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 6

Home » Blog » Biggest Mistakes When Buying Built-In Furniture: Number 6

Buying bespoke furniture is a huge investment – which is why you need to consider your options carefully when choosing a furniture company. Many homeowners make big mistakes – we’ve seen it first-hand – which is why we’ve published this series to help people make the right choice.

The Biggest Mistakes Series can be downloaded in one PDF booklet so you can refer back to it. It covers major errors such as not getting a guarantee, rushing the design procedure and turning your home into a building site. However today, we’ll only be discussing hidden pitfall number six – choosing an unreliable company.

Unfortunately, there’s many of them out there, rogue traders who could be uninsured, unorganised and not fit to deliver the quality craftsmanship and customer service you deserve. When you’re paying for a specialised custom service, you expect a business to be punctual and focus entirely on your project, but this isn’t always the case with many fitted furniture companies. So how do you recognise a reliable company from an unreliable one?

Take Notes from the Word Go

Even at the enquiry stage, you should be able to get a good idea about a company and the way it treats its clients. Do they sound honest – would they recommend what is actually best for your home even if it is a cheaper option? Would they give expert advice and tell you that your vision isn’t going to work in reality?

If you’re impressed with the initial enquiry, then arrange another phone call or home visit to discuss the project in more detail. Were they on time, or were they late? If they were late did they call you and let you know? Things like this can give an insight into what it might be like when the company is working on the job. Will they overrun at another project and end up late for yours? Will the work start and finish when promised or will the scheduled completion time get pushed back?

You need to make sure you trust this company in your home – and if you can’t trust them to pick up the phone then this could be difficult. A person could be an amazing carpenter, but if you take the day off work to let them in and they don’t show up, then it can be incredibly frustrating.

Having renovation works done in your home can be stressful, so don’t make it worse by hiring a company which is undependable. You’re paying for a service, so you deserve to have it completed to the highest of standards.

Double Check the Company’s Insurance

Another precautionary measure to take when weighing up different companies is checking they are insured for the type of work they will be doing. If a quote is a lot cheaper than most you have been given, then there must be a reason for that – and sometimes it’s because they are not insured. If a company isn’t insured for any damage to your property or careless work, then you’ll have to pay the price in the event of an accident. You are trying to improve your home, and you could end up with it looking worse!

Full Time or Part Time?

When companies take on lots of jobs at once, and they have to get from one side of London to the other, it can delay the finished piece of furniture. You may want to make sure that your craftsmen will be working in your home full time until your job is completed – it can be frustrating to see workers leave the place a mess to rush off to other jobs, when they should be putting full effort into yours.

Testimonials

If your tradesmen are punctual and trustworthy, then they should also be reliable. But what’s the best way to check? Client testimonials! Make sure they are recent and there are a quite a few to endorse the company’s service.

Make sure you check back for our last mistake of the series.

Biggest Mistakes When Buying Built-In Furniture: Number 6

Take Notes from the Word Go

Double Check the Company’s Insurance

Full Time or Part Time?

Testimonials

Why Bespoke Furniture Is Getting More Popular

Top Tips for Reducing Background Noise at Home

Autumnal Interiors: How To Refresh Your Home on a Budget