When a previous customer of mine called to ask if i could help out with a project that he had been told would be very difficult, i was very intrigued to learn more about it and a site visit was arranged…
I listened carefully to the customers requirements to make a bookcase door between the bedroom and extension
The decision to make this project was indeed clever but it threw up several challenges so i set to work on my design and plan.
I sourced some concealed hinges which would take the weight and decided to add a castor wheel underneath to distribute the load and allow the door to open smoothly
I sent my customer an estimate together with a copy of the plan, my suggestions and a timescale.
Here’s what the customer had to say…
“We recently had a first floor extension to our two storey ‘period’ house in order to provide a storage/box room. Access via a doorway from an adjoining bedroom and as a combination of sloping ceiling, chimney breast and building control regulations necessitated a narrower than standard doorway. We decided to adopt the builder’s suggestion to make a concealed access in the form of a bookcase, which would add the character of the property.
The builder was confident that his carpenter could construct and fit a bookcase door in pine and a provisional sum of £920 was included in the contract. However as the work neared completion and the opening in the two foot thick cob wall had been made, the carpenter decided that the job was too complicated for him and the builder arranged for a self-employed carpenter/joiner to provide a quote for the work. The said tradesman duly visited and measured up, making much of the apparent difficulties associated with the opening not being truly square, the strength, the stability, and uneven surfaces of cob walls and the difficulty and cost of obtaining suitable hinges etc. He subsequently submitted an estimate of just under £2000 plus VAT but with no details or sketch. Apart from the high cost, we were reluctant to engage him as we were rather discouraged by his attitude. Remembering that Richard had previously satisfactorily carried out some carpentry work for us, we inform the builder that we would take responsibility for the door.
I duly telephoned Richard to enquire if he would be able to help on this occasion and he visited on the 8th February last. He discussed our detailed requirements, explained how he would deal with the ‘problems’ raised by the other carpenter and said that he would very much like to take on this job. His practical assessment of what was needed and his confident and enthusiastic manner was very reassuring, as we had began to doubt whether the project was viable or affordable. A week later we received a detailed drawing and itemised list of all the work to be carried out at an estimated cost in the region of £1200 – £1400. Also included was the information that if we wished to go ahead, he would start construction in his workshop on 27th February with fitting the following week.
Obviously, we were pleased to accept and true to his word, he arrived on the 6th March with the bookcase and completed the installation the following day. which given the very real problems or ‘challenges’, necessitation real carpentry skills and expertise, was a remarkable achievement. Richard was very organised and prepared, bringing his own additional lighting, carpet protector and vacuum cleaner and the work was carried out with no inconvenience to us whatsoever and no damage to adjoining paintwork/decoration. On both days the ‘site’ was left clean and tidy with all waste removed.
The final result was excellent and just as envisaged. The final cost was £1293.76, i.e. the lower end of his estimate ad less than £400 above the original ‘guesstimate’ provisional contract sum.
Richard Pearce is a true, consummate professional but not only is his work excellent and reasonably priced but he can be relied upon regarding start dates etc., which experience has shown us is not always the case in the Cornish building trade!”