Fitted carpentry: what to agree before work starts

Fitted woodwork lasts for years, so it is worth taking time over the details before anything is cut. Most disappointments with carpentry come from things that were never written down.

Measure the real space

Walls are rarely perfectly straight or square. A good measurement visit records:

• Wall lengths at several heights, and floor-to-ceiling heights
• Positions of windows, doors, plugs, switches and plumbing
• Floor level differences
• How doors and drawers will open without hitting each other

Ask for a measured drawing that shows sizes and the position of each unit.

Choose materials for the room

• Kitchens and bathrooms face water and steam, so board type, edging and finishes matter more there than in a bedroom.
• Solid timber and board materials behave differently; ask what is proposed for carcasses, doors and shelves.
• Edges should be sealed so moisture cannot get into the board.

Agree the finish

• Paint, stain, varnish or a factory finish
• Colour, with a sample before the full order
• Handles, knobs and their position
• Hinges and drawer runners, including soft-close if you want it

Fittings and appliances

Have the sizes of the stove, fridge, sink and other appliances before the design is final, so spaces and connections are right.

The quotation

A clear carpentry quotation lists:

1. Each unit, with sizes and materials
2. Finishes and fittings
3. Delivery, installation and removal of old units
4. Who does related work, such as plumbing, electrics or tiling
5. The programme and payment stages

On installation day

• Check doors and drawers open fully and close evenly.
• Check shelves are level and fixed.
• Ask how to care for the finish.

Small details decided early — a handle, an edge, a hinge — make the difference between woodwork that looks right and woodwork that only nearly does.