Your furniture has been designed, measured and made in the workshop. Now it has to come into your home and be fitted. Most of the work on the day is ours, but a few things on your side help it go smoothly.
This checklist covers the room, the route in, parking, other trades and what to expect while the fitting happens.
Clear the room
The fitters need space to work, bring sections in and set them out. Before the day:
- empty the area where the furniture is going, plus a working space in front
- move small furniture, rugs and anything fragile out of the room
- take down pictures, mirrors and curtains near the work area
- empty any old wardrobe or cupboard that has to come out.
If anything heavy can’t be moved, say so before the day so it can be planned for.
Clear the route in
Furniture made in the workshop arrives in sections. Each one needs a clear path from the van to the room. Clear the hallway, stairs and landings. Move coats, shoes, bikes and buggies out of the way. Prop open or note any doors that close on their own.
If you live in a flat, check whether the lift needs booking and whether the building has rules for contractors. Tell the concierge or managing agent in advance.
Sort out parking
In much of London, parking needs planning. A van may need a visitor permit, a paid bay or a parking bay suspension, which the council arranges, often with notice. Red routes run by TfL have strict stopping rules. It helps to tell us about parking at the design visit, and to confirm the plan before the day.
Our guide to parking for tradespeople in London explains CPZs and the options.
Thinking about fitted furniture? We design, make and fit it across London: we visit, measure and talk through the design, then send a written quote. Arrange a design visit.
Other trades and the order of work
We’re carpenters, so other trades handle the rest. Think about the order:
- Electrics: any new sockets, lighting or cable runs agreed with your electrician, usually before and sometimes after fitting.
- Plumbing and gas: in a kitchen, your plumber and a Gas Safe registered engineer for any gas work.
- Plastering and damp: walls should be sound and dry before furniture is fitted. Damp must be sorted first.
- Decorating: some people paint the walls before fitting, others after. Agree this in advance.
Things that must stay accessible
Before the day, check that the plan still leaves meters, fuse boards, stopcocks and boiler controls accessible. If anything has changed since the design visit, such as a new socket, a moved radiator or new flooring, let us know. Changes to the room can affect the fit.
See cupboards for boilers, meters and fuse boards for the principles.
On the day
Expect some noise and dust while sections are fixed, scribed to the walls and set level. It’s worth asking how floors and the route in will be protected. It helps if someone is at home at the start to agree where everything goes and at the end to look over the finished furniture.
How long the fitting takes depends on the size of the piece, and we confirm the fitting arrangements in your quote. We can fit on Saturdays by arrangement. Afterwards, treat new paintwork gently while it cures. Read looking after painted fitted furniture.
Quick answers
Do I need to empty the room before fitting?
Clear the area where the furniture is going and a working space in front. Move fragile items, pictures and rugs out of the way.
Should I paint the walls before or after fitting?
Either can work. Painting before means no cutting in around the units later. Agree the order with your decorator and us in advance.
Do I need to be at home during fitting?
It helps if someone is there at the start to confirm the layout and at the end to look over the finished furniture.
Can fitting happen at the weekend?
We can fit on Saturdays by arrangement.
Related services
More advice
- What Happens at a Design Visit
- Parking for Tradespeople in London: CPZs Explained
- How to Measure a Room for Fitted Furniture
- What a Fitted Furniture Quote Should Include
- All advice
This guide is general information about fitted furniture. It isn’t legal, planning or building advice; for those, speak to the council, your landlord or managing agent, or a suitably qualified professional.