Alcove cabinetry

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I have a through lounge, dining/living room and a total of four alcoves to build cabinets and shelves for.

The struggle has been to find people to do a decent job i.e demonstrate a gallery of work and style I am after with attention to the finesse. Also confused in terms of the pricing expected, most materials are simple MDF cabinets and possibly oak veneer for the shelving. I am after a modern style low profile cabinetry without handles and shelving with some patterns. A simple design attached with measurements.

I have received various estimates, some starting from £800 going up to £1400 per alcove but it depends if coming from an individual or company. A company recently quoted £9000 for the job, which frankly I find too expensive including the use of decent mechanisms for the cabinets and a couple of sprayed coats.

Any suggestions for pricing expectations?

Alcoves_RoughPlan.jpg
 
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If you've already got several estimates from real people, then that is surely more accurate than what "random people on the Internet" think it should cost.
 
Too many variables to make a guess really. Depends on materials used, hardware used, quality of the work, and finish. If using veneered mdf, then has it got solid lippings? What's are the "patterns" you want?
Don't make the mistake of comparing the price of ready made cabinets to "one offs" made to measure. There will be no comparison.
For what it's worth I'd have said £800 was inexpensive. £9000 for the whole lot doesn't seem out of hand, as I said before depending on material and so on. The sky really is the limit.
As already said they're the prices you have been given by real people who know all the details.
Personally I'd want to see real examples of their work before commiting to anything.
 
If you've already got several estimates from real people, then that is surely more accurate than what "random people on the Internet" think it should cost.

I am after opinions of others who have had their alcoves built or fitters themselves :)
 
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Too many variables to make a guess really. Depends on materials used, hardware used, quality of the work, and finish. If using veneered mdf, then has it got solid lippings? What's are the "patterns" you want?
Don't make the mistake of comparing the price of ready made cabinets to "one offs" made to measure. There will be no comparison.
For what it's worth I'd have said £800 was inexpensive. £9000 for the whole lot doesn't seem out of hand, as I said before depending on material and so on. The sky really is the limit.
As already said they're the prices you have been given by real people who know all the details.
Personally I'd want to see real examples of their work before commiting to anything.


By patterns I mean the crossing of the shelves you see in the rough layout, nothing too complex I believe. If solid lipping gives slightly rounder edges as opposed to super sharp then yes that would be part of the cabinets mainly, which will be white sprayed.

I agree that real examples are the key although it's difficult to ask to visit someone's property. I have not had quotes on paper from all the people, just the one above. The rest is verbal estimates including people who turn up and then just disappear without ever coming back to you...

I still find £9k too high, simply because the average quote from the majority is around the £1000+ mark. The reason I asked was to make sure I haven't got my expectations completely wrong.

Thanks
 
If you are having veneered shelves, then solid wood lipping rather than veneer edging is more robust, and if done properly makes the board look more like solid wood. Lippings can have mouldings etc. Nothing to stop MDF being rounded if it's going to be painted.
Don't really know much about painted work and painting myself. A really good spray painted finish can be expensive in itself. It requires decent build quality, careful preparation and skilled application to get a good finish. A bit more than "a couple of sprayed coats"
As I say it's very difficult to comment on price really without seeing the job and working out what is needed, which only someone who wants the job is going to do. :)
If you can't get to see actual examples of work, and some people who have had work done might be pleased to let you see the work, I'd at least want photographs, and to see work in progress
 
OP,
Chimney breast recesses are notorious for damp and condensation issues. eg cabinet doors can aid condensation.

Is the back wall an external wall?

Could you post a pic of the chimney breast(s)?
 

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