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Built-in alcove shelving cost

  • 06-11-2020 12:34pm
    #1
    gerry87
    Registered Users Posts: 871 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I'm looking to get some alcove shelving installed, something along the lines of
    https://www.hanksofburton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/elegant-bespoke-alcove-storage.jpg

    I don't really have a reference for what carpentry like this would generally cost. I've got a few quotes from some local suppliers, ranging from €2,500 to €3,000. Is this in the ballpark I should expect or should I keep looking?

    Thanks,
    Ger


Comments

  • #2
    Calahonda52
    Registered Users Posts: 12,193 ✭✭✭✭Calahonda52


    post a picture of the existing, are the walls all solid?
    when you say along the lines of, what exactly do you mean.

    “I can’t pay my staff or mortgage with instagram likes”.



  • #3
    gerry87
    Registered Users Posts: 871 ✭✭✭gerry87


    Hi Calahonda,

    Sure, here's a photo of the room https://photos.app.goo.gl/TJfxN3F5ogPnWv1L7 and some dimensions here https://photos.app.goo.gl/UdKqovnc8yp6WLU26. All walls are solid.

    By along the lines of the other photo, I mean very similar with tweaks. e.g.
    - Maybe the shelves spaced a little differently in the right alcove,
    - Logs section switched to right-hand alcove
    - 2nd press in the left alcove instead of logs.
    - And the floating shelves white instead of wood.

    Thanks,
    Ger


  • #4
    brane.nikic87
    Registered Users Posts: 81 ✭✭brane.nikic87


    Hi Ger,

    Where are you located?


  • #5
    gerry87
    Registered Users Posts: 871 ✭✭✭gerry87


    brane.nikic87 wrote: »
    Hi Ger,

    Where are you located?

    I’m in Dublin.


  • #6
    cargen
    Registered Users Posts: 270 ✭✭cargen


    gerry87 wrote: »
    Hi Calahonda,

    Sure, here's a photo of the room https://photos.app.goo.gl/TJfxN3F5ogPnWv1L7 and some dimensions here https://photos.app.goo.gl/UdKqovnc8yp6WLU26. All walls are solid.

    By along the lines of the other photo, I mean very similar with tweaks. e.g.
    - Maybe the shelves spaced a little differently in the right alcove,
    - Logs section switched to right-hand alcove
    - 2nd press in the left alcove instead of logs.
    - And the floating shelves white instead of wood.

    Thanks,
    Ger

    Hi Ger

    May I ask if you got someone for this job?
    I am looking for something similar and I have received just one quotation.

    Thanks


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  • #7
    ebayissues
    Registered Users Posts: 446 ✭✭ebayissues


    Do these really costs 2.5/3k? Is it it just pieces of wood screwed to the wall?


  • #8
    Effects
    Registered Users Posts: 9,761 ✭✭✭Effects


    ebayissues wrote: »
    Is it it just pieces of wood screwed to the wall?

    Can't you apply that logic to anything?
    Why is this car so expensive, isn't it just some metal and plastic shaped together, with some glass to see out from?


  • #9
    Bonzo Delaney
    Registered Users Posts: 1,577 ✭✭✭Bonzo Delaney


    ebayissues wrote: »
    Do these really costs 2.5/3k? Is it it just pieces of wood screwed to the wall?

    Have a go at it yourself, one of two things will happen.
    1. You realise around 2.5k is a reasonable enough price to pay someone to supply and fit such furniture
    2. You've missed your true calling in life and should of followed a career in carpentry & joinery.


  • #10
    Mystery Egg
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 2,579 Mod ✭✭✭✭Mystery Egg


    I hired a carpenter to fit MDF units either side of the fireplace alcove in Dublin and the cost was 1600 total including a solid wood floating mantle, so I'd say yes, keep looking. (I then painted the MDF.)

    Solid wood is more expensive than MDF of course, but I also had full fitted units with doors and multiple shelves; the design you've shown seems very simple.

    The difficulty is demand...I had to wait months for the appointment.


  • #11
    baldshin
    Registered Users Posts: 1,364 ✭✭✭baldshin


    Bonzo Delaney wrote: »
    Have a go at it yourself, one of two things will happen.
    1. You realise around 2.5k is a reasonable enough price to pay someone to supply and fit such furniture
    2. You've missed your true calling in life and should of followed a career in carpentry & joinery.

    This, 100% this. We were looking to get built in shelves and cabinets and decided to give it a go ourselves. Like many people, looked at it and thought it would be pretty straightforward. It's not, and we ran in to tonnes of minor issues, constantly having to run back and forth to the hardware stores.

    Has ended up taking way longer than expected, and while I'm very happy with and proud of what we've pulled off so far, despite the many imperfections, it has given me a new perspective on the professionals and why they charge what they do. Even taking away the costs of tools, if you needed to buy them, the costs of the wood, screws, fillers etc add up quickly enough. You'd also need to be pretty good with your planning and with maths, to ensure you get your wood cut right the first time.

    If you have the time, patience, and some DIY knowledge with an eagerness to learn, it's a great project. If not, pay for the professionals.


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  • #12
    tabby aspreme
    Registered Users Posts: 3,850 ✭✭✭tabby aspreme


    Mystery Egg wrote: »
    I hired a carpenter to fit MDF units either side of the fireplace alcove in Dublin and the cost was 1600 total including a solid wood floating mantle, so I'd say yes, keep looking. (I then painted the MDF.)

    Solid wood is more expensive than MDF of course, but I also had full fitted units with doors and multiple shelves; the design you've shown seems very simple.

    The difficulty is demand...I had to wait months for the appointment.

    How much time did it take to paint the units


  • #13
    baldshin
    Registered Users Posts: 1,364 ✭✭✭baldshin


    Finally finished ours over the weekend. Picture attached for reference. Cost us about €700 in materials/paints and I'd guestimate it took about 50-60 hours. By no means perfect in person, but happy enough with the final product for the money saved.


  • #14
    Effects
    Registered Users Posts: 9,761 ✭✭✭Effects


    Looks great. I like the Shane O'Malley print too.


  • #15
    ebayissues
    Registered Users Posts: 446 ✭✭ebayissues


    What paint did you use?


  • #16
    baldshin
    Registered Users Posts: 1,364 ✭✭✭baldshin


    ebayissues wrote: »
    What paint did you use?

    Used Valspar furniture paint. Primed with Rustin's MDF primer and 2 coats of the Valspar.


  • #17
    ebayissues
    Registered Users Posts: 446 ✭✭ebayissues


    Nicely done, looks very good.


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