Do you provide free quotes?

Yes, if you want we can give you an estimate or a quote if we have enough detail, just email us at info@empatlka.com some rough dimensions and a sketch and ideally some pictures of the area you have in mind and you will get a quote very quickly by email. If you are happy with the estimate then we can come and visit you when it suits you and talk in detail.

How reliable are your carpenters?

We are very reliable, stick to start times and days agreed, we do what we say we will do, we turn up on time every day in order not disrupt your schedule. And we are there throughout the job, not disappearing for one day to do something else.

Do you provide drawings?

Yes once we receive your deposit, we provide you with a hand drawn from scratch 3D computer scale drawing precise to the millimetre for you to check how it looks and to see if you are happy with the dimensions. If you like you can make any changes until the drawing is perfect.

How do I know you will do a good job?

Before I buy anything I read reviews so I suggest you do the same, we have over 100 independent testimonials on the internet. Please have a look at our testimonial page to see what our clients say about us

You call or email us, we asses your needs and give you an estimate or quote, then we arrange a time to come round and visit you, ask you more questions in detail to find out exactly what you would like, listen very carefully to your ideas and offer design ideas and solutions to best use your space and needs. We go away, email you a final quote. Once you decide to go ahead, we take a small deposit, then send you the drawings, once you have agreed the drawing we can book your place in the diary and we agree a start date. We then turn up with the materials and tools and build your units, then once built we paint them or oil them. Then once we are totally finished and you are delighted, only then do you pay us the balance, lastly if you feel testimonials have helped you choose us, please help us keep them fresh and leave us a testimonial here: https://plus.google.com/101927655300158702077/about?hl=en&review=1

Are you going to make a big mess in our house?

We understand that your home is precious and we do everything we can to make sure we leave it in the state we found it. All our materials are cut to size by a specialist cutting company before being delivered to your home, so minimal cutting is required onsite, even then we cover and protect the floors, cover your furniture with plastic sheets, use dust extractors connected directly to power tools, we even use a fine dust and chemical extractor for really sensitive areas, this is well over the top but we like to do the very best we can and offer the best service, and when the work is all finished we take all our rubbish away and give your place a clean.

What materials and finishes do you offer?

Our units are built of quality Medite FSC certified MDF wood then painted, or made of wood veneer we can oil or use matt water based clear varnish, and also melamine coated wood as typically found in kitchen units. We are also pioneering research in alternative healthier eco friendlier materials, we are the first UK fitted furniture company to use UK sourced strawboard which is totally natural and bound with no glues at all to make our bespoke furniture, we can build your units out of formaldehyde free MDF too, we also use recycled plastic sheeting for decorative purposes with lighting behind and recycled glass as well as many other sustainable materials and finishes to find out more please see our eco page.

Do you paint the units and what colours do you offer?

Yes, we use the best quality professional waterbased DULUX and Farrow and Ball eggshell semi matt white paint . If you would like the eco option using more natural paints please see our environment page. We mostly use white but can paint any colour you like (If you would like to paint your fitted furniture we can offer you free advice).

Do you spray the units and do high gloss?

We can arrange to spray the doors and outside visible parts and make the internal carcass of a white or other colour melamine coated laminate.

Are your charges transparent?

All charges are stated in advance in the final quote, you know what you will pay from the start, everything is listed in the quote. Only handles are optional and to be supplied by you or us, also parking is extra, so they are priced separately. All of which is clearly stated in your quote.

Does your service represent value?

For the quality of service we offer from beginning to end we offer outstanding value, we take great pride in producing only the best bespoke furniture that you will be proud to own for years to come, we offer a 2 year guarantee on our work, we are endorsed by various independent certification bodies, we take customer service very seriously, we understand that there is more to producing furniture than wood and screws, your total satisfaction is our number one priority, but don’t take our word for us see what our clients say.

How flexible are you once the work has started if something needs changing?

Our craftsmen all speak good English and have a great deal of skill and will do everything they can if you feel that something needs adapting, for example you change your mind about how many shelves you want, or the spacing between them, then if it is possible we will do what we can to please you, either free of charge or at extra cost depending on what it is.

Can you fix stuff in my home?

Yes if you need anything fixing in your home while we are there making your fitted furniture, if we can do it we will help you out. I like to offer a service that I would like to use myself so for such things as hanging pictures, fixing doors that don’t close and generally anything wood related tell us when we come to measure up for your fitted furniture.

