Carpenter in Western Switzerland

The carpenter works with wood, and sometimes other materials, for everything in a home that opens, stores, assembles or is walked on: doors, windows, cupboards, staircases, flooring. In Western Switzerland, the trade is practised just as much in a Geneva apartment block as in a Valais chalet or a Jura town house. This page explains what it covers, how to prepare your request and what a quote should detail.

What the carpenter’s trade covers in Western Switzerland

Carpentry is divided into two main areas. Interior carpentry covers doors, partitions, cupboards, staircases, flooring and made-to-measure fittings, such as a built-in bookshelf, a kitchen or a walk-in wardrobe. Exterior carpentry covers wooden windows, front doors, shutters, façade cladding and terraces.

The most common jobs include repairs as well as new work:

• restoring a window that closes badly or a door that rubs;
• replacing windows or doors;
• laying or sanding a wooden floor;
• making a cupboard, a bathroom unit or a bookshelf to fit a room;
• renovating or building a staircase;
• replacing damaged elements in a chalet or a timber house.

When to call a carpenter in your area

A small hinge adjustment can be done yourself. As soon as precise measurements are needed, an opening must be altered, a load-bearing element is involved or a window must be made weathertight, a professional is the better choice. A badly fixed staircase or balustrade is a safety matter, not only an aesthetic one.

Calling a tradesperson also makes sense when the building has a particular status: original joinery in an old town, a chalet whose timber ages in its own way, an apartment where the space calls for made-to-measure fittings. In these cases, workshop work and installation require know-how that off-the-shelf products from large stores cannot replace.

Carpenter’s or cabinetmaker’s CFC: what the title tells you

In Switzerland, the reference qualification is the federal certificate of proficiency (CFC), with two neighbouring tracks: carpenter and cabinetmaker. The CFC certifies initial vocational training recognised at federal level. It says nothing, however, about the quality of a quote or the reliability of a specific company: always ask for references of comparable projects and a written quote.

This site is an introduction service. It does not employ tradespeople and does not name any partner: it is up to you to check, when you receive the quote, the training of the person who will carry out the work, the scope of what is offered and the company’s terms.

Carpentry and building permits, canton by canton

Replacing a window, altering a façade or creating an opening may require a permit. The rule varies according to the canton, the municipality and the status of the building; always check with the municipality or the relevant cantonal department before ordering.

• Geneva: building permits are issued by the canton, through the Office des autorisations de construire. On the energy side, the cantonal energy law (LEn) applies and the cantonal energy office (OCEN) manages the Buildings Programme subsidies. Many rental buildings are run by managing agents, whose consent a tenant needs.
• Vaud: the permit is issued by the municipality; the file goes through the cantonal permit centre (CAMAC) when cantonal departments must give an opinion. The Vaud energy law and the cantonal energy directorate oversee the grants.
• Valais: the permit is issued by the municipality in building zones, and by a cantonal commission outside building zones. The cantonal energy and hydropower department runs a subsidy programme. For second homes, the relevant federal law may apply in the municipalities concerned.
• Fribourg: applications are filed on the cantonal FRIAC platform, and the permit is issued by the prefecture or the municipality depending on the type of work. The cantonal energy department runs the subsidy programme.
• Neuchâtel: applications go through the cantonal SATAC desk, with the decision taken by the municipality. The cantonal energy and environment department handles the subsidy programme.
• Jura: the permit is issued by the municipality or by the canton depending on the scale of the project. The cantonal energy section runs the subsidy programme.
• Biel/Bienne and the canton of Bern: the permit is issued by the municipality or the prefecture depending on the project. The cantonal office for the environment and energy handles the subsidy programme. Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual, French and German.

If your project involves insulation, for example replacing old windows, find out about your canton’s subsidy programme before signing the quote: the conditions are checked beforehand, not after the work.

Old town, mountain chalet or made-to-measure fittings

Three situations come up often in Western Switzerland, and each changes how you prepare a job.

