Repairs & troubleshooting
From Idea to Installation: How a Custom Build Runs
See how a made-to-measure project moves from first sketch to final fit, with the stages, checkpoints and choices explained by W W Bartlett.
By W W Bartlett5 min read
A made-to-measure project runs in five stages: brief, site measure, design and quote, fabrication, and installation. Each stage ends with a written sign-off before the next begins. At W W Bartlett we build in review points so the piece that arrives on install day matches the one you signed off in drawing.
What happens in the first conversation?
We ask what room, what problem, what deadline. That's usually enough to sketch a rough scope on the same call. If it's a fitted wardrobe, we want to know the ceiling type, the floor covering and whether the walls are true. If it's cabinetry around a chimney breast, we ask about the flue and whether the plaster is sound.
Most people ask first about price. That's the wrong first question. Ask about the tolerances instead, because a quote built on guesses moves later, and a quote built on a proper measure holds. Price follows scope. Scope follows measurement.
For a longer version of that first-call checklist, see our guide on questions worth asking before a custom project.
How does the site measure actually work?
A measure visit takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on the piece. We bring a laser, a spirit level, a plumb line and paper. We check floor slope, wall bow and ceiling drop. We photograph service runs behind where the piece will sit. A wall that looks straight rarely is. Old houses lean. New builds bow in the middle of a plaster run.
Two things we always flag on the measure:
- Any wall out of plumb by more than a few millimetres over the piece height, because scribes will be needed.
- Any floor slope that will affect a run of base units, because we may pack or trim rails.
- Any service (pipe, cable, vent) inside the footprint that changes the carcass depth.
- Any skirting or coving that must be cut back for a flush finish.
- Any ceiling rose, beam or bulkhead that limits the top rail.
- Any door swing or radiator that limits opening clearance.
If you'd like to prep the space beforehand, our note on how to prepare for a measurement visit covers it.
What do the design, quote and fabrication stages look like?
After the measure, we draw. You get elevations, a plan view and a materials list. Nothing goes into the workshop until the drawing is signed. Fabrication is the quiet stretch. From your side it looks like nothing is happening. From ours it's carcasses cut, edges banded, doors sprayed and hardware fitted.
Here's a rough shape of the three middle stages:
| Stage | What you do | What we do | Typical checkpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | Review drawings, pick finishes | Draw elevations, spec materials | Signed drawing |
| Quote | Approve scope and payment terms | Cost the bill of materials | Signed quote, deposit |
| Fabrication | Clear the room, book time off for install | Cut, assemble, finish, dry-fit | Photo of finished piece |
A scenario we see often: a client picks a slab door in a deep matt colour, then worries about fingerprints two weeks in. We flag it at design stage. If matt still wins, we spec a fingerprint-resistant foil. Small conversation, saves a return visit.
How long does installation take and what can go wrong?
Install day is the shortest stage and the one with the most risk. A fitted wardrobe run goes in over one or two days. A kitchen takes three to five, plus a separate day for stone. We protect floors, we bring dust extraction, we scribe on site. Most surprises trace back to something the measure missed or the site changed. A radiator moved. A floor re-tiled at a new height. A doorway re-plastered thicker.
Try this: two weeks before install, walk the room with the drawing in your hand and check nothing has shifted. Call us if it has. A five-minute call beats a delivery that won't fit.
Custom joinery is one of the categories where site measurement matters more than catalogue spec, a point flagged in general home improvement guidance [1].
FAQ
How long does a full made-to-measure project take?
From first call to installed piece, most projects run six to twelve weeks. Design and quote take one to three weeks depending on how many revisions you want. Fabrication runs four to eight weeks. Install is the shortest stage. Complex jobs with stone tops or specialist finishes sit at the longer end.
Do we pay in stages or up front?
Staged, always. A deposit confirms the slot and covers materials. A second payment falls due before fabrication starts. The balance is settled on completion, after you've walked the finished install with us. You're never asked for the full amount before you've seen the drawing signed off.
Can changes be made mid-project?
Yes, up to a point. Changes at design stage are free. Changes after the drawing is signed but before cutting starts are usually possible with a small re-draw fee. Once the workshop has cut material, changes mean new material. Call W W Bartlett as soon as a doubt appears, not after.
What if something doesn't fit on install day?
We fix it. Scribes, packers and site adjustments are part of the job. If a component is wrong, we take it back to the workshop and return. A made-to-measure piece is judged on the final fit, not the delivery, and that's the standard W W Bartlett works to.
