Before you call.
Twenty-five common questions on roofing, deck and pergola work, carpentry repairs, joinery, pricing, licensing, and warranty. Answered straight. Anything that’s not here, send Ramon a photo on 0448 464 599.
Roofing.
Jump to a section
How quickly can you respond to an emergency roof leak?
For active leaks, we’ll be on the roof same-day Monday to Saturday. Out of hours, call 0448 464 599 and we’ll talk you through tarping it until first light. Free emergency assessment, full repair quote within 24 hours.
Do you handle insurance claims for storm damage?
Yes. Free written assessment with photographs, insurance-claim-ready format. We work directly with NRMA, AAMI, GIO, Suncorp, RACQ, and most major insurers. We’ve documented enough hailstorm jobs to know exactly what your insurer needs to release the claim.
Roof restoration vs full replacement: which do I actually need?
Restoration is the right call when the tiles or sheets still have working life in them but the surface, ridge bedding, broken tiles, and protective coating have aged out. Replacement is the right call when the roof structure is failing, the material has reached the end of its life, or the leak pattern is widespread. The free inspection report names which one your roof actually needs, in writing, with the trade-off explained. Restoration is typically 40 to 70 per cent of the cost of replacement and adds 15-plus years of life.
How much does a Colorbond re-roof cost in Canberra?
Eight to twenty-five thousand for most residential homes, depending on roof size, pitch, and material choice. Includes removal of the old roof, sarking, battens, Colorbond installation, ridge capping, flashings, and a ten-year workmanship warranty. We quote in writing after a free site visit with line items and no surprise extras.
How much does a roof restoration cost in Canberra?
Most residential roof restorations in Canberra fall in the $5,000 to $20,000 range. The variables that move the number: roof size and pitch, tile type (terracotta is dearer than concrete), how much ridge re-bedding is needed, the colour and grade of the coating, and access. We send a fixed line-item quote in writing after the free inspection.
How often should I get my gutters cleaned in Canberra?
Twice a year is the safe rhythm: once in autumn after the leaf drop, once in early spring before the storm season. If you have a heavily wooded block, that climbs to three or four times a year, or a leaf guard install pays for itself inside two years. Standalone gutter cleans are typically half a day on a single-storey home.
What’s actually in the photo report I get with an inspection?
A full photo set covering every part of the roof, a written defect list with location notes, a three-tier recommendation (patch / repair / replace), an indication of the working life remaining on the roof, and any flags for insurance or structural concerns. Paid inspections come with a same-day or next-day written report depending on the tier you book. The full roofing FAQs and inspection ladder live on the roofing services page.
Carpentry repairs.
What’s the difference between a licensed carpenter and a handyman?
Three things a handyman legally can’t give you: a trade licence, $20M public liability insurance, and manufacturer warranty validity on Colorbond and structural materials. For a sticking door or a shelf, the price difference is genuinely small. For a structural fix, a deck rebuild, a pergola repair, or anything load-bearing, the licensed difference is the difference between a one-time fix and a recurring nightmare. Hire unlicensed for load-bearing work and your home insurance can refuse the claim if anything fails.
Can I get a quote over text without you coming out?
For straightforward repairs (a damaged board, a sticking door, a broken hinge, a rotten gate panel), text or WhatsApp a photo to Ramon on 0448 464 599 and you’ll have a ballpark price the same afternoon. For anything structural we visit free first so the quote is the price.
How quickly can you fix a broken gate, deck board, or door?
Same-week visits for any repair under one day on the tools. We block out weekly capacity specifically for small repair jobs. Send a photo by SMS or WhatsApp and you’ll have a ballpark price the same afternoon and a booked job inside the week.
How much does it cost to repair a rotten deck board in Canberra?
Replacing a few rotten boards in a section is typically one to two days, usually one to three thousand dollars. A full deck restoration (sand, board replacement, structural check, oil) runs two to five days and three to seven thousand depending on the size of the deck. We quote in writing after a free site visit. For straightforward photo-quotable jobs, text us a photo for a same-afternoon ballpark.
Which Canberra suburbs do you service?
Specialising in the inner south: Yarralumla, Deakin, Griffith, Red Hill, Forrest, Kingston, Barton, Manuka, Curtin, Garran. We also service all Canberra surrounds including Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Woden, Gungahlin, Weston Creek, and Molonglo Valley. If you’re in or near the ACT, send us a photo and we’ll tell you.
Decks, pergolas & verandahs.
Restoration vs replacement for an old deck: which is right?
