Building flat-pack and fixing things to your walls

What the firm does

The firm builds the item, checks that doors and drawers run true, and fixes it in place. Many will take the cardboard away. Ask before the visit.

A fitted wardrobe or a large sliding-door unit takes longer. The firm may need to level it on an uneven floor and fix it to the wall.

Fixings in newer homes

Many newer homes, for example on estates in Milton Keynes or round Aylesbury, have plasterboard inner walls on timber or metal studs. A plain plastic plug will not hold a heavy load in plasterboard.

Ask the firm to find the studs, or to use cavity fixings rated for the weight. It should check for pipes and cables before it drills.

If your home is under two years old

Report any fault in the walls or floors to the builder before anyone drills into them. Under the New Homes Quality Code, a registered developer must give an after-sales service for at least two years from completion.

Our new-build snagging checklist explains how to report snags and complain.

Stop tall units tipping

A tall unit can tip over if a child climbs it or pulls a drawer. Most makers supply a strap or bracket for the wall. It works only if the fixing in the wall is sound.

Ask for wall fixings on wardrobes, bookcases and chests of drawers in children’s rooms.

Prices for assembly work

Some firms charge by the hour and some by the item. Milton Keynes Handy Home lists £30 for each hour of flat-pack, and £50 to mount a TV of up to 50 inches. TradesPro in Aylesbury charges its £40 hourly rate, with no call-out fee.

Give the firm the shop and item number for each piece. It can then judge how long the job will take.

Questions

Sources