Second Fix Carpentry in Berkshire for Doors, Skirting and Staircases

Second fix carpentry is the finish-stage joinery carried out once plastering is dry — hanging internal doors, fitting skirting and architraves, cutting in window boards, completing staircases, and fixing ironmongery. It follows first fix (stud walls, floor joists, door linings) and precedes decorating. It is the work that makes a shell feel like a finished room.

Second fix starts once plaster has fully dried out and the floor screed (if any) has cured — typically two to four weeks after plastering on a domestic project. Starting too early traps moisture behind skirting and architraves, which can cause timber to swell or paint to blister later. We check with the plasterer or main contractor before booking a start date.

A single room — door, skirting, architraves, and a window board — typically runs £450–£850. A full house second fix on a three-bedroom renovation, covering every door, all skirting and architraves, window boards, and ironmongery, is typically £4,500–£9,000. Staircase completion is priced separately. The free site visit gives an exact, itemised figure.

Either. We have trade accounts with timber merchants and door suppliers and can source everything at trade prices, or we can fit materials you have already bought. If you are supplying your own, we advise on quantities and profiles before you order, so nothing is short or mismatched on the day.

In most cases, yes. Torus, ogee, bullnose, and chamfered profiles are all widely stocked, and specialist timber merchants can run a bespoke profile to match an unusual original moulding. Bring a short offcut or a clear photo to the site visit and we will confirm the closest match before ordering.

MDF (moisture-resistant grade) is standard for painted window boards and is stable, cheap, and takes paint well. Solid hardwood — oak or iroko — suits a natural wood finish or a period property. Stone-effect composite boards are used occasionally in bathrooms and kitchens where splashback durability matters more than cost.

Yes — on new builds and full renovations, second fix includes completing the staircase once the structural flight is in: fitting the balustrade, spindles, newel posts, and handrail, and trimming the stringers. If you already have a finished staircase that needs a cosmetic upgrade or a repair, see our dedicated staircase upgrades and staircase repairs pages instead.

Hinges, latches, locks, door handles, cabinet catches, coat hooks, and loft hatch furniture. Matt black and brushed brass are the most requested finishes in Berkshire at the moment, followed by satin chrome. We fit ironmongery you have bought, or supply from our usual suppliers if you want advice on what suits the doors.

Yes. All our workmanship, including second fix, is covered by our 2-year workmanship guarantee, and we carry full public liability insurance.

A full house — around 10 doors, all skirting and architraves, window boards, and ironmongery — typically takes four to six working days. A single room is usually one day. Staircase completion adds one to three days depending on balustrade complexity. We give a specific schedule in the written quote.

Both. We regularly work as a subcontract second fix team alongside main contractors, builders and project managers on renovations and new builds, and we work directly with homeowners finishing their own project. Either way, we fit around the existing site programme and the trades either side of us.

Yes. Many of our renovation clients use us for both phases — stud walls, floor joists, and door linings during first fix, then doors, skirting, architraves, and stairs during second fix. See our first fix carpentry page for the structural side of the work.