Why Can't Someone Build Me a Door?

[AlwaysLearning]

Why am I finding it so difficult to have a door made? I know the dimensions and have a rough design. I don't think it's a difficult design. It will be unglazed so I can source glazing units that will match a sidelight. It will sit between an unheated but weather tight porch and a hallway and reuse the existing frame.

I sent basic requirements to a handful of local window/door builders asking if they can do it and a rough lead time. I've had:
- One wanted £2k and would supply with frame. When I said I didn't need the frame or door furniture, they said £2k and no guarantee.
- One said £900 but couldn't do it until Nov '19 [Oh to have a solid 12 month order book!]
- One said £800 but when I've chased for more details and lead time, has gone silent.
- Some I've chased and been told they would send out an estimate shortly. Then utter silence.

Are these custom joiners really that busy? Is the job too small for them to be bothered with? Do they work in a constant air of disarray?

Where am I going wrong???

 

[Noel]

I think you're in Edinburgh AL, perhaps somebody here could recommend a good and reliable joiner or door specialist in the area? If you do find somebody go to their workshop if you can. You'll know straightaway how good their word is and get a price and time scale while you're there.
But of a saga from reading your posts, hope you get something sorted soon.

 

[Trevanion]

You're in the wrong part of the country.

City area joiners are extortionate on prices just because they know most numptys will pay for it. Also with the job only being 1 door without a frame it's not really a big enough job for them to bother with unless they're getting a premium for it. It definitely pays to go to the next county over.

No word of a lie you could have that door (XL Joinery Lucca style I assume) unpainted, unglazed for just about under £600 in West Wales. I know we could definitely have less than a week lead time on it, and probably have it all complete in one day.

 

[shed9]

+1

Quantity and the bare bones requirement will not necessarily (perversely) equate to a low or reasonable quote with a lot of suppliers. Plus your area is not going to help either. As Noel says, meet your potential supplier at their shop else it's even more a skeet shoot. I'm also down the road from Trevanion and concur the more realistic costs.

 

[MikeG.]

.......No word of a lie you could have that door (XL Joinery Lucca style I assume) unpainted, unglazed for just about under £600 in West Wales. I know we could definitely have less than a week lead time on it, and probably have it all complete in one day.

Add in the cost of a night's B&B, and the fuel, and that still represents a bargain to the OP.

 

[ColeyS1]

It's easy to pick a price off the top of your head. Without having more detail- design door thickness etc you're playing a dangerous game. A door will look like a door for the first couple years. After that the method of construction plays a big part in whether it stands the test of time. £600 and putting it on a pallet for delivery will still end up being cheaper than your other quotes ! - happy days

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[Just4Fun]

I can't help at all with answering the question, but I would be interested to know what the door is to be made of, and also how anyone can guess prices without knowing that.

This is not an exterior door but is not a typical interior door either. I believe exterior doors in the UK need to be made of hardwood (or at least heavy wood) but are there any regulations about materials that apply to this door?

How far away from a standard size do you need? Could you buy an off-the-shelf door and cut it down somehow?

 

[Trevanion]

It's easy to pick a price off the top of your head. Without having more detail- design door thickness etc you're playing a dangerous game.

I can't help at all with answering the question, but I would be interested to know what the door is to be made of, and also how anyone can guess prices without knowing that.

I have a pretty good idea of what he's after from his last thread:

I was assuming it would be a standard 55mm thick but if it's 45mm exactly like the JoineryXL door it would end up a little cheaper.

 

[worn thumbs]

The OP asks where he is going wrong.This is a woodworking forum and the standard answer to this type of question is to say to the enquirer -price up the wood and any tools you need to buy to make the item.If the total comes to a bit less than the cost of the piece you explain to the domestic management that you think you can save whatever the amount is and the saving can go into her new outfit budget.It often works.

 

[thetyreman]

£600 seems like a bargain to me, I'd have expected it to cost far more than that.

 

[tomatwark]

PM Sent

 

[ColeyS1]

I was assuming

That could end up biteing you on the backside oneday !



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[LBCarpentry]

£600 and you’ll have that ready by the end of the week??

Sounds too good to be true.....

 

[Trevanion]

£600 and you’ll have that ready by the end of the week??

Sounds too good to be true.....

£600 and done by the end of a day. The week was just lead-time.

It's only one oak door, unglazed, unpainted. I don't see why people think it's ridiculous.

 

[LBCarpentry]

In all fairness I think it sounds very reasonable. I couldn’t justify charging any more, only the fact it’s +VAT

I normally give 8-12 week lead time as standard though

EDIT: thinking about it earlier today..... £800 + vat.

Deffo £800 + vat (hammer) :lol:

 

[TFrench]

They can't be bothered because you're taking all the profit out of it for them. I'm not a carpenter but if someone asked me to price to supply only the bare bones of a job so they could do it themselves I'd give them a stupid price for their cheek. If I get it, happy days, if not it doesn't matter.

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[LBCarpentry]

They can't be bothered because you're taking all the profit out of it for them. I'm not a carpenter but if someone asked me to price to supply only the bare bones of a job so they could do it themselves I'd give them a stupid price for their cheek. If I get it, happy days, if not it doesn't matter.

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Oh I don’t know about that...I have absolutely no issue making a bare frame for someone. In fact, there’s probably more profit to make it without supplying and fitting the glass....

Also, by the time I’m ready to measure, order and install the glass, my mind has usually moved on to starting the next job. I find the whole glazing part pretty tedious.

 

[TFrench]

Oh I don’t know about that...I have absolutely no issue making a bare frame for someone. In fact, there’s probably more profit to make it without supplying and fitting the glass....

Also, by the time I’m ready to measure, order and install the glass, my mind has usually moved on to starting the next job. I find the whole glazing part pretty tedious.

Fair enough. I love the workshop/fab side of the work I do but its the site installation that makes the money unfortunately!

 

[LBCarpentry]

Oh I don’t know about that...I have absolutely no issue making a bare frame for someone. In fact, there’s probably more profit to make it without supplying and fitting the glass....

Also, by the time I’m ready to measure, order and install the glass, my mind has usually moved on to starting the next job. I find the whole glazing part pretty tedious.

Fair enough. I love the workshop/fab side of the work I do but its the site installation that makes the money unfortunately!

Ain’t that the troot