Fitting furniture into a niche

After a move the wardrobe will not fit in the alcove, the shelving is a few centimetres too tall for the sloping ceiling, or the chest of drawers will not go between the wall and the radiator. Fitting furniture into a niche means trimming, shortening or altering the piece so it goes where it should, without buying new.

The price is per job. The material, the number of cuts and whether doors or drawers need altering all affect it.

What the work covers

• measuring the niche and the furniture, checking how straight the walls are;
• shortening the carcass, shelves or plinth;
• cutting it to fit a slope or skirting board;
• edge-banding the fresh cut edges;
• reassembling and adjusting the doors.

What can and cannot be altered

Chipboard and MDF furniture alters easily as long as the cut avoids joints and runners. Solid wood takes more work but can be fitted too. With sliding wardrobes, shortening also means shortening the doors and tracks.

What to prepare

The niche and furniture dimensions, with photos of both. Describe in the request how much needs taking off and what is in the way: slope, pipe, radiator, skirting. Empty the furniture before the visit.

Common questions