How much do bespoke shelves or storage cost in Gloucester?
Want shelving or storage built to fit? Post the job for free and it goes to local carpenters who cover your area. Only the carpenter who takes it on gets your contact details.
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Built-in shelving and storage
Alcove shelves either side of a chimney breast, cupboards under the stairs, window seats with storage underneath and built-in units in a loft room are all common jobs. The point of having them made rather than bought is that they fit the space exactly, including walls that aren’t straight and floors that aren’t level. Plenty of older houses have both.
The scope depends on a few things. Open shelves are quicker to make than cupboards with doors. Painted MDF is the usual choice for built-ins you’ll paint to match the room, while solid timber suits a natural or oiled finish. Drawers, lighting and cable routes for a TV or speakers all add work. Some carpenters build most of the unit in a workshop and fit it on site; others build it in the room.
Before you post, think about what the shelves need to hold. Books and records are heavy, and the fixings have to suit both the load and the wall. Plasterboard, lath and plaster and solid brick each need a different approach. If there are pipes or cables in the wall, the carpenter needs to know roughly where they run before drilling.
If you want new sockets or lighting built in, that part is electrical work. Ask whether the carpenter works alongside an electrician or whether you’ll need to arrange one yourself.
What to include when you post
A carpenter can give you a much better first answer with a few details up front.
- Photos of the space, taken straight on and from the side
- Rough width, height and depth, and the ceiling height
- What you plan to store, especially anything heavy like books or records
- Doors, open shelves or a mix, plus any drawers
- The finish you want: painted, natural wood, or primed ready for your decorator
- An example photo or sketch of something you like
- Any sockets, switches, radiators or pipes in the way
- Access for bringing in long boards, such as parking and narrow stairs
- When you’d like it done
Choosing a carpenter and what to ask
Ask to see photos of built-in work they’ve done. The skill shows in the details: tight joints, even gaps around doors and edges scribed neatly to uneven walls.
A written quote should say what material they’ll use, how thick the shelves are, how the unit is fixed to the wall and what finish is included. Check whether painting is part of the price or whether they leave it filled, sanded and primed. Ask who supplies the handles, hinges and drawer runners.
Find out how many days they’ll be working in your home and whether they clear away offcuts and dust. If any electrical work is involved, ask who does it and whether you’ll get a certificate for it. It’s also fair to ask what happens if a door drops or a shelf starts to sag in the first year.
Not quite the right job?
See every job on our Carpenter page, or post it anyway and describe it in your own words.
Before a tradesperson starts work
Registrations
Some work must be done by a registered professional. Work on a gas boiler, cooker or fire must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, which you can check on the Gas Safe Register.
Our business check
Limited companies are checked with Companies House and sole traders upload their insurance certificate. Trade registrations are confirmed by the tradesperson when they sign up.
Get the price in writing
Ask for a written quote that sets out the work and the price before anything starts. Your contract for the work is with the tradesperson.
Questions
What people tend to ask before booking this job. For anything specific to your home, ask the tradesperson who takes it on when they get in touch.
Either. Painted MDF is common for built-ins because it stays stable and takes paint well. Solid timber suits a natural, oiled or waxed finish. Say which look you want and the carpenter can suggest the right material.
It depends on the size and how much is made in a workshop first. A simple set of alcove shelves is much quicker than a full wall of cupboards. Ask how many days they'll be working in your home.
Yes, with the right fixings, but plasterboard on its own won't hold much weight. For heavy loads the carpenter will fix into the timber or metal studs behind it, or add supports. Tell them what the shelves will hold.
Clear the area being worked on and move or cover anything nearby that you don't want dusty. Cutting and sanding make dust. Ask whether they use dust sheets and whether they'll cut outside or in the room.
Check your tenancy agreement and ask your landlord first, as fixing units to the walls usually needs their permission. Freestanding units made to fit the space can be an alternative.