While you can buy doors from DIY shops, you need to go to a dedicated door shop if you want something nice. Bridgtown Doors is not a million miles from us, and it's pretty much the go-to location for doors in the surrounding area. An indication of its popularity is the fact that having bought two doors and all the fittings, when the wife asked when they could fit them, the guy behind the counter replied: "January." JANUARY! Are you having a laugh? We can't wait until January. Apparently, they have five fitters, and they were all fully booked until the end of January. He did offer to put us on a cancellation list in the hope someone might change their install date, thus freeing up a fitter, but I didn't hold much hope.
Sometimes, while walking our dog Charlie, I call our local butchers on a Saturday to pick up a joint of meat for Sunday. "You don't know anyone who can fit doors?" I said. He did! Hopefully, the guy will call into the shop later. I gave him my mobile number and prayed he would remember if the door fitter turned up. The following day, the door fitter rang me:
Door Fitter: "Alright mate, Rich, the butcher gave me your number; he says you've got two doors you want fitting?"_
Me: "Yeah, they're two solid doors, half glass panes."
Door Fitter: "No problem, mate. Fifty-five quid each, do ya?"
Me: "I just need to make you aware our doorframes are an utter pig. They're badly out."
Door Fitter: "No problem, I'm used to it."
He's not seen our doorframes. I did our bathroom door, and it looks like I took a chainsaw to it. How the wife has put up with it for over ten years is beyond me.
The day of the doors
Door Fitter: "It'll be alright. I can normally do ten doors in a day. I'm sure two doors won't take me long."
Me: "If you say so."
And then.
SIX HOURS!
Can you believe it? Six hours to fit two doors. The fitter had to remove the door butts and realign them. Shave loads off; what a nightmare. They do look drop-dead gorgeous, though, and Charlie loves them. He can lay on the sofa and watch his mum in the kitchen through them.
Finally, the kitchen is done!
The kitchen fitter came on Saturday, fitted the knife drawer and the drawer under the cooker for trays, and replaced the paint-damaged door under the sink.
The wife had painted the walls and ceilings before I could get in there, although, to be fair (to me), that's why she booked the week off.
We're so glad it's finished. We were both sick to the back teeth of it. While some of the problems now seem minor, they seemed like a nightmare at the time. It's literally a different kitchen. By that, I mean the room is so different to how it used to be; even the kitchen fitter commented on what a transformation it is.
Mistakes were made.
When the electrition came, he asked us at least three or four times if we wanted any extra sockets. The boss (The wife) declined on each occasion. Now that it's finished, we could have done it with a double socket on the wall to the right of the washing machine. 🤦♂️
We've lived in the house for nearly thirty years, and it's never been a problem. Yet now that we have a lovely new kitchen, we wish the light switch had been moved from behind the door on the left to the right side so we could turn the light on as we enter.
Thanks for reading; no fitters or tradesmen were harmed or injured during the making of this event. 😉
Image created by irisworld
My actual name is Pete. Here is why I have the username dickturpin.
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"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
I bet you are happier now it's done. Tradesmen can be a pain, but a good one is invaluable. Getting all the ergonomics of a kitchen right is hard and you always need more sockets. I installed lots for ours and we have more appliances now.
Enjoy it.
I'm waiting for the novelty to wear off so that I don't have to pounce on that minuscule crumb or drip for fear the wrath of the missus feels my collar. 😀