Furniture Assembly in Swords

A pro brings everything: cordless drill with torque control, full hex/pozi bit set, rubber mallet, level, stud/cable detector for wall anchoring, and appropriate wall plugs. If someone asks to borrow your tools or arrives without a cable detector but plans to drill, stop the wall-mounting part of the job.

Platform marketplaces work well for this trade because the job is standardized: compare per-item rates and review counts for assembly specifically, not general handyman reviews. Look for reviews that mention your item category (wardrobes are the skill test) and confirm they bring their own tools including a drill.

It pays off when: the item is large or heavy (wardrobes, sofa-beds), assembly errors are costly (drawer runners, sliding doors), you lack tools, or your time is worth more than the fee. A pro assembles a wardrobe in a third of the DIY time, and mistakes like cam-lock damage to chipboard are usually unfixable — the part must be replaced.

In most large cities, yes — platform assemblers offer same-day and next-day slots outside peak periods. The crunch times are weekends, the end of the month (moving dates), and January/September in student cities. Booking 2-4 days ahead almost always gets you an evening or weekend slot at standard rates.

Tipping is optional everywhere and uncommon outside North America. What you should expect to pay for: stair-carry of heavy boxes where there is no lift (agree upfront), paid parking where unavoidable, and disposal of packaging if you want it taken away. All of these should be named in the quote, not appear afterwards.

Most do, and for tall items you should insist on it: wardrobes, bookcases, and chests of drawers come with anti-tip straps or brackets that manufacturers require attaching to the wall. Confirm wall-anchoring is included in the quote and that the assembler checks wall type (drywall vs masonry vs concrete) — anchoring into concrete or tile may carry a drilling surcharge.

Dublin rates run €40-€60 per hour or €45-€90 per standard item, with large wardrobes at €130-€220. Outside Dublin expect similar item rates plus travel. IKEA's assembly partner offers fixed per-item pricing on Dublin-area deliveries.

Only if the assembler comes unprepared: many Irish houses have solid concrete-block internal walls needing hammer-drilling and masonry plugs, while newer builds use slab-on-stud. A pro carries both fixings; confirm before booking so the anchoring is not skipped on the day.