Restoration first when the structure (joists, bearers, posts) is still sound and the boards are mostly intact. Replacement when the substructure is failing, the timber is widely rotted, or the design no longer suits the way you use the space. Restoration is typically 40 to 70 per cent the cost of replacement and adds 15 to 20 years of working life. We’ll tell you which one your deck actually needs in the free inspection report.
How long does a standard deck or pergola build take?
Most standard 20 to 40 square metre deck builds take two to three weeks on site. Standard pergola installs run one to two weeks. Larger or multi-level builds can run longer, and that’s flagged in the quote up front with a fixed start and finish date in writing. We don’t take builds that won’t finish inside a month without you knowing why.
Will it survive a Canberra winter?
Yes, if it’s built with materials specified for the ACT temperature swing and finished correctly. We default to hardwoods (spotted gum, merbau, blackbutt) for decking and structural framing because they handle the frost and the summer dry. Five-year carpentry workmanship warranty covers the install. Annual maintenance (clean and re-oil) keeps the finish good for the long run.
What materials do you build with?
Decks: spotted gum, merbau, blackbutt, treated pine where the design calls for it. Pergolas: hardwood framing with Colorbond, polycarbonate, or shade cloth roofing depending on the space. Verandahs: hardwood post and beam with Colorbond roofing colour-matched to the house. Every quote names the material, the grade, and the supplier.
Joinery & renovations.
Do you do built-in wardrobes?
Yes. Custom built-in wardrobes, fitted to the room, finished to renovation standard. Most single-room wardrobe jobs take one to two weeks. Five-year carpentry workmanship warranty. We’ll quote in writing with the timber grade, the hardware brand, and a fixed start date after a free site visit.
Can you do the carpentry for a kitchen or bathroom renovation?
Yes. The trim, the internal doors, the architraves, the skirting, the laundry and kitchen detailing. We work alongside your other trades (plumber, sparky, tiler, cabinetmaker) and finish the carpentry chunk inside the broader reno timeline. Single-room internal fit-outs are typically one to two weeks of our time on site.
Do you install internal doors and hardware?
Yes. New internal door installs, door replacement in existing openings, hardware fitting, door realignment when frames have settled. Most internal door jobs are half a day to one day each. Fixed-price quote with the door brand, the hardware, and the finish all named.
Pricing & payment.
How do quotes work: fixed or estimate?
Fixed written quote with line items after the free site visit, almost always. If we discover something during the job that changes the scope, we stop, photograph it, send you the variation in writing, and get your sign-off before another nail goes in. We don’t do verbal estimates that creep upward as the job progresses.
Do you take a deposit?
For repair jobs under $7,500 we typically don’t take a deposit at all. Pay on completion. For larger jobs, ACT Fair Trading caps deposits on home building work above $7,500 at 6.5 per cent of the contract price. We’ll never ask for more than that upfront. Trade licence and insurance certificates go out with every quote, before any deposit conversation.
What payment methods do you accept?
Bank transfer (EFT) is the simplest. Credit and debit card accepted for jobs under five thousand. For larger jobs we use progress payments tied to written milestones, not arbitrary calendar dates. Final payment is due once the job is finished and you’re satisfied with the work.
Licensing & warranty.
Are you licensed?
Yes. Licenced and Insured. Trade certificates go out with every quote, every invoice, and every business card. You can verify it with Access Canberra in two clicks. We’re also a Colorbond Accredited Installer, which is required for the Colorbond manufacturer warranty to stand on any new roof install.
Are you insured?
Yes. $20M public liability insurance, current certificate sent with every quote before you pay a cent. Required for landlord insurance compliance, for bond-claim repair work, and for keeping your own home insurance valid if anything ever goes wrong on site.
What’s the workmanship warranty?
Five-year workmanship warranty on all carpentry, in writing on every invoice. Ten-year workmanship warranty on roofing installations. Materials carry the manufacturer’s own warranty in addition (Colorbond is up to thirty years on Ultra grade when fitted by an accredited installer). If something we’ve done fails inside the warranty window, we come back and fix it without a fuss.
Got a question we haven’t answered?
Send Ramon a photo or a note on 0448 464 599. We respond inside business hours within two hours.
Mon to Sat · 7am to 6pm
Specialising in Canberra’s inner south
Yarralumla · Deakin · Griffith · Red Hill · Forrest · Kingston · Barton · Manuka · Curtin · Garran
And servicing all Canberra surrounds. Belconnen · Tuggeranong · Woden · Gungahlin · Weston Creek · Molonglo Valley