Knowledge hub10 questions
Bespoke joinery and finishes, answered plainly.
Bespoke joinery and finishes, made to fit the room they sit in.
Bespoke joinery and finishesStraight answers
What people ask us about bespoke joinery and finishes.
What can be made as bespoke joinery?
Our joinery service makes made-to-measure furniture, cabinetry and doors, with matching materials and finishes.
We design every piece around the room, its storage needs and its use.
Next Provide an item list, dimensions and reference images.
When should wardrobes and fitted storage be designed?
We design them early enough to coordinate sockets, lighting, ventilation, skirtings and doors.
We leave final fabrication dimensions to our measured site-check process.
Next Approve the internal arrangement as well as the external appearance.
What are joinery shop drawings?
Shop drawings describe each item for manufacture, showing dimensions, construction and interfaces.
Review them with material samples and the approved design, not just a rendered image.
Next Confirm who checks and signs off the drawings before production.
Why does bespoke joinery have a long lead time?
Design development, samples, approvals, materials, fabrication and finishing all take time.
Site measurement and installation readiness can affect the sequence as much as workshop capacity.
Next Ask us for a programme covering approval through to installation.
Can I change joinery after it has been ordered?
Changes may need revised drawings, materials or remaking completed work.
We confirm the commercial and programme effect before accepting any instruction.
Next Ask what has already been committed and approve the change in writing.
How are timber, veneer, stone and metal finishes approved?
We approve finishes using physical samples and, where needed, representative mock-ups.
Natural materials vary, so we agree an acceptable range and review method together.
Next Keep approved samples available for delivery and installation checks.
Can lighting and smart controls be hidden within cabinetry?
Yes, when we properly plan heat, wiring, drivers and service access.
Concealed equipment still needs a practical route for replacement.
Next Coordinate joinery drawings with the electrical and lighting designs.
Who checks site dimensions before manufacture?
We agree the responsibility and timing with the joinery team.
Final dimensions depend on the finished interfaces, not only the original survey.
Next Confirm the measurement hold point and which finishes must be complete.
How are fitted pieces installed and protected?
Installation needs the right access, environmental conditions and finished interfaces.
We manage protection and following trades, so completed work is not damaged.
Next Agree installation sequencing and the handover of protection responsibility.
How should bespoke finishes be maintained?
Follow the manufacturer’s care instructions for the specific finish.
Cleaning products, heat and moisture can affect materials differently.
Next Ask us for product-specific care information in your handover pack.
Next step
Ready to talk about bespoke joinery and finishes?
Read more about how NU works. Or send us your project.