When something needs fixing, building, or upgrading around the house, it’s not always obvious which tradesperson you actually need — or that a specialist for the job even exists locally. Across Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Sorrento, Chase, and the rest of the Shuswap, there’s a wider range of tradespeople available than most homeowners realize. If you want more detail on finding trades in your specific community, check out our guide to finding tradespeople across the Shuswap. Here’s a rundown of the types of tradespeople in the Shuswap you can find, and when each one is the right call.
Common Types of Tradespeople in the Shuswap You Can Hire
Electricians: One of the Key Types of Tradespeople in the Shuswap
From a flickering light switch to a full panel upgrade, electricians handle anything involving your home’s wiring. In the Shuswap specifically, electricians are also commonly called for older cabins with outdated wiring, hot tub hookups, and dock or boathouse electrical — jobs that need someone comfortable working outside a standard subdivision home.
Call one for: panel upgrades, rewiring, outlet installs, hot tub or dock power, electrical inspections before buying a property.
Plumbers
Plumbers cover everything from a dripping faucet to a full re-pipe. In lake communities, plumbers are especially important for well water systems, septic-connected homes, and winterizing seasonal cabins — jobs that differ from standard municipal-water plumbing.
Call one for: leaks, clogged drains, water heater installs, well pump issues, winterizing a cabin’s plumbing before you close it up for the season.
Roofers: Among the Most-Booked Types of Tradespeople in the Shuswap
Heavy snow load, ice dams, and long winters mean Shuswap roofs take a beating. Roofers handle repairs, replacements, and seasonal inspections to catch small issues before they become leaks.
Call one for: snow damage, leak repairs, full roof replacement, pre-winter inspections.
General Contractors: For Bigger Projects Across the Shuswap
For anything bigger than a single-trade job — a kitchen renovation, an addition, or a full cabin conversion — a general contractor manages the project and coordinates the other trades for you.
Call one for: renovations, additions, multi-trade projects, four-season cabin conversions.
Carpenters
Carpenters build and repair anything wood-based — from decks and fences to interior trim and framing. In the Shuswap, this often includes docks, boathouses, and outdoor structures built for lakefront living.
Call one for: deck building or repair, dock construction, framing, custom built-ins, general carpentry repairs.
Painters
A fresh coat of paint, inside or out, is one of the most affordable ways to update a home — but exterior paint especially takes a beating from Shuswap winters and lake humidity, so it’s a job worth hiring out properly rather than DIYing with the wrong products.
Call one for: interior repaints, exterior siding and trim, deck staining, cabin refreshes before rental season.
Landscapers
From drainage issues to full yard makeovers, landscapers handle the outdoor side of homeownership — which matters even more on sloped lake properties where drainage and erosion are common concerns.
Call one for: drainage problems, retaining walls, yard cleanup, seasonal landscaping.
Finding the Right Types of Tradespeople in the Shuswap
Now that you know the different types of tradespeople in the Shuswap, the other half is finding someone reliable who actually services your specific community. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s how to find a reliable tradesperson near you before you begin comparing options.
Whatever the job, there’s likely a tradesperson on Jobworks ready to help.