Do you use real wood?

We use real wood veneers or plastic laminates that look like wood but not generally solid wood, we work with close associates who use solid wood, just ask us for contacts.

We don’t do bathrooms but if we are already working in your house doing other fitted furniture, we will consider any storage you would like for your bathroom.

I have sockets where I want my fitted furniture how will you deal with this?

If you have an electrical, phone or TV areal socket that is ok as we can cut a hole in the back so you can still access them, we can move electrical sockets around if they haven’t got far to go. Phone sockets we can more if there is enough spare wire.

Do you make kitchens?

No we don’t make kitchens but sometimes can make units that go in your kitchen such as a bookcase.

Biggest Mistakes when Buying Built in Furniture: Number 1

Home » Blog » Biggest Mistakes when Buying Built in Furniture: Number 1

As renowned furniture designers and trusted industry experts, Empatika is running a series of blogs to help homeowners buy the right fitted furniture for them. As a big investment, and a permanent feature in the home, it’s important to get it right first time.

Every month we’ll be posting the biggest mistakes customers make when hiring furniture companies to fit built in furniture. So what is the number one mistake? Read on to find out!

Many people have learnt the hard way in life that buying cheap means you buy twice – and this mantra certainly applies to custom built in furniture. Whether it’s a fitted wardrobe, bookcase or media unit, you expect it to last as long as the house. However, if the carpentry company you choose don’t use high quality materials or highly skilled craftsmen, your shelving unit probably won’t last half as long as you’d expect.

That’s why it’s important to do your research before you trust a company to build custom furniture in your home. Don’t sign any contracts before you’ve properly checked out the reputation of the company and their reviews. But mistakes do happen, even from the finest of craftsmen – which leads us on to our number one mistake when investing in fitted furniture: not getting a guarantee.

As a paying customer you need to ask yourself the following questions:

What happens in a year’s time if the hinges fall off?

What happens if my shelves start to bow?

Any company who takes pride in their work will offer a lengthy guarantee to back up their handywork. (For the record, Empatika offers a two year guarantee to all its customers)!

What can go wrong with fitted furniture?

Looking at beautiful pieces of brand new bespoke furniture, you may think to yourself: it fits perfectly – what could possibly go wrong? Over time, and dependent on how you use the furniture, many things can happen and the quality can deteriorate. Shelves can sag or break, doors and drawers may not open or close well or can even fall off if the hinges are low quality.

Building a drawer

Badly Made Furniture

Unfortunately, the team at Empatika have seen a vast range of badly made furniture, as we are called in to repair the damage or replace other people’s work. We have seen the stress and worry it causes homeowners after investing so much time and money into the project, and end up with careless results. Many furniture companies will try and cut corners in any way they can, to reduce costs for themselves – but this does not produce high quality woodwork.

To save yourself having to fork out your hard earned cash a second or third time, make sure you choose a reputable company the first time round. Demand a guarantee from your provider – any trustworthy and dependable company will be happy to offer one.

Will a company offering a guarantee cost more?

Most likely, as a company which offers a worthwhile guarantee will pay attention to all the finer details. They will ensure they are using the premier quality materials and equipment, because they care about their customers and the standard of work. For example, Empatika uses screws which cost four times as much as regular screws, as they never split the wood and consequently make the unit stronger. Hidden details like this ensure that you are getting added value out of your furniture.

So perhaps respected companies offering a good guarantee may cost you more upfront, as no doubt they have invested more in its materials which will be in your home. You are also paying for that security that you won’t have to pay any most costs if anything goes wrong with the furniture. But think of it this way – companies offering a guarantee won’t want to receive a phonecall from a past client requesting repairs. They won’t want to put a current project on hold to return to a piece of furniture which they will have to pay to repair and upgrade – this costs the company time and money. Therefore, the company will endeavour to get it right first time!

Aftercare

Most companies with a guarantee will provide free aftercare for each of its customers, as it has its clients’ best interests at heart. A good company will provide free advice if you need it, and keep in touch to make sure everything is still in order with your built in furniture.(Empatika are the masters of that – just sign up for our monthly newsletter or browse the blog for heaps of free tips and hints for your home)!

Read some of our testimonials and decide for yourself whether we are a company worth trusting in.

To sign up to our full biggest mistakes booklet you can put your name and email in the form just to the right of this blog post.