The Carpenter Shop in Stardew Valley is operated by Robin and serves as the absolute backbone of farm progression. Located at 24 Mountain Road north of Pelican Town, this establishment is where you commission farm expansions, buy raw materials like wood and stone, and purchase furniture or house upgrades. If you want to build silos, coops, barns, or upgrade your farmhouse, you'll spend plenty of time here.
Robin's shop is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, though her schedule changes significantly depending on the day of the week, the season, and specific special events. On Tuesdays, Robin leaves the counter to do aerobics at Pierre's General Store with the local townspeople, meaning the shop is technically open, but you can't access her building menu because she's away from her desk. On Fridays, she usually closes early around 4:00 PM to visit the Stardrop Saloon with Demetrius. Furthermore, the entire shop is closed on the 18th of Winter for her annual medical checkup at Harvey's clinic.
Farm Buildings and Construction
Commissioning new farm buildings requires visiting Robin with the exact combination of gold and raw materials (such as wood, stone, and clay). Construction takes a set number of in-game days, and Robin will physically work on your farm during that time.
- Coop: Costs 4,000 gold, 300 wood, and 100 stone. Houses 4 chickens, ducks, or dinosaurs. Essential for early-game animal products.
- Barn: Costs 6,000 gold, 350 wood, and 150 stone. Houses 4 cows or goats. Required before you can breed pigs for truffles.
- Silo: Costs 100 gold, 100 stone, and 10 copper bars. Automatically harvests hay when you cut grass with a scythe, storing up to 240 pieces per silo.
- Well: Costs 1,000 gold and 75 stone. Provides a handy water source anywhere on your farm so you don't have to run back to the farmhouse pond.
- Stable: Costs 10,000 gold and 50 hardwood. Grants you a horse, which increases your movement speed by 30% across the map.
Building placement is permanent once completed, though you can have Robin move existing structures later for a small gold fee or instantly through the Stardew Valley Wiki. Planning your farm layout before placing large structures saves you from costly relocation fees down the road.
House Upgrades and Basements
Your initial farmhouse starts as a tiny one-room cabin with a single bed and a small cooking area. Robin offers three major structural upgrades that transform your living space and unlock new gameplay mechanics.
- First Upgrade: Costs 10,000 gold and 450 wood. Adds a kitchen for cooking meals, expands the main bedroom, and allows you to get married and have children.
- Second Upgrade: Costs 50,000 gold and 150 hardwood. Adds a nursery, a separate child's room, and expands the kitchen and living area.
- Third Upgrade: Costs 100,000 gold. Adds a cellar beneath the house equipped with casks. Casks let you age cheese and wine from normal quality up to iridium quality, significantly boosting their sell price.
You can also ask Robin to construct custom renovations—such as removing interior partitions, adding an optional corner room, or adding southern and attic extensions—from her menu once your farmhouse is fully upgraded.
Purchasing Materials and Furniture
Beyond construction, the Carpenter Shop functions as a localized hardware store. If you run out of building supplies during a massive farm overhaul, you don't have to chop down every tree in Cindersap Forest. You can buy supplies directly from Robin, though her prices scale up slightly starting in year two to balance the economy.
- Wood: Costs 10 gold per piece in Year 1, and 50 gold per piece starting in Year 2.
- Stone: Costs 20 gold per piece in Year 1, and 100 gold per piece starting in Year 2.
- Hardwood: Occasionally available in limited quantities after specific late-game unlocks.
The shop also features a rotating stock of furniture items, rugs, wallpaper, and flooring. The furniture catalog changes daily, giving you plenty of options for interior design. You can also purchase permanent furniture catalogs from Robin or the Official ConcernedApe Website once you have excess funds, which grant infinite access to decorative items.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many players run into frustrating roadblocks at the Carpenter Shop due to simple scheduling errors or material miscounts. Keep these common pitfalls in mind:
- Forgetting Building Materials: Robin won't start construction if you're even a single piece of wood short. Double-check your inventory before walking up to the counter.
- Visiting on Tuesday: Walking all the way up the mountain only to find Robin standing near Pierre's counter is a classic beginner mistake. Always check the calendar outside Pierre's shop.
- Blocking Building Spots: Ensure the designated plot on your farm is completely clear of debris, trees, flooring, and farm animals before asking Robin to build. If anything is in the tile grid, placement will fail.
- Ignoring the Silo: Building animals without a silo means you'll have to buy hay from Marnie every single day during winter, draining your early-game profits. Build your silo first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move my buildings after Robin builds them?
Yes. You can visit the Carpenter Shop or talk to the Wizard if you've unlocked magic buildings, and select the "Construct Farm Buildings" option. From there, click the move icon next to any building to relocate it instantly without destroying its contents.
Why won't Robin accept my wood?
Robin requires standard wood for standard farm buildings, not hardwood. Make sure you are bringing the specific resource requested in the building description. Also, ensure your items are in your personal backpack inventory, not sitting inside a chest.
Where is Robin during festivals?
On festival days, Pelican Town shops are completely closed. Robin attends every seasonal festival and community event, meaning you cannot commission buildings, buy materials, or upgrade your house on those specific dates.
How do I get hardwood for building upgrades?
Hardwood is gathered by chopping large mahogany logs or stumps using a copper axe or better in the Secret Woods or on your farm. You can also plant mahogany seeds to grow your own sustainable hardwood forest over time.
