Fitted wardrobes and alcove units: what to ask for

Fitted furniture is where homeowners and joiners most often picture different things. Ten minutes spent writing the brief properly saves a fortnight of back and forth.

Decide these before you ask for a price

1. What goes inside — hanging rail heights, shelf depths, drawers, shoe storage, TV and cables.
2. Doors or open shelving, and if doors, hinged or sliding.
3. Whether it runs floor to ceiling and wall to wall, or sits within the alcove.
4. Material and finish — painted MDF, oak veneer, solid timber.
5. Who paints it, and in which colour.
6. Whether skirting, coving and radiators need to be worked around or removed.
7. Lighting or sockets inside, which may need an electrician.

What a quote should cover

• Survey and template of the actual opening, not just your measurements.
• Materials, ironmongery and internal fittings by name.
• Manufacture and fitting time, and lead time from order.
• Scribing to uneven walls and floors, filling and sanding.
• Finishing — primed only, or fully painted.
• Waste removal and protection of floors and furniture.

Measurements and photos to send

• Width, height and depth of each alcove or wall, measured at both top and bottom.
• A straight-on photo of the whole wall, plus one from the side.
• Close-ups of skirting, coving, picture rails, sockets and any pipework.
• A reference image of the style you want, if you have one.

Where the price differences come from

Two quotes for 'alcove units' can differ by a large margin because one is a carcass with doors and the other includes painting, drawers on soft-close runners and integrated lighting. Ask each joiner to itemise those elements so you can compare like for like.