Help. WHAT DO I DO.

[johnc]

Sorry also Makka, it looks exactly like a divider to me, can't get any clearer than that. It is unfortunate that you have misunderstood a fairly basic drawing and feel hard done by, but the cabinet maker seems to have provided you with what you needed to work things out. Perhaps he misunderstood your skill level, which doesn't make him wrong, and maybe he failed to understand what you tried to ask but I actually think what you have is a sensible design.

John.

[makka619]

Sorry guys. He did not misunderstand me AT ALL. He knows what I wanted. He did not dispute this fact. He just said he found out he couldn't do it the way I asked so changed the plans.

DID he inform me. NO.

Do I look like someone who would understand the diagrams of a drawing. I don't think so. How am I supposed to know this detail, when I have never dealt with drawn plans before.

I will just add: The builder said he thought it was strange the way it was designed. He said the space was way too small to hang clothes. He said that if we changed the height of a shelf he could have take the wall out. He thought it was weird dividing a single space like that. He said he thought the draws were even way too deep. But he just followed the plans.

So now I am assuming this is the first job this guy has designed.

[makka619]

Makka,
from what I can see, there's two points where a misunderstanding has probably arisen.
1) You not being conversant with symbols etc used in plans. The plan clearly shows that there are two seperate units, the smaller unit having one door and the larger two.
2) The cabinetmaker may have thought that when you asked if there was to be a wall between the two units you were asking whether there would be a stud frame with gyprock either side, or perhaps a brick wall or whatever your house construction is. Strictly speaking there is no "wall" between the two units, just the components that make up the units. Semantics? perhaps.

Let's just suppose for a moment though that he had built it as one unit instead of two, which would have made it an absolute bastard to transport and install and probably more expensive. He would have had to fit a mullion instead to hang the door from. This would still not give you clear access from one section to the other so I really can't see what you would have gained besides an extra 32mm of cupboard width.

I would have built it eactly the same way. Possibly I would have gone to more trouble to ensure that I understood what you were saying and that you understood the drawing, but if you'd asked me to make it with a mullion instead of two seperate sections I would have explained that I would need to asemble it on site and that it would cost you more.

Mick

Sorry that actual drawing was the first one, which he changed. The door goes all the way down as the others do.

[makka619]

see pic..

It looks like the partition is on the drawing which you signed off on?

Is the cabinet one piece, or two cabinets (a thin one and a wide one) scredwed together?

Uploading some pics.

This is the spot where he told me there would be no wall divider. Just the frame to hold the doors.

[makka619]

[makka619]

There are most definitely ways of doing it the way makka wanted, but all of them would definitely cost more than what he paid for what he got.

Why was it so critical to have the space open?

Because that is the way I asked specifically. I put my hand through the old frame to show what I wanted to make sure. I asked him if I could put my hand through and there there there wouldn't be a wall stopping me?

Because I know that a wall divided on a coat hanging space of a one cupboards space takes away the usefulness of it. When the clothes can all flow together, it is more efficient, especially space wise. I would have redesigned the whole cupboard if I had to put a wall there.


And yes the builder who put the cupboard in said that it could have been done. It wouldn't have cost more, it was just a matter or changing to the height of the shelf above and the height of the hanging space.

The designer said everyone gets their half hanging spaces made to this height. The builder questioned it, thinking it was unusual. It is way to short.

[silentC]

OK, well with the cup hinges used on the doors, there's no way really it could have been done any other way. You would have had a strip down there at least 100mm or so deep to take the hinges anyway, or some contrivance up the top to take the top one at least. In either case, fiddly and flimsy and far from perfect.

To be honest, I think it would seem strange to have that void behind the middle door. It needs to close against something or there would be a gap that you could see between the door on the left and the middle door.

Two doors instead of three might have been better. But can you explain why you have an issue with the partition in the first place? Personally I can't see the disadvantage in it being there.

[floobyduster]

Not wanting to add fuel to the fire, but I'm interested to see that the drawing shows only 3 doors, but the photos show that 6 have been installed!

[makka619]

OK, well with the cup hinges used on the doors, there's no way really it could have been done any other way. You would have had a strip down there at least 100mm or so deep to take the hinges anyway, or some contrivance up the top to take the top one at least. In either case, fiddly and flimsy and far from perfect.

To be honest, I think it would seem strange to have that void behind the middle door. It needs to close against something or there would be a gap that you could see between the door on the left and the middle door.

Two doors instead of three might have been better. But can you explain why you have an issue with the partition in the first place? Personally I can't see the disadvantage in it being there.

If it couldn't be done, I would love to have been informed before the cupboard was built.

[ozwinner]

Uploading some pics.

This is the spot where he told me there would be no wall divider. Just the frame to hold the doors.

The plan clearly shows there is a divider.

Al

[makka619]

Not wanting to add fuel to the fire, but I'm interested to see that the drawing shows only 3 doors, but the photos show that 6 have been installed!

Because I asked for 6. He drew it up as 3. I don't know why. So he drew over a print out in red pen to show it with 6.

Same with the longer door, he changed that. We never asked for the drawers to be shown. He told us he couldn't cover with the door without coming in a few mm. Asked what way we wanted it and we chose the door to cover the drawers.

[makka619]

The plan clearly shows there is a divider.

Al

Okay that's good to know NOW.



But why wouldn't he tell me?



I am a young female. I don't deal with woodwork daily or ever. Notifying me of something like this would be nice.

[silentC]

Well, your original question was "what do I do".

Your options are:

1. Live with it
2. Refuse to pay the balance and get him to come up with a solution that you both agree to
3. Rip it out and get someone else to do it

Apart from venting steam over it, I can't really see what other option you have. If it was me and I was that upset about it, I would fix it myself. Been there and done that, you know "if you want it done properly you have to do it yourself".

[makka619]

I should have known that a line there meant that he was installing a wall. I should probably study building before hiring someone.

At least I know now that if I am told it can be done one way, and they decide it is easier to change it, they will not bother telling me to see how I feel about it or work out a solution.

[martrix]

Because I asked for 6. He drew it up as 3. I don't know why. So he drew over a print out in red pen to show it with 6.

.

I think maybe someones wires got crossed up right there.

Theres not much you could do to successfully modify it (without it ending up patchy) now with the way it has been made.

Like SilentC, I don't see a huge advantage in not having that small partition there, but then again, I'm not female and most of my clothes live on the floor.

It looks like a pretty neat job anyway.