Wardrobe fitting is the stage where made to measure work either looks built in or looks added on. Done well, the carcasses are fixed level and square, the edges are scribed tight to walls and ceiling that are never quite straight, and the doors hang with even gaps all the way along. That is what you are paying a fitter for.
Here is how it runs when we do it, from the first visit to the day you hang your clothes, so you know what to expect and what to ask anyone you are thinking of using.
Before anything is made: the survey
Good fitting starts with good measuring. We measure the wall in several places, not just once, because floors dip, ceilings slope and corners are rarely a true right angle. We note skirting, sockets, light switches, radiators and window reveals, and we check which way the door swings so the wardrobe does not fight it.
We also ask what you are storing. Long coats, a lot of shoes, folded knitwear or a partner with a very different wardrobe all change how the inside is laid out, and it is far easier to get that right on paper than to change it later.
Getting the room ready
On the day, we need clear access to the wall and a clear route from the front door. Empty any existing furniture from that side of the room and move anything fragile from the landing and stairs. If sockets or lights are being moved, that electrical work should be done before we arrive.
Decorating is a common question. Walls behind the wardrobe do not need painting, but if you are redecorating the rest of the room, it is usually best to do the final coat after we have finished, since fitting can scuff nearby paint.
What happens on fitting day
We start by marking a level line and setting out where each carcass sits. Carcasses go in first and are fixed to the wall and to each other, packed where the floor falls away so the whole run is true.
Then comes the part that separates fitted from freestanding: scribing. End panels, fillers and top pieces are cut to follow the exact shape of the wall and ceiling, so there are no tapering gaps where the house is out of true. After that the interior goes in, rails, shelves and drawers, and finally the doors are hung and adjusted until the gaps are even.
Mess, noise and time
Because we make the wardrobe before we arrive, most of the cutting happens away from your home. There is still some noise and dust from scribing and fixing, and we protect floors and tidy as we go. How long it takes depends on the size of the run and how awkward the room is, which our guide to fitted wardrobe timings covers in more detail.
Signs of a good fit
If a door drops or starts to rub in the first weeks as the house settles around the new work, that is a small adjustment rather than a fault, and our guide to wardrobe doors that will not close explains why it happens.
- Doors close without rubbing and the gaps between them are even top to bottom.
- No visible gaps where the wardrobe meets the wall, floor or ceiling.
- The run is level along the top even if the ceiling is not.
- Drawers run smoothly and shut fully without catching.
- Skirting, cornice or panelling around the wardrobe is returned neatly rather than butted up roughly.
Fitting a wardrobe you have bought elsewhere
We are asked this now and then. Our work is making and fitting our own wardrobes, and one of our projects was a ready made wardrobe system with custom built doors, so there are cases where a mix works. The best starting point is to ring us, tell us what you have, and we will say honestly whether it is something we can help with.
You can reach us on 02380 201687 or 07833 227576.
Common questions
- Do I need to empty the room for wardrobe fitting?
- Only the wall where the wardrobe goes and a clear path to it. Moving fragile items off the stairs and landing helps too.
- Should I paint before or after the wardrobes go in?
- The wall behind the wardrobe does not need painting. For the rest of the room, a final coat after fitting avoids touching up scuffs.
- What is scribing?
- Cutting the edge of a panel to follow the exact shape of an uneven wall or ceiling, so the wardrobe sits tight with no tapering gaps.
- Why is my new wardrobe door rubbing?
- Houses move a little and hinges can settle. It is normally a quick adjustment rather than a fault.
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