the project, we can help arrange appropriate waste removal including skips and mobile waste collections. Our Waste Clearance & Recycling service explains the available options in more detail.
Can you arrange cleaning after building work?
Yes. We can provide a dedicated cleaning service following building and renovation work where a more detailed clean is required after the project. Regular cleaning can also be arranged separately.
Have a Carpentry Project in Mind?
Whether you need doors fitted, structural timberwork, bespoke storage, a staircase altered, something made for an awkward space or even a completely unusual creative build, tell us what you're trying to achieve.
We'll look at the space, explain the practical options and help create a solution that works properly for the project.
Discuss Your Carpentry Project