Carpentry and timber building in Toulouse
Our carpentry and timber building services
Traditional timber framing
Design and installation of timber roof structures for new projects: lofts, roofs, exposed structures. Joinery carried out to the standards of the trade, built to last.
Bespoke carpentry
Mezzanines, timber floors, staircases, interior fit-out… Any piece of work that calls for a craftsman’s hand. Tell us your idea and we will draw it up.
Outdoor timber structures
Pergolas, carports, garden buildings: a natural extension of roof carpentry, with traditional or more industrial jointing and timber chosen to live outdoors.
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Our other services
Timber is only one of the materials that make a healthy home. We also cover natural finishes and interior finishing work: one point of contact, from structure to colour.
Lime plaster & finishes
Lime plasters, stucco, limewash, restoration of historic plasterwork: the mineral material that carries on from the timber. Breathable walls, coloured through the material itself, in old buildings and new.
Renovation work
Interior finishing, fit-out and joinery, alongside the timber work. A renovation carried out by the same hands as the structure, with no coordination to manage on your side.
Frequently asked questions
A traditional roof structure is made of heavy-section timbers jointed together — mortise and tenon, oak pegs — and leaves the loft free of any web bracing. An industrial roof structure, known as trussed rafters, is made of light, triangulated members set close together: quicker and cheaper to install, but it takes up the space under the roof. The choice depends mainly on what you want to do with your loft, and on whether the structure will be left exposed — in which case it is considered from the design stage: choice of timber, care over the joints, finishing of the edges.
Several signs call for an inspection: a sagging purlin or tie beam, cracks in the joints, timber that crumbles under a knife blade, fine dust on the floor, insect exit holes, or signs of damp near beam ends. Damage is usually localised: depending on its extent, the timber is treated, reinforced, repaired with a new section scarf-jointed in, or the affected member is replaced. Taking down an entire roof structure is a major decision, never made before a proper survey.
Timber frame is a dry construction method and goes up quickly, which shortens the build and limits disruption. For the same thermal performance, its walls are thinner than masonry: on the same footprint, the extension gains living space. It works with bio-based insulation and often needs only light foundations, which suits tight sites or those with difficult access. Its lightness is also what makes adding an extra storey possible where masonry would be too heavy. To weigh up the options, see our comparison of a timber frame or concrete block extension.
It depends on the floor area created. Under 5 m², there is normally no formality in France. Between 5 and 20 m², a prior declaration (déclaration préalable) is enough — a threshold raised to 40 m² when extending an existing house in an urban zone covered by a local development plan (PLU). Above that, full planning permission (permis de construire) is required. If the total floor area exceeds 150 m² after the work, using an architect becomes compulsory. Note: in a protected area or near a listed historic monument, a declaration is required from the very first square metre. Your town hall (mairie) will confirm what applies to your plot; the thresholds are set out in our article on planning rules for sheds, carports and pergolas in Toulouse.
Douglas fir, larch and western red cedar naturally withstand the weather without chemical treatment; pine treated to use class 3 or 4 is a more economical option. Left untreated in a durable species, cladding weathers to silver-grey and needs no maintenance: it is a patina, not deterioration. Keeping the original colour, on the other hand, means applying a penetrating wood oil regularly (see linseed oil, wood oil or stain: which to choose). One thing worth knowing: cladding is a facade covering and protection, it does not insulate — it can cover external wall insulation, installed by a firm qualified for that work.
Yes, provided the ceiling height allows it and the supports can carry the load. A mezzanine is sized according to its span, the expected load and the means of access — straight staircase, quarter-turn staircase or space-saver stair. The same goes for a timber floor or interior fit-out: describe your idea and the constraints of the room, and the plan is drawn up and agreed with you before a single cut is made.
Yes. Lime plasters, stucco, limewash and patinas: the surface of the walls is part of our services, just as timber is. One point of contact from structure to finish, with no need to split the job between two firms.
Yes. Toulouse and the surrounding metropolitan area first, and up to around 300 km away for projects that warrant it. Not sure whether we cover your area? Just ask — we will reply quickly.
There is no meaningful price per square metre: the cost depends on the span, the section and species of the timber, the complexity of the joints, site access, the lifting required and, in renovation, what has to be taken down before rebuilding. That is why pricing always involves a site visit. The visit and the quote are free; the quote is itemised and commits you to nothing.
