Soley's Carpentry & Maintenance
A retired builder called Shawn Soley one of the best tradespeople he'd encountered in decades of construction work.
A retired builder with decades of experience as a building consultant singled Shawn out as among the best tradespeople he'd encountered, which carries more weight than a typical residential review. The sample shows no negative patterns of any kind across the 28 reviews examined — complaints simply don't appear — which, combined with his willingness to take on short-notice and complex multi-trade jobs, makes him a practical first call for homeowners in the Medowie area facing anything from a single maintenance task to a full renovation.
Their work
What it's like working with them
Based on a sample of Google reviews (30 total)
“He fit us into his schedule with less than 2 weeks notice”
What they help with
Based on what their customers hired them for
How they stack up
Context from 196 handymans in Newcastle
Credentials & background
Sourced from 5 public records so you don't have to look them up yourself
About Soley's Carpentry & Maintenance
Shawn Soley runs this Medowie-based carpentry and handyman operation, and reviews suggest he's unusually capable across a wide band of work — from termite damage restoration and complete home renovations down to door rehinging, fence installation, and doggy door fitting. What stands out from combining multiple reviews is that Shawn doesn't just take on the job as described: he's repeatedly flagged hidden problems (like mould discovered behind a shower) and then coordinated trades to fix them, acting more like a project manager than a typical handyman. His wife Nadia also works alongside him on jobs, and customers mention the two as a team on larger projects including pre-sale preparation and fence builds. A retired builder who left a review specifically noted Shawn's breadth of experience and competitive pricing as standing out against a long career of working with tradespeople — useful context for homeowners wondering whether a sole trader can handle complexity. Reviews suggest he's particularly well-suited to homeowners dealing with urgent or cascading problems, with multiple mentions of him fitting jobs in on short notice and staying within agreed budgets even when scope expanded. He's GST-registered and operating as a sole trader, so homeowners managing investment properties or pre-sale renovations can claim costs accordingly.
Best for: urgent or complex home renovations requiring trade coordination, termite and water damage repairs in residential properties, pre-sale property preparation, and ongoing maintenance across multiple jobs for homeowners and investors.
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Claim This Profile — Free →Common questions about Soley's Carpentry & Maintenance
What kinds of jobs does Soley's Carpentry & Maintenance typically handle?+
Shawn takes on a wide range, from small handyman tasks like doggy door installation and door repairs to full home renovations involving multiple trades. Reviews mention timber floor repairs after termite damage, fence construction, sliding door installation, and pre-sale property preparation. He also coordinates other tradespeople when a job grows beyond carpentry and maintenance, acting as a de facto project manager on larger renovations. If you're unsure whether your job fits, it's worth calling — reviews suggest he'll give you an honest answer about whether he's the right person for it.
Does Shawn take on urgent or last-minute jobs?+
Short-notice availability comes up repeatedly across reviews — one customer had him begin a complete home renovation with less than two weeks' notice after mould was discovered throughout the house. Another review mentions he took on a commercial job at the last minute when a builder left work unfinished. That said, reviews also note he's in high demand, so it's worth calling early if your timeline is tight. Confirming availability directly is advisable for time-sensitive work.
How does Soley's approach pricing and budget management?+
Multiple reviewers mention pricing as a genuine strength — specifically that Shawn sticks to or comes in under agreed budgets, even when job scope expands. One customer noted he was given a budget at the start of a full renovation and Shawn not only stayed under it but completed additional items they hadn't expected to afford. Reviews describe his pricing as competitive and fair, and a retired building consultant specifically noted this. For larger jobs, it's worth discussing your budget upfront, as reviews suggest he's receptive to working within defined constraints.
Does Nadia Soley also work on jobs?+
Yes — Nadia is mentioned in several reviews as part of the team, particularly on larger or multi-day jobs. Customers who used both Shawn and Nadia for pre-sale property preparation and fence building describe them as a reliable husband-and-wife team. For smaller single-visit jobs, Shawn typically attends alone, but for bigger projects the two work together. This additional capacity is worth knowing if you're planning something that spans multiple days.
What areas does Soley's Carpentry & Maintenance cover?+
The business is based in Medowie, NSW, and reviews reference jobs in Medowie and the surrounding area including Aberdeen. Reviews don't specify a formal service radius, so if you're outside the immediate Medowie area it's worth confirming they cover your location before booking. Given that they travelled to Aberdeen for a fence job while the customer was in Sydney, there's some flexibility in their coverage — but confirm directly for jobs further afield.