How to Hire a Joiner

Are you looking for bespoke joinery in Shropshire, the West Midlands or the Welsh Borders? If you are willing to pay extra for custom made items such as wood casement windows, a wooden staircase or cupboard joinery, then you need to be sure you are commissioning the right firm in the first place. Here, we list a few important considerations you should bear in mind before you hire a joiner for your project.

Are You Clear on What You Are Looking For?

It’s always worth drawing up an initial specification for the work you require, whether that’s a number of window sash replacements or wooden kitchen cabinets for a kitchen refurbishment project. You should also have a good idea of your budget for the work and the timescale you would like it completed within. Of course, a skilled joiner will be able to discuss design details, types of wood and so on with you, to help you make important decisions before the work commences. However, it’s important to be able to express preferences to your tradesman so that they can draw up as accurate an estimate as possible from the outset.

Do They Have the Experience?

Joinery is a skilled trade and it’s worth researching whether your chosen firm has the right level and length of experience. How long have they been in business for? The older the firm, the more likely they are to have built up experience, expertise and a good track record of work completed. Can they show you samples of projects they have already successfully carried out? The requirements for designing a wooden staircase, for instance, are very different from constructing a solid wood table, so you need to know your joiner has the skills and ability to tackle the scale of job you are proposing. If you require particular specialisms such as expertise in listed buildings windows, check the firm’s credentials in that area, because mistakes here can be expensive.

Is the Firm Sufficiently Big to Handle Your Commission?

If you are sourcing a joiner for a large project on your home such as a kitchen replacement or a timber framed conservatory, make sure they have the resources to carry out the project from start to finish. Do they have their own workshop? Do they offer a design service, for instance, and are their craftsmen skilled in other trades that might need to be incorporated, such as brickwork, plastering and so on? If not, you may have to consider hiring other trades which could delay completion of the project.

Can They Provide References and Testimonials?

A reputable firm will welcome the opportunity to provide evidence of past clients’ satisfaction with their quality of work, professionalism and reliability. Don’t be afraid to ask for references and follow up on these with the customers. After all, you want to be sure you are making the right decision.

If you’re based in or around Ludlow and would like quality bespoke joinery from a firm with over 40 years of experience and a wealth of expertise besides, contact Mark Taylor Joinery. We offer free design consultations and can provide a wide range of joinery services from wood box sash windows to full timber frame conservatories, wooden staircases and much more. Call today to discuss your project.