Old towns and listed buildings. In Geneva, in the old towns of Fribourg, Delémont, Porrentruy or Saint-Ursanne, or in the watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, original joinery may be subject to heritage requirements. Windows, doors and shutters sometimes have to be restored rather than replaced, and the design of the profiles may be imposed. A carpenter used to these buildings knows which questions to ask the municipality.

Chalets and timber houses in the mountains. In Valais, as in the Vaud and Fribourg Alps, wood is exposed to sun, frost and damp. The work often involves replacing boards, balconies, shutters or outdoor staircases. The wood species, the drying and the finish affect how long the work lasts; discuss them with the tradesperson rather than looking only at the price.

Made-to-measure fittings. A cupboard under a sloping roof, a bookshelf that fits a recess, a walk-in wardrobe in a narrow bedroom: the point of made-to-measure is to use the available space exactly. The result depends on careful measuring, the quality of the joints and the precision of the installation.

Describing your carpentry project before the quote

A good request saves everyone time. Before submitting it, gather:

• the nature of the work: repair, replacement or new work;
• the type of building (house, apartment, chalet, old building) and any protected status;
• your status: owner, co-owner, tenant (with the landlord’s consent) or company;
• photos of what is there and, if possible, approximate measurements;
• your wishes for wood, finish and style;
• the timing you would like, without presenting it as urgent if it is not;
• access constraints (floor, lift, narrow staircase, parking).

To submit your request, go to the request a quote page. It is passed to tradespeople and companies in the region, who will contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote.

What a reliable carpentry quote details

A quote worth trusting is written and precise. It states:

• the description of each item of work, with dimensions and wood species;
• the finish (oil, wood stain, paint, varnish) and the number of coats planned;
• the quantity of materials and the accessories (hardware, handles, seals, glazing);
• the workshop work and the installation, either separate or clearly grouped;
• the removal and disposal of existing items, included or not;
• the making-good work around the finished item (plaster, paint, repairs);
• the payment terms, the planned timescale and the period of validity of the offer;
• any reference to the SIA 118 standard.

Compare quotes item by item. A lower total may simply hide an installation or a removal that is not included.

What makes the cost of carpentry vary

No price is meaningful without seeing the project. Several factors play a part:

• the material: wood species, quality, origin, possible combination with metal or glass;
• the complexity: standard or made-to-measure shape, number of pieces, visible joints;
• the finish: raw, oiled, lacquered, patinated, or to be reproduced identically from an old model;
• access to the site: floor, carrying, scaffolding for exterior elements;
• the condition of what is there: uneven base, wood to repair, walls to rework;
• regulatory or heritage requirements: imposed profiles, procedure to follow;
• the time of year and the workload of the workshop.

Only a quote prepared after a detailed description, or even a site visit, can put a figure on your case.

Legal warranties after carpentry work

The Code of Obligations (CO) protects the client. For work on immovable property, that is, fixed to the building (window, door, staircase, glued or nailed flooring), the warranty for defects is 5 years under art. 371 CO. For movable items, such as furniture delivered unfixed, it is 2 years.

If the contract refers to the SIA 118 standard, it applies in addition to the CO rules. Read the quote and the terms before signing. Inspect the work on handover, note any defects and report them in writing as soon as you notice them.

Carpenters near you

Find the pages dedicated to your town or city:

• carpenter in Geneva, carpenter in Carouge, carpenter in Lancy, carpenter in Vernier
• carpenter in Lausanne, carpenter in Nyon, carpenter in Morges, carpenter in Vevey, carpenter in Montreux, carpenter in Yverdon-les-Bains
• carpenter in Sion, carpenter in Martigny, carpenter in Monthey, carpenter in Sierre
• carpenter in Fribourg, carpenter in Bulle
• carpenter in Neuchâtel, carpenter in La Chaux-de-Fonds
• carpenter in Biel/Bienne, carpenter in Delémont

For the rules specific to each area, also see the canton pages: canton of Geneva, canton of Vaud, canton of Valais, canton of Fribourg, canton of Neuchâtel, canton of Jura and canton of Bern.